Study suggests reducing food intake may impair immune system.
University of Chicago researchers found that reduced food intake or even, reducing the amount of feed to a similar mammalian [immunological model -deer mice] system, impaired the immune system's response. The findings were published in the May/June issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. Furthermore, "decreasing the amount of food the mice ate by 30 percent significantly decreased the number of B cells in their systems." The same authors stated, "previous studies have also found that vaccines that provoke B cells to protect the body long-term, such as the vaccine for measles, are less effective among the malnourished."
What is the take home message? Babies are born and have to become accustomed to mouth feeding. Some take to it quickly, others are slower to start. Either way, it takes some infants months to become prepared for the introduction of solid foods, much less become accustomed to a regular feeding schedule shortly after birth. However, before you leave the hospital with your newborn in hand, unless you otherwise state; your baby will be vaccinated with, at minimum, 3 vaccines! Knowing this information alone, are we all really comfortable letting someone that knows nothing about our family history, child's birth weight, or feeding habits, make such a vital decision for us because of State and Federal mandates? When Joey was born, my answer was "No". When asked, my answer is still, "no". Unfortunately, our children must be vaccinated in order to attend daycare facilities, public schools, and even private pre-school/daycare facilities so that the facilities do not risk the loss of their license by 'aiding and abetting' in a form of "child-abuse"(!) (as defined by many agencies that regulate these practices, including the AMA)! How, as concerned parents, do we get around such strict measures? Finally, after all the hell I've been through, I finally am getting the message. I need to share these lessons. For now, I will start with this one: One, be prepared to cut you or your partner's man hours. 2) Do not employ anyone in their toddler years that is a "licensed daycare giver", etc. 3) Get informed. Find out what vaccines are for what 'diseases' and whether they are from live attenuated virus or LAV particles. If no, is it a DNA vaccine or RNA vaccine? I have found over the 15+ years of being in the research and clinical lab fields, that DNA vaccines (that are not mixed with other vaccines) are pretty safe, and would be the only vaccine I agreed Joey could get before we left the hospital on the 3rd day after he took his first breath without me or in the safety of my womb. 4) If you want to see how your baby is going to respond to a vaccination, go with the anti-DNA HBV vaccine series first. It has been proven to be recognized by the immune-system in the same way the immune system would recognize the virus itself, however, the live attenuated viral particles/LAV are not part of the vaccine make-up. 5) Most importantly, when it comes to beginning vaccinations of your infant/toddler/child, establish early-on "one vaccine at a time"(not one vaccine-type at a time, but literally, one vaccine for one disease at a time). No trained/long-standing pediatric nurse or pediatrician will allow your child to be vaccinated again for 21-28 days minimum. Considering the hustle and bustle of Pediatric Clinics, it is wise to have the 'worst' of the vaccines (the combination vaccines or "com vac's", as they are often called) to be planned ahead of time and given during the summer months, when cold and flu season is well over. Also, find a time when no one that has/has had immediate contact with your child is, or has been, sick for 72 hours prior to the day your child gets his/her first "com vac"or start of his/her vaccine series. Once you are able to see (& document) how your child does with other vaccines (including your 1st Hep B), and after you have an established eating and sleep schedule, feel free to allow for the 2nd Hep B with a "com vac" or a different vaccine to be started/given - IF your child has already tolerated (a) previous vaccine(s) or their first set that can be combined. 6) It is best to vaccinate, if possible, during a time when your child will be in your care the most over the 21-28 day period mentioned so YOU can be the one to document any fever, illness symptoms, behavior changes, etc. Once you see how your child responds to EACH vaccine or vaccine group (some come in groups regardless), do not allow ANYONE to talk you into skipping ANY timebefore the "booster shot" is due! If anything, think back to your own childhood, when booster shots were given at age 12 years and ask yourself, "Why does my child need 5 DTaP/DT/Td vaccines, 4 Prevnar, 4 Hib, 2 MMR, 4 Hep B (actually, that one, if scheduled correctly, can be done by the time your child starts Kindergarten if you go on the basis that your child's immune system is in decent shape for that one), 4-5 Polio, and possibly 1-2 Hep A (depending on state regs.) vaccines before he/she is 5 years old??!"!!
Consider this: the meaning of a "booster shot" is to re-familiarize the immune system of its ability to eradicate the disease in question with the original B cell(s) that are storing the originally-formed antibodies (which can take time, some vaccines state 21-28 days before "symptoms of the vaccine dissipate!). Upon final vaccination, that B cell/antibody forms it's final 'back-up copy', so to speak, in order for it to be recalled later in life. (The earlier vaccines were established for childhood exposures, but for some reason, 'not all children' were getting the proper response required by the vaccine. Therefore, the vaccination rate started earlier and the amounts given have gone up.)
It seems the longer between (at least) the final "booster shots" and the initial, immune-accepting vaccine(s), the better for the maturing immune system (using A + B = C thinking). With the above in mind, you can answer this question: if your 'established' infant/toddler/child just got their first series of vaccinations 2 months ago, do you really think the immune system (needing 21 years to reach maturity), is going to FORGET it has gotten a vaccine recently? If Immuno-toxicologists/Immunologist were speaking (or if asked myself), the given answer is "No", and always will be.
Yours,
XXOO
Suzanne
