Child Vaccination

© 19 Colin Melbourne

Read Part 1

Part 2 of 3

When Smallpox Comes to Town

Vaccination was invented in the eighteenth century by English doctor, Edward Jenner, who noticed local dairymaids were able to resist the Smallpox plagues that ravaged the world.

Swathes of humanity, including many kings and queens, were wiped out by the lethal pox virus. (See below for images of victims.)

Those who recovered were left scarred and disfigured by hideous pustules.

How Vaccination was Invented

Dr. Jenner noticed milkmaids, handling Cowpox on the teats of dairy cows, developed unsightly ‘milker’s nodules’ on their hands, but significantly, did not succumb to Smallpox.

As an experiment, he took a drop of the cowpox exudate from a nodule on the hand of a dairymaid, and scratched it into the arm of his gardener’s child, and found that this conferred protection from Smallpox.

Previously, people underwent a similar, but very hazardous technique named variolation which used live Smallpox Variola virus, and induced the disease. About one in a hundred died from variolation itself, compared with 30 in a hundred from Smallpox proper.

Jenner’s approach was far safer, and he convincingly confirmed its efficacy against Smallpox, using his own child as a test case.

Jenner named the method vaccination.

Greatest Life-Saving Invention

Vaccination against numerous diseases has subsequently been instrumental in saving millions of lives.

It is highly likely that you and I would not have existed, but for the work of Dr. Jenner.

There’s little doubt that, through his discovery, Dr. Jenner has saved more lives than anybody other than The LORD Jesus Christ.

Make certain Christ has saved you.

Smallpox was eradicated worldwide in the 1980’s. (Though the virus remains stored in various medical and weapons research laboratories.)

Side-Effects of Vaccination

Vaccination against disease organisms has been of immense benefit to humanity, livestock, and pets.

Not all individuals react beneficially to the antigens and components of modern vaccines, especially when live vaccines are used. For this reason, killed or attenuated antigens are preferred, but live virus vaccine is necessary when the immune response is weak to a dead vaccine.

Clinicians warn recipients of any side effects, which mostly pass without notice.

In very rare cases, anaphylaxis, and death may occur with some vaccines, for example recently using the Measles, Mumps, Whooping Cough (MMR) vaccine in the Island of Samoa.

However, that event caused parents to stop vaccinating their babies, and subsequently in 2019 an island-wide Measles outbreak has so far killed over 53 people, mostly unvaccinated babies, prompting a nationwide Measles vaccination effort.

By and large the benefit of vaccination far outweighs any risk of adverse reaction.

Vociferous Parents

Some “anti-vax” (sic) parents have campaigned against the use of child vaccines, citing the incidence of anaphylactic shock and death, and severe side effects from Thiomersal (a Mercury derivative) often used in multivalent vaccines.

It’s very unwise to seek knowledge and understanding from social media and alarmist articles on the internet. Responsible Christian parents always therefore ask the LORD what to do when faced with the choice of vaccination.

Here’s what Smallpox victims look like, and 20-30 percent die.

Ebola virus is more contagious and even more lethal, 70 percent of Ebola patients die.

Continue reading Part 3 … What To Do When Ebola Comes to Your Town?

Be Healed, Stay Healthy, and Heal the Sick

© 19 Colin Melbourne

You may also wish to read;

If ‘Vaccinated’… You’ve Been Had