<p>If in fact the incidence is increasing. Just because he says so I don’t believe it. </p>
<p>The International Journal of Toxicology publishing an article on vaccines by a person who sees vaccines as a toxin would seem to point to a suspect journal to me, too. If it’s a real epidemiologic change it should be in an epidemiology or infectious disease or immunology journal. The data should be traceable to MMWR, if the data on incidence is real.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>It’s an interesting theory but is not very well supported by what we know of the actual virus. Once you get chicken pox, like all the other herpes viruses, the virus permanently moves in and lives quite happily inside cells in your body. It lives in a dynamic equilibrium with your immune system. The virus is constantly trying to grow and your immune system is constantly holding it in check. </p>
<p>And both of you could live happily ever after. At least until the balance gets upset. Which usually happens when your immune system gets stressed or weakened for some reason, usually old age. The virus then “sees its chance” and bursts forth into a full blown reactivation - shingles.</p>
<p>The reason why this might be regarded as inconsistent with the theory is that once you are infected you are constantly exposed to the virus - for the rest of your life. The virus lurking inside the cells constantly expresses its proteins on the surfaces of infected cells, stimulating the immune system to keep it in check. So the upsetting of the balance is not normally due to any lack of exposure. It’s due to the weakening of the immune response to the exposure.</p>
<p>Now why the shingles vaccine works is not so much because it re-exposes you to the virus. You’ve already got plenty of exposure to the virus. It works because it re-exposes you to the virus along with the adjuvants (immune boosters) that stimulate your immune system into sort of a super-response. Pretty much all modern vaccines contain these adjuvants and conjugates that quite often provide an immune response much stronger than what natural infection provides.</p>
<p>^ Nicely done!</p>
<p>^ Yes! And I never thought about the dormant virus as a constant antigen reminder before. But that’s exactly what it is, isn’t it.</p>
<p>
That sounds like the virus is still active, not dormant.</p>
<p>A virus’ proteins are always there, it’s just in the structure of the virus itself. No active “doing anything”, just the very protein stucture is an antigen.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>A rough analogy to a cell harboring a “dormant” herpes virus, such as chicken pox, would be a house full of crooks that the cops have completely surrounded. The cops don’t have the ability to get the crooks out of the house, but they promptly arrest any of the bad guys as soon as they poke a head out the door or window. The crooks can’t do anything except stay in the house. It’s a stand-off. But in the sense of committing any more crimes the crooks are completely “dormant.”</p>
<p>But should the cops relax their vigil at any point the crooks quickly mount a charge out the door and resume their mischief. When the chicken pox crooks do this we call it “shingles.”</p>
<p>My husband got shingles at the age of 40 (probably because of the stress due to being out of work). A horrible experience! The pain around his chest was so bad that he thought he was having a heart attack. That same week, our nine-week-old son was hospitalized with RSV. DH couldn’t come near the hospital since he would have exposed patients to the chicken pox virus. I will be getting a shingles vaccine the second I turn 60 (or sooner, if insurance will pay for it).</p>
<p>Those of you who are or know someone who is anti vaccine, what is the benefit to the government to have such a conspiracy?</p>
<p>I think it’s a libertarian view of government: Don’t make me do anything, even if it’s for my own good. </p>
<p>My sister has a friend from college. Both she and her husband are diehard conservatives. Sister commented on the husband’s motorcycle and said, “I hope you’re wearing your helmet?” Husband exploded and said, “I don’t have to until January 1st! THEN I guess ‘they’ can tell me what to do!”</p>
<p>Edited to add: I didn’t really address your question, did I.</p>
<p>“chicken pox crooks”, best laugh of the day!</p>
<p>S2’s first varicella did not “take”, i.e., his titer came back negative, but we only found that out a few years later in hospital. He can’t have any of the boosters. Cytomegalovirus (I’m certain I’ve spelled it wrong) CMV is a runaway reaction to exposure to chicken pox found in many immunesuppressed patients (transplants, chemo, etc.). So we worry about unvaccinated people, but know there’s little to be done. S1 had all his varicella, DH and I of course had raging cases of chicken pox back in the day…</p>
