Drug Manufacturer Merck Recalls 1 Million Doses Of Childhood Vaccine

The Hib Vaccine, given to infants beginning at the young of two months, is being recalled due to potential contamination. Testing in a Merck plant in Pennsylvania found a sterilization problem, prompting the massive recall. Parents are told not to worry.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, together with a spokesperson from Merck told members of the press corp that "the potential for contamination of any individual vaccine is low" and any parents concerned about their child's health should contact their physician. The Hib vaccine is said to prevent Meningitis and Pneumonia, and is given over a 6 month period, with a total of 3 doses. A 4th dose is administered at the age of 15 months. Kelly Dougherty, the Merck spokesperson, would not be specific as to what the potential contamination was. She neither confirmed nor denied as to whether it was viral or bacterial. She said if someone were vaccinated with a contaminated shot, "There is a risk they could develop an infection." But she did not provide more details. This recall will no doubt raise the level of concern many parents have regarding childhood vaccines and the enormous number required. By the age of 2, if following the recommended scheduling, every child in the US will have received the following: Birth - Hep B 1 month - Hep B 2 months - DTaP, HIB, Pc, Rotavirus, Polio 4 months - DTaP HIB, Pc, Rotavirus, Polio 6 months - DTaP, HIB, Pc, Rotavirus, Hep B, Flu (if in season) 1 year - MMR, Chickenpox, Hep A 15 months - HIB, Pc 18 months - DTaP, Polio, Hep A, Flu (if in season) 2 years - Flu 3 years - Flu 4 years - Flu 5 years - DTaP, Polio, MMR, Flu 12 years - Tdap, Meningococcal, HPV (3 doses - girls only) That totals 16 injections of various drugs in the first 24 months of life. That does not include the additional 12 required immunizations that continue to the age of 12. Many parents are distrustful of the vaccines, concerned about the preservative Thimerosal, which contains mercury, as well as other ingredients that may be causing more harm than good. Questions have risen regarding the increasing number of children suffering from autism and whether there is a connection between the immunizations and the onset of the syndrome. Mercury is still being added to vaccines at completely unsafe levels considering the fact that it is a known neuro-toxin. A recent study undertaken by the University of Calgary unveiled concrete evidence that mercury ions alter the cell-membrane of developing neurons in babies and young children, directly contributing to autism Autism has gone from being rare (about one incident per 10,000 children in 1978), to epidemic proportions in 2000 : one case in every 300-500 children in many areas. That figure has risen to 1 in every 150 in 2007. Medical researcher Dr. Mary Megson has shown total deficiency of vitamin A in almost all autistic children. What depletes the body of vitamin A at 15 months? The MMR vaccine. In addition, Megson found that pertussis toxin from the DPT shot disrupted a certain protein that is necessary for retinal formation. This would account for the prevalence of night-blindness and loss of 3D vision so common among autistics. Michael Goldberg,MD, a California pediatrician and researcher, explained how it was impossible to have an epidemic based solely on genetics. That's the standard excuse the CDC and the NIH have been using to explain how autism has grown from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 300 in just 22 years. Actress and model Jenny McCarthy's appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show as well as numerous other prime time TV programs has spurred women to begin to seriously investigate the connection between autism in babies and young children and childhood vaccinations. McCarthy's new book, Louder than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism, is partly about her contention that her son's autism was caused primarily by a combined vaccination administered around the age of 18 months. Her mantra "Take The Crap Out". This recent recall just adds much needed fuel to the flame that is burning ever hotter in the hearts of millions of Americans. Not only do we need to worry about the ingredients in these vaccines, but now we must add the potential of contamination in the drugs as well. I'm with Jenny. As a grandparent, I worry each time my grandchildren are immunized. I am concerned about the fact that the government continues to add additional requirements to the ever increasing list of vaccines. Currently, there is legislation asking that the new drug, which was just approved by the FDA in June of 2006,Gardasil, be added to that list. And New Jersey has just passed a law making the flu shot a requirement in children entering preschool. Where are my rights, and those of parents nationwide? Should we be forced to inject our children with this ever increasing list of vaccines, many with ingredients, additives and preservatives we have no knowledge of? What happened to our freedom to choose? What do you think? Are our children given too many vaccines, or do you believe that we would experience a return of illnesses and plagues in epidemic proportions if we failed to continue to administer these drugs at the levels currently required? ---------------- This article received an award from Digital Journal's Editorial Board for outstanding citizen journalism. Every Friday, Digital Journal profiles the top news stories from around the world.

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