Vaccines are built upon a theory of needing antibodies to fight a virus. But research shows that antibodies are not essential and can even alter our immunity.
In this series, we will explore the multifaceted history of vaccines, examine historical data, and seek a nuanced understanding of vaccine efficacy and safety.
For many years, we’ve been told that the measles vaccine is responsible for stopping the spread of measles. Many even blame the occurrence of measles cases on low vaccination rates.
The message we often hear is simple: Thanks to vaccines, we are protected from disease. Yet our bodies are complex and do not always respond well to vaccines. Injecting a foreign substance can lead to dire consequences.
Measles Recovery Possible Without Antibodies
The pandemic taught everyone the science of vaccines: They stimulate the body to generate substances called “antibodies,” which can fight viruses.
Scientists focus primarily on antibodies to measure immunity, yet the immune system is far more complex.
In the 1960s, a study that is now textbook-cited shook the historical view that people needed antibodies to eradicate the measles virus. Scientists were surprised that sick children without antibodies could still recover from measles.
These children had a congenital disease known as agammaglobulinemia, an immune deficiency in which the body cannot produce antibodies.
Transmission electron micrograph of measles virus. CDC via Getty Images
Surprisingly, they recovered from measles just as well as others.
The children showed the typical symptoms of measles and developed natural immunity. Although no measles antibody was detected in their blood, they were able to effectively eliminate the virus since their other immune functions, including innate immunity and T lymphocyte function, were intact.
Further analysis showed that having anti-measles antibodies in the blood was unnecessary for recovering from the illness or preventing reinfection.
This revelation challenged the very foundation of what was once universally accepted. The cornerstone upon which the vaccine industry has been built—the indispensable role of antibodies—is not as critical as we’ve been led to believe in our fight against measles.
If a virus can be eliminated without antibodies, it logically follows that antibodies are not essential. This concept aligns with a fundamental principle in logic: A universal statement can be falsified by a single genuine counter-instance, as suggested by the renowned Austrian philosopher Karl Popper.
Furthermore, T lymphocytes play a general command role in adaptive immunity when the body battles a measles virus infection. It is not surprising to find that when the T lymphocytes of children aren’t functioning correctly, it can lead to fatal measles-related disease.
However, the positive role of a vaccine in stimulating T-cell immunity is minor and can even be detrimental, as reported.
Children with an inability to produce antibodies can still recover well from measles. Illustration by The Epoch Times
Our Miraculous Immune System
With multiple layers of complex defenses from molecules to cells, our intricate immune system works tirelessly day and night to protect us against viruses and bacteria. This natural immunity functions regardless of whether we’ve been vaccinated.
Our miraculous immune system provides a robust first line of defense, starting at the epithelial surface, a thin layer of flat cells in the lungs, gut, and eyes. The measles virus is mainly transmitted via our respiratory tract, where mucosal epithelial cells interfere with the virus life cycle by automatically secreting an interferon substance that puts the cells into an antiviral state.
There are a variety of other immune cells, each with unique skills to fight viruses.
This raises an intriguing question: How does introducing an external measles vaccine designed to stimulate antibody production affect our complex natural immune defense?
Is it possible that some vaccines may be creating more problems than benefits? This is likely the case with the measles vaccine. Before introducing specific vaccine issues, a brief history of measles vaccines will show how they may be interconnected.
History of Measles Vaccine
The measles virus has a high mutation rate, which is typical of RNA viruses. Their replication process isn’t very accurate and they lack mechanisms to correct errors, which means that when a virus replicates, it doesn’t produce exact copies of itself but instead generates a lot of slightly different versions, like a diverse family of viruses. This can rapidly change in ways that make vaccines less effective.
In 1954, virologist John Enders and pediatrician Thomas Peebles successfully cultivated the measles virus for the first time in human kidney tissues. The virus, sampled from an 11-year-old boy named David Edmonston, became the first vaccine source, known as the “Edmonston strain.”
