The truth about vaccines
I am posting this short Substack article from Dr. Stillwagon because the nature, science, risks and questions of efficacy about vaccines are generally poorly understood.
Pause for reflection.
The polio and rotovirus vaccines were the only two that were created using the entire antigen to illicit an truly robust antibody response and a very high level of protection for the host. All other vaccines are suboptimal because they use only parts of the antigen which trains the immune system to identify only those parts and not the whole antigen as it appears in nature. All viruses mutate, for example. This fact complicates how effective antibodies may be to fulfill their intended purpose.
According to Copilot (ChatGPT),
There are over **30 different non-COVID-19 vaccines** (9 for Covid-19) that are commonly used worldwide to prevent various infectious diseases³. These vaccines target diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis, influenza, and many others.
(1) Global vaccine market report - World Health Organization. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/immunization/mi4a/who_gat_008_global_vaccine_market_report_march_12.pdf
Common side effects of non-COVID-19 vaccines are generally mild and temporary. They can include:
1. **Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site**
2. **Mild fever**
3. **Fatigue**
4. **Headache**
5. **Muscle or joint aches**
6. **Chills**
These side effects usually resolve on their own within a few days³. Serious side effects are rare but can include allergic reactions. It's always a good idea to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.
(1) Vaccine Side Effects - HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/safety/side-effects/index.html.
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 2024-09-05
Informed Consent
A risk-benefit analysis is a common and pragmatic approach to decision-making in a wide range of contexts. Thoroughly done, actions can be undertaken with confidence that the desired outcome can be expected. There are go guarantees, however, because unexpected ‘variables of risk’ can be lurking in the weeds.
Public Health institutions issue “approved” vaccine schedules for children which are mandated if the child expects to attend Public Education.
Yet, every child is unique and there is no way to know if a risk to any given child is “lurking in the weeds”. The myocarditis deaths of adolescent boys and young men who accepted “the jab” as a condition for sports participation is just one highly publicized example of what the weeds can be hiding.
When a doctor recommends a vaccine for a patient, how often does the doctor provide a risk-benefit analysis that meets an acceptable level of informed consent for that patient? You may accept the recommendation on trust while I may be the kind of patient who acts on the “trust, but verify” principle before accepting a treatment.
Some day, I hope an LLM for medical treatments will be universally available. A single prompt to this AI advisor could generate in minutes a complete risk-benefit analysis to advise every patient. Ideally, the patient’s medical records will be referenced to immediately flag any specific risks for that patient.
Child immunization Schedules.
Public Health authorities, such as Health Canada, ostensively exist to protect the health of every Canadian.
Has Health Canada invested in a project to create an LLM for medical treatments?
Every parent would likely agree that a high-priority application might be the risk-benefit analysis vaccines for children according to their medical history. A tool like this should be accessible to physicians and patients alike so that an acceptable and ethically sound level of Informed Consent could be reached by all stakeholders.