The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends administering the Hepatitis B vaccine at the following ages:
Understanding Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can lead to severe liver damage in a small percentage (less than 5%) of those infected. The virus is not highly contagious and cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as sharing utensils, sneezing, or coughing. HBV is spread through contact with infected body fluids, such as blood or semen, and can enter the body via skin cuts, shared needles, seasoned prostitutes, or during childbirth from an infected mother.
Prevalence of Hepatitis B
Globally, about 350 million people are infected with Hepatitis B, with only 1.2 million cases in the United States. Most cases are found in Asia and Africa.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of November 9, 2020, for ‘documentation sufficient to reflect any case(s) of transmission of Hepatitis B in an elementary, middle, or high school setting.’ A search of our records failed to reveal any documents pertaining to your request. Unless their mothers harbor the virus (determined by routine prenatal blood testing [Surface Antigen Test), newborns are probably the least likely human beings on the planet at risk of actually getting hepatitis B. In 1996 only 54 cases of the disease were reported to the CDC in the 0-1 age group. There were 3.9 million births that year, so the observed incidence of hepatitis B in the 0-1 age group was just 0.001%. In the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), there were 1,080 total reports of adverse reactions from hepatitis B vaccine in 1996 in the 0-1 age group, with 47 deaths reported. Total VAERS hepatitis B reports for the 0-1 age group outnumber reported cases of the disease 20 to 1. At-Risk Populations
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the groups most at risk include intravenous drug users and men who have unprotected sex with other men. In the U.S., the highest rates of chronic Hepatitis B infection are among foreign-born individuals, particularly those from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Africa.
Vaccine Efficacy and Protection
Theoretically, the Hepatitis B vaccine should help prevent the spread of the disease as it is communicable. However, the vaccine's effectiveness is sometimes debated. According to the Physicians’ Desk Reference, the duration of the protective effect is unknown. The CDC states that the vaccine is 95% effective, but other studies suggest this efficacy may be overstated. Additionally, avoiding high-risk activities, such as unprotected sex with Hepatitis B-positive individuals and using dirty needles, provides protection.
Risk of Hepatitis B Infection
Approximately 95% of individuals infected with Hepatitis B recover completely and gain lifelong immunity. For the remaining 5%, the virus can lead to serious complications, such as liver cancer or cirrhosis, over 20 to 40 years. Acute infections result in death in about 0.2% of cases.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms of Hepatitis B can vary from mild to severe, including:
Chronic Hepatitis B infection can lead to severe complications such as liver cancer, cirrhosis, and potentially death. Vaccine Effectiveness
While the CDC claims the vaccine is 95% effective, the true efficacy may be lower. Routine booster doses are not generally recommended as the duration of the vaccine's protective effect is uncertain.
vaccine benefits
The Hepatitis B vaccine is especially beneficial for high-risk groups, such as IV drug users and those engaging in unsafe, unprotected sex with multiple partners. These individuals should carefully consider the risks and benefits of vaccination.
HEPATITIS B VACCINE: ingredients
Engerix-B (GSK)
Aluminum exposure
According to the CDC, one significant concern linked to following the childhood vaccination schedule is the risk of persistent asthma due to aluminum exposure. Aluminum, the most common vaccine adjuvant, is present in many vaccines, including the hepatitis B vaccine. Despite its known neurotoxicity, manufacturers add aluminum to vaccines to create an enhanced inflammatory response that theoretically generates higher protective antibodies.
