 
OUR CHILDREN'S IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE ENVIRONMENT
April, 2005
In regards to the environment and our health, it is a much more dangerous world we and our children have been born into. We hear increasing reports in the media regarding mercury toxicity in the air, water, fish and vaccines. The environment has become more polluted as compared to our grandparent's time. This reality is complicated by processed foods, food preservatives, food colorings and food additives. Along with increased consumption of fast foods, school lunches, air and water pollution, car exhaust and industrial wastes; we begin to see a picture that is not pretty. There is a price we are paying for all the wonderful technology we all benefit from.
The above realities create what we can refer to as an ever increasing toxic load that our elimination and immune systems are having a harder time dealing with successfully. An article recently written in a newsletter called, New Developments (winter '04-05), discusses vaccinations specifically. The article was written by Donald W. Miller, M.D. Dr. Miller is a cardiac surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle and a member of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. Dr. Miller highlights some important facts. Fifty years ago, a typical vaccine schedule contained only four vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and smallpox). At that time autism was virtually unknown. Our current Childhood Immunization Schedule decided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls for one vaccine, against hepatitis B, to be given on the day of birth; seven vaccines at two months; six more at four months; and as many as eight vaccines on the sixth month well-baby visit. Seven vaccines injected into a 13 pound, two-month old infant are equivalent to 70 doses in a 130 pound adult.
We need to discuss seriously what constitutes safety. Vaccines have been a huge help in modern health care. In light of some of the above concerns and realities, an examination of "risks versus benefits" must become a high priority in public health during an age where autism, allergies, asthma, ADD and hyperactivity are escalating at an alarming rate. We can’t make 100% causal conclusions at this time without further research and epidemiological evidence. Yet, the facts of the above realities and these alarming conditions demand and deserve more attention and thought to how we are contributing to the development of our children’s immune and neurological development.
Dr. Miller suggests a look at a possibly more "user-friendly" vaccination schedule that would delay immunizations until a child is two years old. This would allow the immune system to develop and mature before demanding so much of it. Maybe we should be more diligent about delaying vaccinations after a child has been sick or after a recent round of antibiotics. Can we delay vaccines for the first two years of life and avoid some possible damage to developing immune systems without risking a rise in certain infectious diseases? These are necessary questions that need to be asked and looked into seriously. The public can have a huge part in this discussion by educating themselves and helping to speed up the investigations necessary to answer these questions. Our children and future generation’s health and wellbeing are at stake. One good source of information which covers these questions on a regular basis is the above mentioned newsletter (www.devdelay.com).
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