The first version of the attenuated measles vaccine is a product of three years of work by Mr. Enders, including 24 passages through human kidney tissue culture, 28 through human amniotic cell culture, six in fertilized hen eggs, and 13 in chick embryo cell cultures. The modified Edmonston strain resulted in a robust antibody response but no fever, viremia, or rash in injected monkeys.
In 1963, both an inactivated (“killed”) and a live, attenuated (Edmonston B strain) measles vaccine, as described above, were licensed in the United States. Both were abandoned in the next two to four years due to a high frequency of recipients with fever and rash for the attenuated vaccine or lack of protection with the inactivated version.
In 1964, a live and further attenuated (Schwarz strain) vaccine, a product of additional 85 passages of the Edmonston B strain, was tested in a Nigerian trial. The trial confirmed that the “further attenuated” vaccine was superior to the Edmonston B vaccine and caused significantly fewer instances of fever and diarrhea. It was used in countries outside of the United States.
In 1968, another live and further attenuated (Edmonston-Enders strain) vaccine was licensed in the United States. This further attenuated live version, often combined with mumps and rubella (MMR), or mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV), became the primary vaccine used for measles.
A 10-pack and one-dose bottle of measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine made by MERCK, sits on a counter at the Salt Lake County Health Department in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 26, 2019. George Frey/Getty Images
‘Atypical Measles’
The first licensed inactivated (killed) measles vaccine in the United States was discontinued after four years of use (1963 to 1967) when it was found to offer only temporary immunity and vaccinated children later infected with measles developed severe reactions known as “atypical measles.”
This sounds quite similar to COVID-19; those who were “up to date” with their vaccinations were also found more likely to get infected.
A 1967 JAMA study reported that 10 children who had previously received an inactivated measles virus vaccine experienced an atypical measles illness five to six years later.
The illness presented with a two- to three-day severe fever, headache, and muscle or abdominal pain. The degree of headache can often suggest central nervous system involvement. Brain dysfunction was indicated in one patient with evidence of disturbed electrical activity on a brain EEG. Almost all of the children experienced severe complications, including edema and pneumonia.
The rash was distinctly different from a rash developed from natural measles. While a rash in natural measles typically appears first on the face and spreads down toward the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet, the rash pattern in atypical measles usually manifests in an opposite order. It generally begins on the distal extremities, such as the ankles and wrists, and involves the palms and soles of the feet, with subsequent spread to the trunk, often sparing the face.
A natural measles rash typically starts on the face and spreads to the extremities. An atypical measles rash starts at the extremities and spreads to the face. Illustration by The Epoch Times
These symptoms suggest an acute, disseminated response to the injected measles vaccine.
Among the cases was a 6-year-old girl who developed severe atypical measles several years after vaccination and was hospitalized with pneumonia and an unusual rash. The rash progressed with a unique concentration over the right gluteal region, believed to be the site of the 1961 intramuscular injection of inactivated measles vaccine.
Some may say that the current measles vaccines are no longer killed but are live vaccines. However, the key insights from the phenomena of atypical measles is that the vaccines may counteract our immune system’s natural way of fighting the virus, which could cause an unfavorable outcome.
A 2018 PLoS One study indicated that the risk of measles was associated with children aged 12 to 23 months who had received the measles vaccine. Even though the precise diagnosis of those breakthrough cases was not provided in that article, atypical measles cases have also been reported in several Indian outbreaks from 2006 to 2009.
Administering measles antibodies to some children following virus exposure aimed to avert the onset of measles was reported as early as in 1960. Initially this approach appeared to be successful, as these children did not develop rashes, which are commonly associated with the infection.
Similarly, to reduce symptoms associated with the first version of attenuated measles vaccine, doctors often gave measles-specific antibodies (immunoglobulin) with the vaccine, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has recommended. While this approach mitigated the apparent reactions to the live virus, such as fever and rash, it posed potentially serious consequences.