However, an increasing number of parents are concerned that repeated exposure to vaccines containing aluminum may be harming their children. Indeed, previous animal studies have demonstrated that aluminum increases the risk of allergy by inducing a T helper 2 (Th2) cell-biased immune response. In simpler terms, aluminum causes T cells to become overactivated, exacerbating allergic responses. This overactivation is known to affect airway inflammation and the hyperresponsiveness observed in children with allergic asthma. A study conducted in January involving 326,991 children born from 2008 to 2014 aimed to assess the association between cumulative aluminum exposure from vaccines before age 24 months and persistent asthma at ages 24 to 59 months. The study found a 1.26- and 1.19-times higher risk of persistent asthma for each additional milligram of vaccine-related aluminum exposure. While the observational study stopped short of proving a definitive link between aluminum-containing vaccines and asthma, it highlighted a concerning correlation. Despite these findings, the CDC has stated that it has no intention of altering its vaccine recommendations based on this study alone. However, the researchers pointed out a notable trend: rates of asthma in U.S. children steadily increased in the 1980s and 1990s and then remained steady since 2001. This date is significant because most aluminum-containing vaccines were added to the childhood vaccine schedule before 2001. These vaccines include, for example, diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B, some formulations of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. The persistence of asthma rates and the correlation with the introduction of aluminum-containing vaccines raise important questions about the long-term safety of these adjuvants in childhood immunizations. And that's not all the harm aluminum causes! Researchers have observed aluminum induces neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects (e.g. microglial activation) from dosages of aluminum adjuvants lower than or approximately equal to dosages received by infants according to the CDC vaccine schedule. Additionally, vaccines have been demonstrated to cause immuneactivation brain injury. These studies reveal that early-lifeimmune activation is a causal factor in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia). The accumulating evidence indicates that vaccine-induced immune activation, and aluminum adjuvants in particular, may cause mental illnesses and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. Hepatitis B Vaccine: Side Effects
The HBV vaccine (Merck & GSK) was never tested against a true placebo, which is necessary to determine a safety profile risk prior to licensure.
Epidemiological and mechanistic evidence makes it clear that yeast proteins in HBV vaccines can cause numerous autoimmune disorders, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), hypothyroidism, vitiligo and narcolepsy. Recombivax (Merck) - safety review after injection = 5 days The package insert for Merck’s Recombivax lists a range of potential side effects:
The package insert for GlaxoSmithKline’s Engerix-B lists these side effects:
Adverse Events Reported to VAERS
The VAERS has documented various adverse events following Hepatitis B vaccination. Although vaccines are generally safe, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) acknowledges and compensates for vaccine injuries. Since 1988, 279 lawsuits related to the Hepatitis B vaccine have been successful, highlighting the potential for serious side effects.
The persistent failure of neonatal Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) rates to decline, coinciding with the increased administration of the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, raised significant concerns. This prompted an investigation, particularly given the report by Silvers et al. which indicated that some infant deaths initially reported to VAERS as SIDS between July 1990 and June 1997 would not meet the current SIDS case definition. From 1992 to 2002, 170 reports related to neonatal hepatitis B vaccination were filed with VAERS in New Hampshire. Of these, 38 reports (22.4%) concerned deaths, with 29 cases remaining unexplained. Within these, 24 deaths were classified as SIDS according to the United States National Vital Statistics, while 4 were attributed to unknown causes. Preterm infants, particularly those with a birth weight below 2000 grams, have a reduced immune response to the hepatitis B vaccine. Consequently, it is recommended to delay vaccination until these infants reach the age of one month to ensure a more effective immune response. In addition to the death reports, there were 11 reports of emergency room visits following vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine lot 2612A2. By the end of 2002, there were also 30 VAERS reports indicating cerebral edema after the administration of the hepatitis B vaccine, either alone or in combination with other vaccines. Over the same period, from January 1992 to December 2002, VAERS received approximately 60 reports of bleeding and about 700 reports listing liver problems following hepatitis B vaccination. These findings highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and evaluation of vaccine safety, particularly in vulnerable populations such as preterm infants. The data underscores the importance of careful consideration and adherence to vaccination guidelines to minimize adverse effects and ensure the health and safety of all infants. Association with autism
Recent research (2016) has raised concerns about the neurological impacts of the Hepatitis B vaccine, particularly in early developmental stages. A notable study involving mice demonstrated that those vaccinated with the HBV vaccine exhibited significant behavioral changes. The vaccinated mice, referred to as HBV mice in the study, showed a marked decrease in locomotion, indicating reduced physical activity. Additionally, these mice displayed increased anxiety levels, a concerning behavioral shift that highlights potential neurological disturbances caused by the vaccine.
