Vaccines have performed an important role in our history. The concept is simple. It takes advantage of our immune system’s ardent response to whatever it perceives as harmful to our bodies.
When the immune system detects something it perceives as harmful, it will mount a defense response that usually includes antibodies against that particular invading substance. It has the ability to create innumerable, unique antibodies – one unique design of antibody for each targeted invading substance. These antibodies will never give up their protective stance.
Vaccines stimulate an immune response by introducing minute amounts of substances that society perceives as a danger; e.g. small pox, malaria, polio, hepatitis, many common childhood contagious illnesses, etc. These substances may be treated or killed so as not to create the very illness that it is trying to prevent.
The immune system detects these minute amounts of invading substances and creates antibodies to them, thus establishing a unique antibody system against future invasions of larger, more problematic invasions of that substance.
For example, if a person is vaccinated against a particular flu virus, antibodies will already be available to fend off an attack by that particular virus before they can multiply and cause a serious illness. A key to remember here is that immunity will be established with that unique antibody, only for that particular virus, not flu viruses in general.
That is why this year’s flu vaccine, made from last year’s flu viruses, may not be effective for this year’s flu viruses.
In theory, vaccines work beautifully. The reality of vaccines gets a little muddled when other substances are added to the mix. Some additives are included as preservatives. Some are added to enhance the immune system’s response.
Anything added is subject to a response as the immune system tries to determine its potential harm to the body and, also, simply because of its inherent toxicity.
For example, mercury is an additive of great controversy. It has been used extensively in the past as a preservative. Mercury is a known neurotoxin. The body may respond violently to its presence. It has been linked to autism in some individuals.
As is true with any exposure in life, a lot is dependent upon an individual’s personal susceptibility. Most people are able to withstand exposures to small amounts of toxins, while others may react violently.
Other potential additives of concern include aluminum, formaldehyde, monosodium glutamate (MSG), antibiotics, gelatin, human serum albumin, and yeast proteins.
Aluminum, also a suspected neurotoxin, is used to stimulate a stronger response to a vaccine. Formaldehyde is one of the additives used to inactivate unwanted bacteria and viruses. MSG is used to stabilize a vaccine against changes due to excessive heat, light and humidity. These all represent additional threats to the body.
There are other possible substances in vaccines considered junk particles. These substances get into vaccines simply because they are pervasive in the materials used in production. They include RNA, spliced, viral and DNA genetic code fragments, as well as unplanned viruses, plus proteins, prions (like those linked to mad-cow disease), and oncogenes (cancer genes).
As you can see, vaccines are a wondrous advancement in the tools used in medicine. Unfortunately, they also carry the possibility of transmitting unwanted toxins to susceptible individuals due to manufacturing impurities.
Dr. Michael Miles’ Clinic is located at 15601 N. Oracle Rd. in Catalina behind Golf Cars of Arizona.You can learn more about the Catalina Clinic and Dr. Miles by visiting the website: www.catalinaclinic.com. To contact Dr. Miles or make an appointment at the clinic call 520-825-8100.