ALERT OVER NEW 5-IN-1 BABY JABS
SUNDAY EXPRESS MAY 14 2006
FRONT PAGE STORY
EXCLUSIVE By Lucy Johnston
HEALTH EDITOR
Brain damage fears after trial results show that two-thirds of patients
experience bad reaction
Babies given the new five-in-one jab face a risk of
convulsions, brain damage or even death.
Results of medical trials by the firm which makes the vaccine have revealed
that the "superdose" vaccination, which was introduced 18 months ago, can
have serious side-effects.
The five-in-one is designed to protect children against diphtheria,
tetanus, whooping cough, Hib influenza and polio in a single shot.
Evidence from the vaccine's manufacturers, Sanofi Pasteur, shows that in
clinical trials 64 per cent of 451 babies given the
Pediacel jab
experienced bad reactions. Ten per cent of these were "moderate to
severe".
These included convulsions, loss of consciousness and high-pitched or
persistent inconsolable crying.
Other studies showed that components of the vaccine can cause breathing
difficulties, blue discolouration of the skin due to lack of oxygen,
swelling of the brain, low blood pressure and extreme allergic shock.
The document prepared for the Medicines Healthcare Regulatory Authority and
publicised by What Doctors Don't Tell You, a monthly newsletter that
questions conventional medicine, has angered doctors and MPs. Professor
Steve Webb, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, criticised the Government
saying: "I am very concerned that these apparently wide spread
side-effects have not been disclosed. The Government
should investigate these concerns urgently".
Dr Richard Halvorsen, a London GP who specialises in innoculations said:
"I'm concerned that this five-in-one is overloading a child's immune
system.
"The risks of vaccinations have been played down by the Government and
parents have been fobbed off with bland reassurances".
And Dr Peter Mansfield, who won a case against the doctor's governing body,
the General Medical Council, for refusing to give the combined
controversial measles, mumps and rubella to infants, said: "This is
scandalous. We're vaccinating babies when their immune systems are not
ready".
Jackie Fletcher from the vaccine damage support group JABS, is also
concerned. She said: "The Department of Health is failing to acknowledge
the dangers of the vaccines and the damage they can cause. It claims the
five-in-one is perfectly safe, but clearly it is not.
"The only person taking a risk here is the baby and parents are not being
given correct information about it".
Health officials claim it is safer than the four-in-one-jab it replaced
which contained the controversial preservative mercury, which has been
linked with autism. The new jab is also deemed to be safer because it
contains inactivated polio to remove the risk that children could
contract polio paralysis from the old oral vaccine
that contained a live sample of the virus.
However, the revelations will ignite debate about the over-use of
inoculations and could hinder Government plans to bring in an even more
intensive vaccination programme that will see children receiving 25
vaccines in 12 injections by the time they are two.
The new proposed schedule contains the controversial MMR jab, the
five-in-one jab, a new pneumococcal vaccine and the meningitis C vaccine.
When the five-in-one was launched the Government vaccine chief urged
parents: " Please do not delay having your child vaccinated. Our vaccines
are extremely safe."
Nicholas Kitchin, medical director of Sanofi Pasteur, insisted: "There are
fewer side-effects with the five-in-one than were reported with the older
four-in-one vaccine.
"All drugs and vaccines have potential side-effects, which parents should
be aware of and these are listed in the information leaflet included with
every dose of the vaccine. Severe reactions are rare and the benefits of
vaccination far outweigh the risks."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health added: "The Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation thoroughly assesses the evidence on the
safety and efficacy of all new vaccines before they
are added to the childhood immunisation programme.
Pediacel has an excellent record.
"Every parent is informed about the potential side effects of every vaccine
in a guide which is given to parents by health visitors."
SUNDAY EXPRESS MAY 14 2006
OPINION
Health chiefs must act now on five-in-one vaccine fears
The Government must move fast to prove that its new super-drug is
completely safe for British babies. The five-in-one vaccination,
introduced 18 months ago, was claimed to be a major
breakthrough in the fight against childhood killer
diseases. The drug, which is intended to provide
protection against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and
meningitis, is given to babies as young as two months and was claimed to
be risk-free.
But evidence collected by the drug's manufacturer tells a different story.
The Sunday Express has revealed that the maker's clinical trials showed
that nearly two out of three infants given an injection of its super jab
experienced significant side effects.
The trials, when linked with other data, revealed a danger that children
could suffer convulsions and even run the risk of brain damage.
This is devastating news for parents. Some health campaigners warn that the
combination of five powerful vaccines adminstered in this way overwhelms
a baby's immune system.
It is vital that the Department of Health intervenes now to restore public
confidence. Every parent knows that no threat to a baby's health is ever
tolerable.