One of the most striking findings from the study was the significant increase in the cytokine IL-6 levels in the HBV mice. IL-6 is a biomarker that has been associated with various neurological conditions, including autism. The elevated IL-6 levels in the vaccinated mice suggest a possible link between the HBV vaccine and neuroinflammatory processes, which could contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. The study authors were particularly troubled by the latency period observed in the onset of neurological symptoms. The adverse effects on behavior and neurogenesis in the hippocampus did not manifest immediately but appeared after a considerable delay post-vaccination - it takes time for the side effects to appear. This latency is significant because it suggests that the current short-term monitoring periods used in vaccine trials may not be sufficient to detect all potential adverse effects. The authors noted the complexity of the mechanisms underlying this delayed response, indicating a need for further research to fully understand the immune and neural interactions at play. The conclusions drawn by the study authors are compelling and call for a reevaluation of the current vaccination practices, especially in neonates. The study's findings suggest a potential association between early HBV vaccination and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and multiple sclerosis. The authors explicitly state that their work reveals, for the first time, the impairments in behavior and hippocampal neurogenesis induced by early HBV vaccination. This study underscores the critical role of animal research in understanding the neurotoxic effects of vaccine adjuvants. A recent editorial by a group of scientists emphasized that animal studies are crucial for identifying neuro/immunologic adverse effects that are difficult to establish through epidemiological studies alone. Epidemiology, which relies on large-scale data analysis, can often miss subtle but significant health outcomes. Therefore, biological science and animal studies, like the one conducted by Dr. Yao and his colleagues, are essential for a comprehensive assessment of vaccine safety. The evidence presented in this study provides a substantial challenge to the assumption that vaccines, including the HBV vaccine, are entirely safe with regard to neurological health. The observed behavioral changes, cytokine spikes, and delayed onset of symptoms in vaccinated mice suggest that more extensive and long-term studies are necessary. These findings highlight the importance of reconsidering the current vaccination protocols and ensuring that safety assessments are thorough and adequately long-term. As the debate over vaccine safety continues, studies like this serve as a crucial reminder of the potential complexities and risks involved in immunization practices. Recent findings indicate that U.S. male neonates vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine before 1999 faced a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with autism. Specifically, these boys had a threefold increased risk of an autism diagnosis reported by their parents compared to those who were not vaccinated as neonates during the same period. The risk was particularly pronounced among nonwhite boys, suggesting that racial disparities might play a role in vaccine-related outcomes. This data underscores the need for thorough investigation into the potential long-term effects of neonatal hepatitis B vaccination and highlights the importance of considering demographic factors when assessing vaccine safety and efficacy. Who Should Avoid the Vaccine?
The CDC advises consulting with a healthcare provider before vaccination if there has been an allergic reaction to a previous dose, any severe allergies (to yeast or heavy metals), or if the individual is moderately or severely ill. Newborns, who are neither IV drug users nor sexually active, are often deemed not to be at significant risk for Hepatitis B and may not be ideal candidates for this vaccine, given the risks associated with all medical procedures, including vaccinations.
It is undeniable, the Hepatitis B vaccine contains ingredients that pose potential risks. Both Recombivax and Engerix-B list significant side effects and contain aluminum and formaldehyde, which have known toxicities. The administration of the Hepatitis B vaccine to newborns should be carefully considered. Evaluating the risks and benefits, understanding potential side effects, and considering lifestyle factors are essential steps in making an informed decision about the Hepatitis B vaccine. Summary
Infants, toddlers, and young children who receive the hepatitis B vaccine face minimal risk of contracting hepatitis B, yet they are subjected to significant potential risks. These risks include the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, autoimmune illnesses, and even the possibility of death.
For children in the 0-1 age group, the ratio of reported vaccine injuries and deaths associated with the hepatitis B vaccine to actual cases of hepatitis B infection is at least 20:1. This stark disparity raises serious questions about the constitutionality of mandating hepatitis B vaccination for populations with little to no risk of contracting the disease. Mandates for hepatitis B vaccination in these young populations fail to respect the principles of personal liberty, equal protection under the law, and the health rights of the children. The imposition of such mandates without sufficient justification for the targeted age group undermines the protection of individual freedoms and raises ethical and legal concerns. references
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