immunizationmanagers.org/misinformation AIM Vaccine Misinformation Q&A AIM Vaccine Misinformation Q&A 2 Table of Contents INGREDIENTS 22. Why are most vaccines approved before long-term safety data is released?. .7 1. What are adjuvants and are they safe to include in vaccines?. .3 23. Is there sufficient oversight for vaccine testing? .....7 2. Why do vaccines contain aluminum and is it safe? ...3 24. Has the recommended vaccine schedule been sufficiently researched? ..............7 3. Why do vaccines contain mercury/thimerosal and is it safe?. .3 CONSPIRACY 4. Why do vaccines contain formaldehyde and is it safe? ..........................3 25. Are vaccines very profitable for 5. Do vaccines contain aborted fetus cells? .............3 the pharmaceutical industry? .........................7 6. Are vaccines kosher? .................................4 26. How is the pharmaceutical industry held accountable for vaccine safety?. 8 7. Are vaccines halal? ....................................4 27. Does the U.S. government require safety reporting for vaccines and share research INJURY on adverse reactions? .................................8 8. How do we know that vaccines 28. Are vaccine mandates constitutional? ................8 do not cause mitochondrial injury? ...................4 29. Are vaccine mandates necessary? ....................9 9. How do we know that vaccines 30. Should the government mandate do not cause autism? .................................4 vaccines when there are known risks? ................9 10. How do we know that vaccines 31. Do any religions prohibit vaccines?. 9 do not cause SIDS?. 4 32. How does ACIP ensure its recommendations 11. How do we know that vaccines are not biased by the pharmaceutical industry? ......9 do not cause miscarriages? ...........................5 33. If vaccines do not cause injury, 12. How do we know that vaccines are why is there the National Vaccine not responsible for the increase in Injury Compensation program? ......................9 autoimmune issues? ..................................5 34. Why is the pharmaceutical industry 13. How do we know that vaccines protected from being sued for vaccine injuries? .....10 do not adversely affect gut health?. 5 35. Are doctors who do not support or RECOMMENDED VACCINE SCHEDULE follow the CDC recommended vaccine schedule punished? .........................10 14. Why are there so many more vaccines 36. If vaccines are not part of a profit recommended for infants and children now? .........5 scheme, why do doctors get bonuses 15. Aren’t the large number of vaccines for high vaccine rates? ...............................10 too much for an infant’s immune system? .............5 16. Why are we vaccinating for diseases PSEUDO-SCIENCE that are not that serious? .............................6 37. What is the difference between natural 17. Is it okay to pick and choose which vaccines to get? ..6 and vaccine-acquired immunity?. .10 18. What’s wrong with an alternative 38. Was the decrease in VPDs caused by schedule that spaces out vaccines for infants? ........6 improved hygiene/sanitation or vaccination? .......10 19. Has there been adequate research on 39. Are disease outbreaks driven by the current vaccine schedule and the vaccine shedding or unvaccinated individuals? ......11 multiple vaccines in such a short time frame? .........6 40. Are immuno-boosting supplements as 20. Are other countries that recommend effective as vaccines in protecting fewer vaccines healthier than the U.S.?. 6 against disease?. .11 41. Are vaccine-preventable diseases as VACCINE TESTING serious as they are made out to be? .................11 21. What is the process for testing vaccines? 42. How do I know if scientific findings How do we know it is sufficient? .....................6 are legitimate? .......................................12 43. Is the science around vaccines really settled? .......12 44. Why can’t scientists prove definitely that vaccines do not cause serious harm? ...........12 ASSOCIATION OF IMMUNIZATION MANAGERS AIM Vaccine Misinformation Q&A 3 Ingredients can accumulate in a person’s body and cause harm at high levels. Methylmercury is the type of mercury found in fish 1. What are adjuvants and are they and other animals in our food chain. safe to include in vaccines? Many chemical compounds have complex and unfamiliar Adjuvants are ingredients that help vaccines produce a names that can confuse or concern people. However, stronger immune response so the vaccine works better. thimerosal is actually an organic compound and has been Adjuvants may be added to a vaccine to produce more used in vaccines and other drugs since the 1930s, and is antibodies and longer-lasting immunity which means commonly found in contact lens solutions. Today, there