HEPATITIS B VACCINE -- ALL DON`T NEED IT.

94 % of the people exposed to Hepatitis B recover, in 1% the disease may become fulminant
and may result in death. In 5% the disease may become chronic out of which 4% may
become healthy carriers and 1 % may develop cirrhosis of liver and cancer. Actually it’s for
the fear of the patients becoming chronic and possibility of cancer liver that vaccination is
being propagated.

Hepatitis B and cancer liver

How real is the danger of cancer liver occurring in a patient in whom the disease has
become chronic? It is already stated that only 1 % of the people infected by Hepatitis B may
develop cancer liver. Cancer occurs after a long period of chronic liver disease frequently
associated with cirrhosis. It is reported that chronic infections resulting from maternal and
neonatal transmission present a greater risk of cancer liver than those acquired as adults.
It is also suggested that other independent co-operative factors might be implicated. In
certain parts of South Africa and is southern province of mainland China, an association of
dietary aflatoxins and cancer liver has been recognised in several studies ( Yeh and other in
1989 and Bosch & Munoz 1991). The carcinogenic potential of aflatoxins B in liver cells is
well known. Excessive alcohol intake also increases the risk of liver cancer in Hepatitis B
patients. In addition, preliminary data indicate that infection with human hepatitis delta
virus, which causes extremely severe hepatic injury and cirrhosis might be associated with a
more rapid onset of liver cancer (Oliver and other 1991). Hepatitis B infection alone or
associated with co-operate factors can be implicated in only 20% liver cancer patients in
low endemic areas. In Japan where the incidence of liver cancer has been continuously
increasing, the number of cases related to hepatitis B remains constant. It is therefore clear
that the danger of cancer liver occurring in hepatitis B patients is very small and when it
occurs it may be due to other factors also working.

What is Hepatitis B vaccine?

Hepatitis B vaccine is used to prevent the disease. There are two types of
Vaccines available.
a) First generation, plasma derived heat-inactivated vaccine.
b) Second generation, genetically engineered or recombinant vaccine.

Presently the recombinant vaccine is widely used. In this technology a gene from hepatitis B
virus is introduced into yeast cells so that they could produce a viral protein. After
purification this viral protein could be given as vaccine.
Two strains of yeast are used for producing the vaccine i.e. saccharemyces cerevisine or
pichla pastoris.
Vaccines using hybrid particles and chemically synthesized vaccines are also developed
presently.

Duration of protection after vaccination.

According to Merck and Company, the duration of the protective effect of the vaccine in
healthy vaccinees is unknown at present and the need for booster dose is not identified. In
fact approximately 10 % of patients who receive vaccine will fail to develop immunity.

Dangers of Hepatitis B vaccination.

There are many side effects of Hepatitis B vaccination. In India there is no follow up of
patients after vaccination and hence the complications and adverse reactions are not
reported. Doctors refuse to believe that many adverse reactions reported by the patient are
due to the vaccination itself.
Professor Bonnie Dunbar Ph.D., a professor of cellular biology at (Houston, U.S.A) has
investigated the hepatitis vaccine reactions and found that many people were affected with
severe autoimmune and neurological complications in children. In adult’s serious rashes,
joint pains, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and lupus like symptoms,
rheumatoid arthritis and neurological dysfunction.
Dr Philip Incao M.D. , a private physician in a testimony before Ohio house of
representatives, Columbus, Ohio, on march 1, 1999 stated that there are many reports in
international medical literature even dating as far back as 1987 stating that hepatitis B
vaccination is causing chronic autoimmune and neurological diseases in children and
adults.
In 1996 alone there were 172 serious adverse reactions in children fewer than 14 years
(NVIC, USA) and there were 13 deaths after hepatitis B vaccine alone. On May 18, 1999,
there was an U.S. senate congressional hearing hepatitis B vaccine. During the hearing
many witnesses complained that following hepatitis B vaccine complications like autis
sclerosis, paralysis, arthritis, mental confusion and death have occurred. Prof Bonnie
Dunbar stated that many of the adverse reactions are due to the virus.
Dr. Barthelow Classen, M.D. claimed a 60% increase in diabetes in New Zealand following
massive hepatitis B vaccination. After reviewing 81 scientific articles Dr Buston A waisbren
has tabled the neurologic and autoimmune diseases attributed to Hepatitis B vaccine.
a. Convulsions. b. Bell’s palsy c. Lumbar neuropathy d. Optic neuritis e. Transverse
myelitis f. Polyneuropathy g. Myasthenia gravis h. Demyelination i. Multiple Sclerosis j.
Guiliian Barre syndrome k. Encephalitis l. Uveitis.