A 1985 Lancet study indicated a significant correlation between injected measles antibodies and unexpected long-term immune disorders.
Some children received measles antibodies after exposure to the virus to prevent measles. As an immediate outcome, they didn’t have rashes, a typical sign of measles infection. However, not having a rash with measles can lead to immune system disorders in adulthood due to prolonged immune disturbances.
The study stated that when antibodies are injected during a measles virus infection, they may interfere with the body’s natural immunity, particularly the T cells’ ability to kill the virus. As a result, the virus may survive better and remain hidden in the body, leading to relapse and more problems later. The author cautioned against using immunoglobulin after measles exposure.
Immune disorders that may be associated include arthritis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, pericarditis, thyroiditis, connective tissue disease, Crohn’s disease, seborrheic skin disease, bone degenerative diseases, and certain tumors.
Injected measles antibodies may be linked to immune disorders in adulthood. Illustration by The Epoch Times
Measles rashes are a vital sign that the body’s immunity, especially killer T-cell immunity, is effectively fighting the measles virus. T-cell immunity is crucial in combating viruses that penetrate our bodies beyond the mucosal barrier.
Similarly, vaccine-generated antibodies may have the potential to trigger immune responses that could harm the body or interfere with natural immunity. Such dysregulated immunity contributes to atypical measles and associated complications after vaccination.
In contrast to the anti-rash concept, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches treatment differently. According to TCM theory, measles is believed to be caused by “fetal toxins” that originate in the womb, are transferred to the baby during conception, and later appear on the body as a rash or blisters.
A fully expressed rash is vital to the child’s full recovery and immunity. According to Dr. Jonathan Liu, professor of Chinese Medicine at Georgian College in Canada, “TCM practitioners often use herbs, mainly Cimicifugae rhizoma (Sheng ma) and Puerariae lobatae radix (Ge Gen), to help the measles rash spread fully from the trunk to the palms. Achieving this goal signifies a natural recovery.”
Potential Link to Severe Brain Issues
The further attenuated versions of the virus used in the measles vaccines may also impact our brain.
The measles virus has immunosuppressive effects and may induce complications in the neurological system. A severe form of brain disease after measles infection is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which features abnormally high amounts of anti-measles antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid and serum.
SSPE can develop years after having measles, leading to progressive problems with thinking, movement, and eventually coma and death.
Since 1967, there have been reports of brain-related issues after measles vaccination. Subsequent investigations focused on encephalitis, the inflammation of the brain tissue.
Observational studies, including retrospective analyses in various countries, have reported cases of encephalopathy or encephalitis following measles vaccine administration. The incidence rate of encephalopathy associated with the measles vaccine is calculated to be around one to 11 cases per million doses.
In 2003, Argentine researchers studied a group of eight children who had measles at age 6 to 10 months during the 1998 measles outbreak. They had received the first dose of the measles vaccine within one year, then four years later developed SSPE.
The brain showed widespread tissue damage, with high anti-measles antibodies in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. This unusually high level of antibodies in the brain tissues raises a disturbing alarm that warrants further investigation into the measles vaccine as a potential factor.
Yet why is there such a significant increase in the risk of SSPE? There is no convincing explanation. The global measles vaccination program has been mandated since the late 1960s and nearly eradicated in 1981. The measles virus has not been reported to be more capable of causing brain disease.
Researchers are blaming vaccine hesitancy resulting in lack of herd immunity and subsequent SSPE. However, it is not rational to solely attribute SSPE to low vaccination rates. SSPE is an indication of altered immunity, which can be caused by a variety of immune factors.
Most people attribute SSPE solely to the complication of measles; however, since the contemporary vaccination is typically administered during the measles infection, very few people may link SSPE to the vaccine. Nonetheless, the role of the measles vaccine deserves a careful investigation.
