The DTaP vaccine is given to infants starting at 2 months of age
Credit: Martin Luckner | ©stock.xchng free stock photos
The DTaP Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us
Manufactured with Casein, a Milk Protein
One of the first important things to note on the DTaP package insert is that portions of the vaccine are cultivated with casein, or milk protein. Cow milk protein is a common infant and child allergen. Any child suspected of having or diagnosed with a dairy allergy should NOT receive this vaccine. This critical information is mysteriously missing from the CDC's DTaP Vaccine Information Statement (VIS), which doctors are required by law to give to parents at the time the vaccine is administered.
Formaldehyde in the DTaP
Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in vaccines and is specifically listed here as the ingredient used to detoxify the vaccine. It has been argued that the amount is too small to be of an significant risk to recipients of the vaccine. It is used in several different industries as a fungicide, germicide, disinfectant, and preservative.
Formaldehyde is frequently used in construction materials and off-gases over time, making it one of the most common indoor pollutants. According to the National Cancer Institute, "Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and brain, and possibly leukemia."
The NCI also lists the health effects of low level exposure as "watery eyes; burning sensations of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, while others have no reaction to the same level of exposure."
The Manufacturer's Studies on Efficacy
GlaxoSmithKline lists studies that determine how effective their DTaP vaccine is at preventing pertussis as defined by the World Health Organization. These two studies concluded that the DTaP vaccine is 84% and 78% effective, respectively. Studies on the vaccine's effectiveness against diphtheria and tetanus are strangely missing from the package insert.
Why The Exclusion of Youth and Adults?
The DTaP package insert specifically states that INFANRIX should not be given to anyone over the age of 7. An explanation is not given. A review of the package inserts of other brands of DTaP, including older DTP vaccines, reveals the same warning, also without explanation.
DTaP Warnings and Contraindications
The DTaP package insert warns that the vaccine should not be given if the recipient experiences any of the following with a previous dose:
-Encephalopathy such as coma, seizures, or loss of consciousness
-Progressive neurological disorder, such as spasms or epilepsy
One of the first important things to note on the DTaP package insert is that portions of the vaccine are cultivated with casein, or milk protein. Cow milk protein is a common infant and child allergen. Any child suspected of having or diagnosed with a dairy allergy should NOT receive this vaccine. This critical information is mysteriously missing from the CDC's DTaP Vaccine Information Statement (VIS), which doctors are required by law to give to parents at the time the vaccine is administered.
Formaldehyde in the DTaP
Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in vaccines and is specifically listed here as the ingredient used to detoxify the vaccine. It has been argued that the amount is too small to be of an significant risk to recipients of the vaccine. It is used in several different industries as a fungicide, germicide, disinfectant, and preservative.
Formaldehyde is frequently used in construction materials and off-gases over time, making it one of the most common indoor pollutants. According to the National Cancer Institute, "Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and brain, and possibly leukemia."
The NCI also lists the health effects of low level exposure as "watery eyes; burning sensations of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, while others have no reaction to the same level of exposure."
The Manufacturer's Studies on Efficacy
GlaxoSmithKline lists studies that determine how effective their DTaP vaccine is at preventing pertussis as defined by the World Health Organization. These two studies concluded that the DTaP vaccine is 84% and 78% effective, respectively. Studies on the vaccine's effectiveness against diphtheria and tetanus are strangely missing from the package insert.
Why The Exclusion of Youth and Adults?
The DTaP package insert specifically states that INFANRIX should not be given to anyone over the age of 7. An explanation is not given. A review of the package inserts of other brands of DTaP, including older DTP vaccines, reveals the same warning, also without explanation.
DTaP Warnings and Contraindications
The DTaP package insert warns that the vaccine should not be given if the recipient experiences any of the following with a previous dose:
-Encephalopathy such as coma, seizures, or loss of consciousness
-Progressive neurological disorder, such as spasms or epilepsy
Comments
Jenny Mae
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/04/2009
I think it is a crime these vaccines contain Casamino Acid or the milk protein without proper disclosure to the doctors. I called the FDA and they admit it contains milk but legally it's the doctors' responsibility. I emailed Sanofi and they didn't even know their vaccine contained milk. The only quick information provided to parents, is the "What you need to know" given to the parent after getting the vaccine. Please read the one for Tdap. You will notice it only mentions, those with severe allergies to LATEX, that these should not be given. What a crime! My husband had a pre-existing autoimmune reaction to casein/gluten, and after getting this "routine" vaccine, nearly died and now has suffered permanent autoimmune problems. What if this were a child's brain? They would suffer learning/social difficulties or develop autoimmune disease down the road. We need to change the labeling laws on medications and drugs!!
Michael Schommer, RN
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/16/2009
Regarding your concerns about why the DTaP should not be administered to anyone above age 7, I believe that it is because the levels of diphtheria and pertussis components in DTaP caused older children and adults to experience a high rate of side effects. The Tdap (which has less diphtheria toxoid, and less pertussis) was developed, for use in older children and adults (ages 10-64), to decrease the incidence of such side effects.
I am not espousing any position on whether or not to vaccinate, except to say that I believe patients and parents should research any treatment they elect for themselves or their loved ones, discuss any concerns with trusted medical professionals, and try to make the best decision they can, given available information, and their own intuition. None of us is omniscient, and I suspect almost everyone wants to do well by their loved ones (and patients), so if something bad happens, accept the unforeseen, grieve as necessary, and try not to blame yourself or
I believe Americans are going waaay overboard with vaccinations... especially those which haven't been adequately researched, OR have been shown to be unsafe and/or useless.
when I first started researching vaccines and childhood diseases pertussis (whooping cough) was the one that did scare me the most BUT besides the vax not being very effective, the most dangerous time to contract WC is the first few months of life when a baby won't even have the full series so any so called immunity is not even present. And those who pass pertussis on to our babies are adults - both vaxed and unvaxed. This plus the fact that Pertussis is not available for without the D and T portion AND the combo shot is one of the most dangerous of all childhood vaccines made it an easy no for me. Great info in your article mama!
I, too, love this series, Alisa. This is so informative and well-written. I can't wait to read what you've got coming out next!
This is a very informative piece Alisa, I think that people who are researching vaxing will find it helpful.
This was very informative! :) I love this series you're doing. I can't believe the numbers with DTaP. Last year: tHousands of adverse reactions to the vaccine; about a thousand deaths. No one caught diptheria, 32 people got Tetanus but none died; 25,000 caught pertussis, and only 13 died--who were babies under the age of six months old whose immune systems were too weak to fight it off. I'm definitely turning down DTaP from now on, though if we had an outbreak of killer pertussis I might consider it.
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