MMRV Vaccine Linked to Febrile Seizures

photo: flickr by Salim Virji

I've already made my thoughts on America's vaccination policy known, but this latest tidbit which I've been made aware of takes the cake. As I am not currently vaccinating my son, I was unaware that an MMR/Varicella combo vaccine was even available. After reading about it straight from the CDC Web site, I wonder why in the world that it is. The MMR vaccine is controversial enough without adding a fourth component. But here we go...

More Side Effects

The MMRV shot comes with an increased risk for fever and rash, with 1 out of 5 vaccinated children suffering these side effects. Rash doesn't worry me too much, but fever is often a more serious matter than physicians lead parents to believe. The most serious issue related to fever is the risk of seizures and related brain damage.

Febrile Seizures

Those who receive the MMR have higher risk for febrile (fever induced) seizures than unvaccinated kids, but the MMRV poses twice the risk of the MMR alone. The Varicella vaccine by itself has not been shown to cause febrile seizures. Here's what the CDC says about febrile seizures:

Although febrile seizures can be frightening for the child's caregivers,
most are harmless. The majority of children who have febrile seizures recover
quickly and have no lasting effects.

Where are the statistics? What the heck does "most" mean? Do you mean that 51 out of 100 children will have no lasting effects, or 10 out of 100? I wonder how parents of children who have suffered permanent brain damage thanks to a vaccine related seizure feel upon reading these words. I can't help but feel as though the CDC is trying to pat me on the head and tell me to trust them. On what planet are seizures of any kind not a big deal???

Here are the most recent MMRV recommendations from the CDC.

Why do We Need MMRV?

If the MMR vaccine works just fine and has half the risk of MMRV, and the Varicella vaccine has no risk, than why are we combining them and upping the risk? What's wrong with 2 shots instead of one if it is safer for our babies?

Be advised that this next statement comes from a highly jaded, government distrusting, conspiracy warey, and insanely protective mother. They're trying to hog tie us into an all or nothing vaccine. Moms are getting more involved and more informed. We know that we can choose which vaccines are appropriate for our kids. This is terrifying the pharmacutical companies. Drug companies have already stopped producing seperate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines, so that parents are forced to give all or nothing to their kids. Now, they are on a mission to force us to vaccinate for chicken pox (typically harmless childhood sickness) too if we want MMR coverage. Personally, I think chicken pox poses less of a threat to my child than seizures do, but hey, maybe I'm crazy. The drug companies want their money, and they've got the CDC doing all the dirty work. The big drug companies don't care if a few casualties happen on the way to their paychecks. The government protects them as patients are not allowed to sue drug manufacturers due to any vaccine related side effects.

Oh, my. I'm getting a bit worked up, aren't I? Enough of my ranting...

What Do You Think?