HEPATITIS A FACTS

• Hepatitis A is generally followed by complete recovery and protection, possibly lifelong, against Hep A infection, the duration of protection of the vaccine is UNKNOWN at this time. (Source: Product Instert) Vaccines do not typically provide lifelong immunity. Many times, naturally acquired immunity is lifelong.

• Hepatitis A is transmitted via fecal-oral contact. It's usually transmitted through contaminated food or water. (Source: Product Insert) It is more of a sanitation issue than a vaccination issue.

• Hepatitis A is more serious for adults, over 70% of Hep A related deaths occur in individuals over the age of 49. The overall fatality rate for Hep A is only .6% (less than 1 percent!)(Source: Product Insert) If you vaccinate children and the vaccine induced immunity wears off, they will be susceptible as adults at which time the risk of complications is far greater.

• There were a total of 1,019 cases of Hep A in the state of WA in 1997, only 18 of those cases were associated with outbreaks. There were only 985 cases in 1998. 400 of those cases were in Spokane County, not one case was traced to school.(Source: Annual Communicable Disease Report 1997, Washington State Department of Health and Spokane County Health Department, Epidemiology Office) Why push to vaccinate school children?

• Over 75% of the 1,019 cases in 1997 occurred in adults over the age of 19. (Source: Annual Communicable Disease Report 1997, Washington State Department of Health)

• Of the 400 cases in Spokane County in 1998 (total of 985 in WA state in 1998), 74.5% were in adults over 19 years of age. 18% were in IV drug users. There were NO complications associated with these 400 cases. (Source: Spokane County Health Department, Epidemiology Office)

• Compared to prior years, the last two years’ total number of Hepatitis A cases is NOT alarming. There were 1,001 cases in 1996, 935 cases in 1995, 1,119 cases in 1994, 926 cases in 1993. (Source: Annual Communicable Disease Report 1997, Washington State Department of Health)

• Our largest epidemic was from 1987-1989 with over 2,000 cases in 1987 and 1988 and
  over 3,000 cases in 1989. This epidemic declined ON IT’S OWN WITHOUT VACCINATION. The number of cases fell from 3,273 in 1989 to 1,380 in 1990 with NO VACCINATION. (Source: Annual Communicable Disease Report 1997, Washington State Department of Health)

• Hepatitis A is a very cyclical disease with peaks worldwide every 5 to 7 years. (Source: Product Insert) It’s not surprising to see such a peak in 1997, 7 years after the last epidemic.

• Do 249 cases of Hepatitis A in children 0-19 years of age justify requiring hundreds of thousands of children in Washington to complete a Hepatitis A vaccine series?

• The Hepatitis A vaccine is not covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Source: VICP Webpage http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/bhpr/vicp/new.HTM Does Washington state plan to take full responsibility for any and all damage caused to children by this vaccine?

• Hepatitis A vaccine has not been evaluated for it’s carcinogenic or mutagenic potential or for potential to affect fertility. (Source: Product Insert)

• Hepatitis A vaccine is produced by using human diploid cells which originate from aborted fetal tissue. It contains formaldehyde (a known carcinogen), aluminum hydroxide (aluminum is cumulative in our systems), and phenoxyethanol (synonymous for ethylene glycol or antifreeze, a suspected developmental and reproductive toxicant). (Sources: Product Insert and Environmental Defense Fund)

• The product insert states that contraindications to Hep A vaccine include hypersensitivity to phenoxyethanol (antifreeze) and aluminum. Are we going to test every child for this hypersensitivity BEFORE we inject them with the vaccine?

Hepatitis A vaccine is available. We believe parents have the right to vaccinate their children with the vaccine if they so choose. However, we also believe that children have the right to a public education even if their parents make an informed decision not to use this vaccine. Please leave this decision where it should be, in the hands of the parents. It will be the parents and children who live with the consequences of using this vaccine, not the board of health, not the doctor, not the manufacturer. Why should we have to live with consequences of a decision we are not allowed to make?

Dawn Winkler
Vice President
Concerned Parents for Vaccine Safety
(509)456-8767
dwinkler@sisna.com
http://home.sprynet.com:80/sprynet/gyrene/home.htm

ANY INFO OBTAINED HERE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION TO VACCINATE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.