<p>Just to point out that immunology is extraordinarily complicated and mysterious. To continue the excellent illustration, we know what the crooks are wearing, what they’ve put in their bags, and what door they want to come out of, and maybe even how to keep them in the house. But we don’t know why they picked our house, how they got there, or who they are or how to keep any other crooks out.</p>
<p>^^Actually CMV (and you spelled cytomegalovirus correctly) is not the same virus that causes chicken pox and shingles. It’s a cousin - another member of the herpes family. And CMV, like chicken pox, is another virus that most people get as a child that then takes up permanent residence but is held in check by a healthy immune system. But unlike varicella (chicken pox virus) its initial infection doesn’t normally cause a rash, just a fever that goes away in a few days. </p>
<p>CMV is indeed the bane of heavily immunosuppressed patients such as transplant recipients and AIDS sufferers. Transplant doctors spend enormous amounts of time worrying about CMV and adjusting the anti-viral medications of their patients in order to keep the virus from reactivating. </p>
<p>Unlike chicken pox there is currently no CMV vaccine available. But I do know that several companies are working very hard to develop one. And a number of candidate vaccines are being tested. So maybe we’ll get one within the next few years.</p>
<p>Another herpes virus that many people get is EBV, Epstein-Barr Virus. In its initial acute infection it causes good ol’ mono. But after it settles in for long term residence it can reactivate in transplant patients much the same way CMV does.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I know. That’s one reason why I chose to major in immunology in grad school.</p>
<p>GTalum this might help with the conspiracy theory</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Interesting point of view.</p>
<p>^^This quote must be from The Onion, right?</p>
<p>They won’t believe you anyway. Save your breath and/or typing fingers.</p>
<p>^^ugh, EBV. I never thought I’d have conversations with a 10 year old about mono “Mom, <em>fill in the blank with classmate’s name</em> isn’t just sick, they have mono. Is the lab open? Can we go see if my EBV reactivated?” The CMV info is interesting to me. Goodness knows we’ve spent plenty of time dancing around lab results and dosage!</p>
<p>You can get another strain of flu even if you had the shot. Happened to me and I’m a healthcare worker. I accept the odds. If you’ve EVER had influenza, you know it and never forget it. I’ve had it twice in my life and I’m 61 years old. I remember distinctly the first time I ever had it and I was 8 years old.</p>
<p>You cannot get the flu from the shot. If you get the flu a few days after the shot, you were already exposed and going to get sick anyway. If you get the flu several weeks after the shot, you have a strain not included in the shot. You can also contract the flu and have a milder case BECAUSE you were vaccinated.</p>
<p>People need to educate themselves on the process. The scientists have to GUESS early in the year what strains are going to be prevalent the NEXT fall based on what is happening in the southern hemisphere at that point in time.</p>
<p>Quote:</p>
<p>Originally Posted by greenbutton </p>
<p>the notion that the choice to non-vaccinate has no repercussions outside that household is erroneous. Enough people continuing to non-vaccinate puts my son at risk. And I can’t do a thing about that. . . </p>
<p>I’m just saying, it’s not a choice you are making just for yourself.</p>
<p>Quoting for emphasis. I get my flu shot because I don’t want to get sick. But I also get it because I don’t want your son to get sick. >>>>>>></p>
<p>yes, yes, yes.</p>
<p>Vaccines can hurt people. I hate it is the accepted norm to take any if not all vaccines the government mandates you.</p>
<p>This is a trailer to a film about the detrimental effects of vaccines. </p>
<p><a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube;
<p>Myth busted: Vaccines are not immunizations </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.infowars.com/myth-busted-vaccinations-are-not-immunizations/[/url]”>http://www.infowars.com/myth-busted-vaccinations-are-not-immunizations/</a></p>
<p>Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using CC</p>
<p>The best approach is to strengthen your immune system. Tons of fruits, strong vitamins, daily exercise, being outside for at least 1 hour every day year around and maintain weight within nornal range for the height works for me. However, everybody is different. Consider medical proffessional field, being around small children,…etc., there are risk factor outside of our control. What works for some will not work for others, just have to find your own way. >>>></p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>