People may also argue that the measles vaccine only causes 0.5 to 1.1 SSPE cases per million doses in children. Yet it is well known that the adverse events associated with measles vaccines are seriously underreported.
There are two ways to track vaccine adverse events: passive and active. Most systems, like the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), passively gather patient reports, resulting in significantly lower rates of reported adverse events.
The Italian Apulia Region actively monitored adverse effects after the first dose of the MMRV vaccine and found 462 adverse events per 1,000 doses, with 11 percent considered severe. Among these serious adverse events, 38 per 1,000 doses were linked directly to the MMRV vaccine. This is significantly higher than the rate reported by the Italian Medicines Agency’s passive reporting system.
Potential Link to Autism
A 1998 Lancet study investigated 12 previously healthy children who developed chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and regressive developmental disorder—which includes autism. The parents and physicians of these children associated the onset of autism with measles vaccination.
Eight of the 12 children had received the MMR vaccination. The average time from MMR vaccination to the onset of symptoms was six days, ranging from one to 14 days.
The study includes documented medical history and laboratory, neurological, and histological records. The researchers suggested a potential connection to measles vaccination.
Interestingly, the serum antibody level was abnormal in at least four patients. The authors discussed the potential link between autoimmunity and their diseases, concluding that more research should be undertaken.
To determine whether the measles vaccine has caused immune and neurological complications in young, vaccinated children, it is essential to encourage a scientific debate and conduct further clinical research. This is the only way to find the truth and obtain accurate information.
The Lancet article was forced to be retracted, despite its scientific value, due to media capture by industry and the government. The media has wrongly blamed the “discredited” study for lagging vaccination rates. This is a pattern that has also been observed with COVID-19 vaccines.
Incoming kindergartener Jeremy Conner, 5, reacts to an MMR vaccination as his father Mark Conner tries to comfort him in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 26, 2002. David McNew/Getty Images
Rational Reflection on Measles Vaccines
The foundational principle of developing medical technology is “first, do no harm.” Ideally, we seek vaccines that bolster our immune system against viruses while ensuring minimal risk to our health, as we’re putting a vaccine into a healthy person to prevent disease—not treat someone who is sick—so the stakes are much higher.
Acknowledging that no vaccine has yet attained the ideal balance of safety and efficacy is crucial. Despite extensive research and advancements in vaccine development, inherent limitations and complexities must be navigated.
An adequate level of high-quality antibodies produced by our immune system is crucial to effectively combat invading viruses, and this fact is widely acknowledged. However, in measles, antibodies are not mandatory in killing the virus, and unnecessary injected antibodies may harm in the short and long term. What is even worse, misconceptions or misuse of vaccination principles can significantly threaten our ongoing battle against viruses. Over the past three years, the world has witnessed the introduction of a new and unproven mRNA technology during a pandemic, which forced a large population to experiment with it. Unfortunately, many people are now facing unknown long-term effects because of this experiment.
The current narrative surrounding the measles vaccine is multifaceted. While it has played a role in disease prevention, its efficacy may not be as significant as other interventions, such as nutrition, natural immunity, and public health measures. As stated earlier, it’s important to note that there are significant safety concerns.
It is concerning that the scientific community lacks the freedom to openly debate vaccine concerns. Transparency and accountability require rigorous examination of uncensored scientific evidence through meaningful dialogue.
Recognizing the complexity of the human immune system and its intricate biological mechanisms is paramount. While vaccines can, in theory, provide support to the immune system, their effectiveness ultimately depends on internal factors. A comprehensive approach encompassing efforts to boost natural immunity is vital in preparing for future pathogens.
In conclusion, it is essential to have a nuanced understanding of vaccine safety and efficacy, engage in open dialogue, and make informed decisions. By acknowledging the limitations of current vaccination strategies and embracing a holistic approach to immunity and disease prevention, we can better navigate the complexities of public health in an ever-changing landscape.
Next:
We will discuss the polio vaccine.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