a vaccine can use a smaller amount of the virus or bacteria. are only a few vaccines that use thimerosal because vaccine manufacturers have found cost-effective Adjuvants have been used in vaccines since the 1930s. ways to make single-use vials. Thimerosal has been Millions of American children have safely received rigorously studied in the U.S. and many other countries vaccines with adjuvants for decades. Like all vaccines, but for people who still have concerns about it, there are adjuvanted vaccines are rigorously tested in clinical trials thimerosal-free vaccines available. to ensure they are both safe and effective. Once they are approved in the U.S., adjuvanted vaccines continue to be Key resources to learn more: monitored by the CDC and FDA. World Health Organization – Key resources to learn more: Thiomersal Questions & Answers CDC Guide to Adjuvants Immunization Action Coalition – Thimerosal Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Adjuvant Video 4. Why do vaccines contain formaldehyde and is it safe? 2. Why do vaccines contain aluminum and is it safe? Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring compound. In fact, formaldehyde is essential in human metabolism and The reason some vaccines contain aluminum is that it is necessary for synthesizing DNA and amino acids. an effective adjuvant (an ingredient that helps a vaccine All humans have detectable quantities of formaldehyde produce a stronger immune response so the vaccine in their system. works better). Formaldehyde is also used when making vaccines to make Aluminum is naturally found in fruits, vegetables, meats, sure the viruses or bacteria in the vaccine are inactivated and fish – that’s because it’s the 3rd most abundant and don’t cause disease. Most of the formaldehyde is element on earth. The amount of aluminum found in diluted during the process, but a trace amount may still vaccines is well within safe limits. For example, the amount be found in some vaccines. The amount of formaldehyde of aluminum infants receive from vaccines in their first found in vaccines is safe and far less than what is found 6 months is about 4.4 mg. During the same six months, a naturally in the body. An infant naturally has about 1,500 breast-fed baby will typically receive more than twice the times the amount of formaldehyde in their bloodstream amount in a vaccine from their mother’s milk. than what is found a vaccine. Key resources to learn more: Key resources to learn more: CDC Guide to Adjuvants Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Vaccine Vaccine Ingredients Ingredients (Aluminum) American Chemistry Council Fact Sheet 3. Why do vaccines contain mercury/thimerosal 5. Do vaccines contain aborted fetus cells? and is it safe? No, vaccines do not contain aborted fetus cells but there Some multi-dose vials of vaccines contain a type of mercury are some vaccines that are grown in embryo fibroblast called thimerosal because it prevents dangerous microbes cells. The cells today are cultured in labs, but the first cells from growing in the vials once they are opened. There has came from two terminated pregnancies in the 1960s. been concern about thimerosal because some people have confused it with a type of mercury that, at high levels, can Key resources to learn more: be toxic to people. But not all types of mercury are harmful. Vaccinate Your Family – Vaccine Ingredients Thimerosal is an ethylmercury, and is safe because it breaks down and is excreted from the body rapidly. It is different than methylmercury, which is the type of mercury that ASSOCIATION OF IMMUNIZATION MANAGERS AIM Vaccine Misinformation Q&A 4 6. Are vaccines kosher? disease have found no link between the two. However, in 2008 the United States Vaccine Injury Compensation Some Jewish communities have questioned whether Program (VICP) did find that one child who already had vaccine ingredients are kosher. The concern came mitochondrial disease had symptoms that were made worse up because of the gelatin used in some vaccines as a by the vaccines she received. Even though this was the only stabilizer. While this gelatin is porcine-derived (came from such case, the CDC has called for more research on this. pigs), a vaccine is highly purified during manufacturing and is not taken orally. Jewish law has restrictions about non- The mitochondrial disease advocacy group, Mito Action, kosher foods but does not forbid non-kosher products as supports vaccination stating: long as they are not swallowed. Vaccinations are critical in protecting the health of our Most well-known ultra-Orthodox rabbis have stated that children. All children, even those with suspected or known vaccines are kosher, and that immunization is supported mitochondrial diseases, should receive the recommended