Mailbag: Should they sell seashells at store?

Regarding the mercury concern, there is no thimerosal in most vaccines, but both brands of Tdap include formaldehyde. Adacel also contains aluminum phosphate and glutaraldehyde, while Boostrix contains bovine extract or casein. These ingredients and their impact on health are obscured from the public.

Still there are bigger issues with the vaccine and epidemic.

A major supporter of Assembly Bill 354 was GlaxoSmithKline, one of the two Tdap manufacturers. Why are drug companies involved in creating public health laws that will increase their profits?

Also, we have responded impulsively to epidemics by increasing immunizations without understanding the pathogen or effects of vaccines. While children have been immunized for pertussis since the 1960s, and vaccination rates remain high in California, the number of pertussis cases last year rivals numbers from 1947. Why would we increase vaccinations without first addressing these anomalies?

The pertussis problem escalated into an epidemic after infant deaths mounted last year. Nine of the 10 deaths were infants less than 2 months of age. According to a Los Angeles Times report, many of these infants were not diagnosed or treated for pertussis, which contributed to their deaths. Why would we increase vaccinations without first improving diagnoses and treatment of infant pertussis?

Hospital exposure poses a hidden problem as well, and a survey of San Diego County adults found that 42% of healthcare workers were not covered by Tdap. Both adolescents and adults can be infected with pertussis without any symptoms. Why would we increase adolescent vaccinations when transmission is likely from adults, including hospital workers?

Even if we vaccinated entire adult and adolescent populations, there is growing evidence that our vaccines may not be effective.

Vaccines have saved countless lives, but they are not all created equal. Discussions get derailed when doctors wave credentials and dissenters point to YouTube videos. Let us work together to demand more rigorous research and prevention before enforcing mass immunizations that impact our individual health, safety and freedom.

Shari Cheves

Laguna Beach