The Proliferation of Immunizations over the Decades

In the early 1950s, children in the United States routinely received only four vaccines: tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and smallpox. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis were combined into one injection, called the DTP shot.
By the 1980s, in addition to the DTP vaccine, children were also receiving immunizations for mumps, measles, and rubella in one shot ( MMR ), as well as polio vaccine. Smallpox was no longer required beginning in the early 1970s.

In the past twenty years, several more immunizations have been mandated for children, including the Hemophilus influenza type b (Hib), hepatitis B, and varicella (chicken pox) vaccines, along with  changing the oral polio vaccine to an inactivated polio virus injection (IPV). And over the past several years, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has also been added to prevent pneumonia and meningitis caused by this bacterium. Today, the immunization schedule recommended for children by the Departement of Health and Human Services is almost bewildering. Children receive as many as twenty vaccines by 2 years of age, and many get as many as eigth injections in a single doctorsc visit.

The relationship between the tremendous increase over the past thirty years in the number of vaccinations children receive and the dramatic rise in the various neurological problems were seeing in children-including learning disabilities, ADHD, and a frightening increase in the diagnosis of autism-is impossible to ignore.

Immunizations  work by stimulating the immune system. In response to this stimulation, white blood cells dramatically increase their production of chemicals called cytokines, which produce inflammation that can damage delicate neurons. The more Immunizations at a given time, the higher the cytokine surge and subsequent risk of neuron damage. Scientific research now reveals a direct relationship between brain cytokines and variety of brain disorders, including ADHD, autism, and even Alzheimers disease. My feeling is, better to be safe than sorry.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is actually a range of times (such as between 1 and 4 months, or between 6 and 18 months) that is acceptable for children to receive each particular Immunization. You can create a brain-friendly schedule by reducing the number of Immunizations your child receives at each doctors visit. Be sure to request single-dose vials of each vaccine. This means that you will have to return to the doctor for more doses of the vaccine is administered at each visit. Of course, this not the most convenient suggestion, as it means several more visits to the doctors office. But I trully believe that separating Immunizations to reduce the amount of vaccine your child receives at any one time will definitely reduce the risk of serious reactions.