During a testimony before the sub committee on criminal justice, drug policy and human
reforms in the U.S. house of representatives, Ms. Patti White, a registered nurse has stated
that the children who received the first trial of hepatitis B vaccine in 1990 developed
developmental disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders and serious
chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and seizure disorders. As the hepatitis B vaccine
increased, the percentage of damaged children also increased. She also stated that “ in 25
years of nursing I have never seen so many damaged sick kids.” The NVIC U.S.A reported
that newborn infants are dying shortly after their shots. Dr Byron Hyde has testified before
the Quebec college of physicians that there were many reports of Chronic fatigue syndrome
after hepatitis B vaccination. A report was presented at national Rheumatology meeting in
1997, entitled “ An Epidemic of rheumatoid arthritis caused by Hepatitis B Vaccine “ .
There was a FDA (Food and drugs administration USA) list of 23,000 adverse reactions
after vaccination, mostly occurring in adults. The symptoms included chronic fatigue
syndrome, neurological disorders, neuritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus like syndrome.
The head of FDA remarked that the list represents only 1/10 Th of the total number of
reactions.

New Zealand Medical Journal (24/5/96) reported a 60 % increase in diabetes following

vaccination program. On 27-1-1999 NVIC released figures which show that the number of
hepatitis B vaccine associated serious adverse events and death reports in American
children under the age of 14 out number the reported cases reported cases of hepatitis B
disease in that age group.

VAERS (U.S.) reported that between July 1 1990 and Oct 1998 there were 24,775 hepatitis
B vaccine related adverse events in all age groups, including 9,673 serious adverse events
and 439 deaths.
In May 1999 during a hearing by house oversight sub committee on federal health policy,
Rep John Mica stated that he found that serious reactions after hepatitis B vaccination were
16 times greater than the incidence of the disease.

American doctors call for moratorium on Hepatitis B vaccine for school children.
Representing the association of American physicians and surgeons Dr. Orient, the executive
director demanded a moratorium on hepatitis B vaccine for school children. He stated that
child younger than 14 years are three times more likely to die or suffer adverse reactions
after hepatitis B vaccines than to catch the disease.
Dr. Orient also condemned the practice of giving hepatitis B vaccine combined with other
vaccines. He further stated that using school children as research subjects, subjecting them
to unproved medical treatment without informed consent is in violation of the Nuremberg
code and if school administrators and government bureaucrats were subject to that code,
they could be prosecuted as war criminals.

Only for children born to infected mothers.

U.S. Federal authorities no longer advocate that new borns receive hepatitis B vaccine,
unless they are born to infected mothers.

France suspends mass immunization of hepatitis B vaccine

In 1998 French attorneys representing 15,000 French citizens have filed a lawsuit against
French government, accusing it of understating the vaccine risks and exaggerating the
benefits for the average person. One French physician collected data of more than 600
people suffering from serious reactions after vaccination.
In 1998, following a court order to pay roughly 23,000 dollars against Smith Kline
Beecham, France has suspended mass hepatitis B vaccination four years after the mass
immunization program started. Smith Kline Beecham produces Hepatitis B vaccine and
victim of multiple sclerosis, which appeared as a complication of hepatitis B vaccination
filed the suit. Another ruling is also pending against another French pharmaceutical
company for similar complaint.
Nothing is known about long term effects of this vaccine as no large scale; long term-
controlled studies have been conducted even in U.S.A.

Hepatitis B vaccine contains mercury

A joint statement issued by U.S. Public health services and the American Academy of
Pediatrics, in a joint statement on 7-7-1999 demanded that mercury content in hepatitis B
vaccine must be eliminated and all new born should not be vaccinated. Thimmersol, a
mercury compound is used as a preservative in hepatitis B vaccine and other vaccines also.
It can cause brain damage.

Who should receive vaccine?

According to recommendation of communicable disease Control and Epidemiology ( CDC –
USA) vaccination should be given in following situations :
1. Parenteral exposure of an infant born to HbsAg positive mother.
2. Inadvertent exposure to an HbsAg positive blood.
3. Sexual exposure to an HbsAg positive person. And
4. Household exposure of an infant less than 12 months of age to a primary case giver who
has acute hepatitis B.

Mass vaccination camps unjustified

Mass vaccination camps, which are in vogue in some parts of country by some
organizations, are wholly unjustified. Mass vaccination camps against Hepatitis B or any
other communicable disease are justified only when there is an epidemic or threat of out
break of an epidemic of the diseases. In absence of such a situation mass vaccination camps
are thoroughly unjustified and are being promoted for reasons other than scientific.

