tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post3162129226625063291..comments2023-06-16T09:39:07.504-04:00Comments on Harpocrates Speaks: Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Part 4 - The Legal PerspectiveTodd W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16192694127268195554noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-53783057808897316832016-04-12T14:55:01.869-04:002016-04-12T14:55:01.869-04:00"Thank you for elegantly explaining why we wi..."Thank you for elegantly explaining why we will likely never have a double-blind placebo-controlled RCT to test whether vaccination causes autism. The same reasoning will also hold so that the role of vaccinations in AIDS, cancer, autoimmune disease, dementia and other non-specific disorders will also never be known."<br /><br />That's not really true. While a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trial could not be done, other types of studies could, such as a variety of epidemiological studies. These studies could show whether or not there is evidence of a causal association. If there is some manner of causal connection, it would show up in the evidence. If not, then we'd conclude that there is no evidence to support a causal connection.<br /><br />There have been several large, retrospective studies looking at unvaccinated vs. partially or fully vaccinated, finding no difference in overall health, neurological outcomes, etc., except that the unvaccinated had higher rates of preventable illness. Those studies you claim have not been done, actually have been (though I think a number of them were published since you commented).<br /><br />Science: it works. Slowly at times, but it works.Todd W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16192694127268195554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-37711013721090750532016-04-12T14:49:20.942-04:002016-04-12T14:49:20.942-04:00Thanks for your comment, Roseshel. Just a couple q...Thanks for your comment, Roseshel. Just a couple quick notes. First off, the vaccines on the childhood schedule are <i>not</i> put directly into the patient's blood stream. They're administered orally, nasally, intradermally (under the skin), or intramuscularly (into the muscles). None of them are given intravenously.<br /><br />As far as preventing infection, some things might help decrease risk (e.g., good hand hygiene), but that only goes so far; washing your hands will not prevent infection with respiratory viruses, such as measles, for example. Good nutrition can help reduce the risk of serious complications, but it won't eliminate the risk, nor will it prevent infection in the first place. No other method has been shown to have anywhere near the success at preventing illness from infectious diseases as vaccines. There could be something better out there, but until there is evidence for it, it is irresponsible to advise individuals to pursue those options.<br /><br />Vaccines do carry a small risk of serious adverse reactions. Everyone who supports vaccination readily acknowledges that fact. However, when balancing the risks and benefits, one must take into account <i>all</i> aspects, including the risks of the diseases being prevented, which carry a greater risk of complications than the vaccines.<br /><br />We should always strive to make vaccines as safe as possible, but allowing fearful "what ifs" to take over don't do anyone any good.Todd W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16192694127268195554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-64249721972627919432016-04-11T21:29:57.345-04:002016-04-11T21:29:57.345-04:00I agree with you, "Real Science." I am ...I agree with you, "Real Science." I am a medical professional and I am not against OR for vaccinations because truly, either side can prove that they either work or don't work. <br /><br />I have seen children with vaccine injuries as well as children who (at least in the short-term) seem to do just fine with them. As a parent personally, I admit that there could be long-term effects that we have yet to understand that could be harmful, and this concerns me. The fact that vaccines completely go around the cascade system of the immune system itself and is put directly into the patient's blood stream with no buffers, is shocking in and of itself. Vaccines might not cause autism, but what OTHER problems do they possibly cause? I cannot answer this question -- currently, no one can. <br /><br />Therefore when asked as a medical professional if I think parents should vaccinate, I tell them that it's a personal decision. They should weigh the risks on BOTH sides of the aisle and ask themselves which possible outcome seems worse? Some parents opt for more natural preventative measures to keep their children well, by boosting the immune system instead of injecting chemicals that are mostly foreign. Maybe a bigger effort should be focused in THIS area of medicine, instead of vaccine production. <br /><br />Either way, I admit that I do not know the best answer or solution. Vaccines also don't take into account that every human being is different and just like medications, you don't know if there is a problem until AFTER the patient takes the medication or the vaccine. One just hopes that they don't kill the patient or do irreparable harm while trying to figure this out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09703577662277023735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-55091396009993231842011-08-01T08:18:09.835-04:002011-08-01T08:18:09.835-04:00Thank you for elegantly explaining why we will lik...Thank you for elegantly explaining why we will likely never have a double-blind placebo-controlled RCT to test whether vaccination causes autism. The same reasoning will also hold so that the role of vaccinations in AIDS, cancer, autoimmune disease, dementia and other non-specific disorders will also never be known. You omit to mention that no RCT can ever advise on the risks of placebo vs treatment for any individual (only populations) and therefore such studies are only useful as propaganda for a government, vaccine manufacturer or insurance company.<br /><br />Given there are a large group of parents convinced that vaccinations are potentially harmful and therefore would avoid this study also, it is surprising that no long-term prospective or retrospective studies have been done to compare the general health, medical costs and well-being of vaccinated vs non-vaccinated people. It is hard to see what bias could be negated using placebo since each group of parents is equally passionate about the choice they are making for their child splitting any psychological placebo effect equally between the groups.<br /><br />It is imperative that such a long-term audit of vaccination outcomes be started as soon as possible (long-term controlled vaccination studies are non-existent), it will provide many more useful answers than a limited short-term RCTs and be free of all the ethical complications you so rightly expose. I wonder why no such study has ever been done?RealSciencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956417317104438697noreply@blogger.com