Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Nearly every day we get questions from people about natural immunity and vaccine-related issues. Here we have compiled a list of the questions and answers for your reference. Also be encouraged to use the search box to the right of this page to enter your keyword, and there will likely be a FAQ to help.

Question:

Should I vaccinate my children with the MMR shot?

Answer:

It is being reported that this particular outbreak mostly appears to be unvaccinated children, but when you look a bit closer it seems that a lot of them are either too young to be vaccinated or have only had the one MMR at 15 months and so are not classed as “fully” vaccinated and so are being lumped in with the unvaccinated to boost the unvaccinated numbers. The have also been many cases in much older adults who were possibly never vaccinated as they would have been born before the vaccine was introduced. So the figures are easily skewed. The was an outbreak in the South Island in 2009 where the majority of cases were in the fully vaccinated and the age group was mostly over the age of 13, proving that the immunity from the vaccine wears off over time, that’s if you gain any immunity in the first place.

Measles is a far more serious illness in adolescents and in the days before the vaccination was introduced children would have measles before the age of 8, the ideal age is between 2 and 8 years, so the vast majority of the population had natural immunity by the time they reached adolescents and babies were protected by maternal antibodies until they were at least a year old from their Mother’s natural immunity, unfortunately with the vaccination the immunity is no longer being passed on as it has either worn off or the artificial immunity gained from the vaccine does not pass on through the placenta or breast milk, hence the reason younger and younger babies are developing these natural childhood illnesses.

The fact that your children are unvaccinated and over a year old will mean it is highly likely they will get through measles easily and end up with lifelong immunity, that’s if they actually catch it at all. There are many things you can do to ensure they get through measles well, the first thing is to allow the fever to take it’s course and don’t try to suppress it with paracetamol, I have attached some information on this. Also vitamin A is vital to ensure your child copes with measles, if they have a good diet which is rich in foods with vitamin A they will be fine, but you may still want to supplement them with cod liver oil should they develop measles, I have also attached some information for you on vitamin A and measles.

Here is the data sheet for the MMR vaccine
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/m/MMRIIinj.pdf please read the ingredients, contraindications and adverse reactions.

Question:

 I have a son who is almost two and am still very unsure as to what decision to make in regards to vaccines. My partner is very pro vaccine and wants our son to have them done as soon as possible but I keep hesitating.We agreed to get only the polio and tetenus for now, but then found out that it is only possible to get them in a cobination with the whooping cough vaccine which I think is unnecessary and I dont want him to have.

Is there anyway for my son to get just the vaccines that we want without all the rest thrown in? I am a bit lost and confused with it all and, like everyone else, want to do the best for my child.

Thanks for you time and help,
Iona

Answer:

Here at The Immunisation Awareness Society we feel, through the research we have done, that vaccination is neither as safe or efficient as the medical fraternity like to make out. We feel that the best way to protect your family from illness is through healthy diet and lifestyle choices. This includes breastfeeding your child for at least the first year of life, exclusively for at least the first 6 months, when starting solids stick to organic fruit and veg close to their natural state. Avoid over the counter pharmaceutical products, especially paracetamol,  only use antibiotics if absolutely necessary. This way you will ensure your child has an uncompromised immune system well able to cope with any natural childhood illness resulting in natural life long immunity, something you will never get from any vaccine.

Iona the best thing you can do is to empower yourself with information, there are some books I would fully recommend…

“How To Raise a Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor” by Dr Robert Mendelsohn, every parent should own this book!
http://www.amazon.com/Raise-Healthy-Child-Spite-Doctor/dp/0345342763#reader_0345342763
“Just A Little Prick” by Hilary Butler http://www.beyondconformity.co.nz/books Hilary’s website is excellent also and has a raft of information.
“Investigate Before You Vaccinate” by Sue Claridge This is the IAS book and you can order it here http://www.ias.org.nz/products/

I also fully recommend you read the MoH’s “Immunisation Handbook 2011″ http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/immunisation-handbook-2011

Also here is a link which is well worth the read…

http://www.beyondconformity.org.nz/_blog/Hilary’s_Desk/post/Vaccines_and_neonatal_immune_development/

If you are on facebook you might like to join a few like minded groups so you can chat with others, you could start with ours
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Investigate-Before-You-Vaccinate/308351242111 it is another great way of getting more information.

I would also suggest you have a look at the latest vaccination schedule
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/7890/$File/natl-immunisation-sched-21mar-11.pdf
and then go to medsafe to look up all the data sheets for the vaccines on the schedule, in particular the ingredients, contraindications and the adverse reactions http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/datasheet.htm

Depending where you are we also have support people dotted around the country, this is a great way to get to know others in your area who are likeminded. I hope this has been of some help, if you have anymore questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Question:
 

We regularly get asked if there are any pro-choice doctors around who don’t discriminate or hassle parents who choose not to vaccinate their children, so here is a great list of Anthroposophical Doctors in many centres around NZ…

Answer:

 http://www.weleda.co.nz/data/media/documents/Business%20only%20docs/Anthroposophical%20Doctors%20List.pdf