Nexus between medical groups and vaccine manufacturers

Nexus between individual physicians or medical groups or voluntary organizations and
equipment / drug/ vaccine manufacturers is a well-known phenomenon. In this regard, Dr.
Orient, the executive director of American association of Physicians and Surgeons has this
to say: “ We suspect financial ties between medical groups such as American Medical
Association and American Pediatric Association which endorse this vaccine.” He pointed
out the substantial donation by Merck and co. to A.P.P. DR. Waisberon, M.S. in his paper,
“ Universal Hepatitis B vaccine – Is it a sword of Damocles hanging” says “ in view of what
has been discussed, it is a source of wonderment that members of the centre for disease
control and prevention and the American Medical Association, State medical societies, the
academy of pediatrics and many other public health agencies have endorsed the idea of that
hepatitis B vaccine should be given to every newborn in the U.S.A. How has this come about
inspite of the fact that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved
of this use and that this has to be considered “ an off label use” . An important factor in this
regard is undoubtedly the fact that market of hepatitis B vaccine can run into billions of
dollars. Merck, Sharpe and Dohme are said to have sold 240 million dollars worth of this
vaccine in 1992. Imaginative and effective promotional methods have been developed by
American Pharmaceutical industry. They have hired scientists who publish articles in
prestigious journals about vaccines but also fail to mention their dangers. They often fail to
mention authors` connection to the manufacturers of the vaccine. They also hire scientists
who just prior to their employment were in charge of monitoring the safety of their
vaccines. Whether the promotional methods mentioned are ethical and desirable will have
to be decided by the profession and perhaps I the courts.
In India presently two companies Shanta biotech and Bharat Biotech located in Hyderabad
have been manufacturing Hepatitis B vaccine and also promoting vaccination programs
very aggressively. Neither Indian Physician nor the medical groups being saints, a mutually
beneficial relationship between these and the above two companies cannot be ruled out. The
manner in which these companies are sponsoring various organisations conducting mass
vaccination programs and the massive advertisements in print media, in the name of
organizations and individual physicians certainly point out to a possible unholy relationship
between them which cannot be in the interest of medicine or people.

Effective, safest and economical way of preventing Hepatitis B disease

Everyone agrees that hepatitis B just like any other disease should be prevented. Whatever
the method is chosen it should be not only effective but safe and economical to the people.
Indiscriminate vaccination of everyone is neither effective nor economical.
The most important target group must be the newborn children of carrier women. These
children must be vaccinated after assessing the carrier status of the mother. It is therefore
necessary for all the pregnant women to be tested for HbsAg. This is more cost effective
than vaccinating everyone and is devoid of any of the side effects associated with the
vaccine.
In the case of other groups, prevention is much easier and they do not need vaccine
routinely. All blood transfusions shall be given only after testing the blood for HbsAg.
Massive education against use of unsterile syringes and needles, and avoidance of multiple
sex partners must be undertaken. If all people, including doctors and health workers take
these precautions there is no necessity for Hepatitis B vaccine.

Emphasis on basic essentials of life

Major part of budget allocation for health should be spent on improving the resistance of
people to various diseases through providing shelters, food, clothing and protected water. In
fact this is more economical in the long run.
Vaccines shall not be given to premature newborns, malnourished, anaemic and under
weight children and children with other communicable diseases.

Right of information
Every parent of child vaccinated and any other person vaccinated must be informed before
vaccination of the risks involved and the adverse reactions likely to occur. Thus informed
consent for vaccination either by parent or any other individual shall be mandatory.

Human beings, not mere number’s!

Massive vaccination camps are a game of numbers. The emphasis is to vaccinate as many
numbers of people as possible and obtain monetary or other type of reward. It is almost like
disposal of files in the office. Proper records are lacking and most importantly there is no
follow up. In the interest of science and the health of people, those who are vaccinated
should be asked to report back to a physician if any adverse reactions occur.

Legal responsibility for adverse reactions

If a child or an adult is vaccinated without an informed consent, the legal responsibility for
the adverse reactions lies with the physicians who have vaccinated, as also the promoters
whether they are voluntary organizations, drug manufacturers or the government itself.

Conclusions

Not all people need Hepatitis B vaccination.

Newborn infants born to carrier mothers must be vaccinated after confirming the carrier
status of pregnant women.
New born infants born to HbsAg negative mothers should not be vaccinated.
In others the effective, safest and economical measures of prevention are avoiding the
following:
HbsAg Positive blood transfusion.
Multiple sex partners.
Unsterile syringes and needles.

The emphasis of on the part of government should be to promote health of people and their
resistance to various diseases by providing basic essentials of life to everyone i.e. shelter,
food, clothing, sanitation, protected water and gainful employment.

If vaccination is done without informed consent, the physician who has vaccinated and
promoter of vaccine shall be held legally responsible for any adverse reaction.

Dr. P.V.R Bhaskara Rao. M.S. F.I.A.C.S