Immunization is widely regarded as one of the most effective and beneficial tools for protecting the public's health. In the United States, immunization programs have resulted in the eradication of smallpox, the elimination of polio, and the control and near elimination of once-common, often debilitating and potentially life-threatening diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenza type b.  Along with the benefits of widespread immunization, however, have come concerns about the safety of vaccines. No vaccine is perfectly safe or effective, and vaccines may lead to serious adverse effects in some instances. Furthermore, if a serious illness is observed after vaccination, it is often unclear whether that sequence is coincidental or causal, and it can be difficult to determine the true nature of the relationship, if any, between the vaccination and the illness. Ironically, the successes of vaccine coverage in the United States have made it more difficult for the public to weigh the benefits and complications of vaccines because the now-controlled diseases and their often-serious risks are no longer familiar. However, because vaccines are so widely used-and because state laws require that children be vaccinated before entering daycare and school, in part to protect others-it is essential that safety concerns be fully and carefully studied.  Immunization Safety Review: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism, the first of a series from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Immunization Safety Review Committee, presents an assessment of the evidence regarding a hypothesized causal association between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, an assessment of the broader significance for society of the issues surrounding the MMR-autism hypothesis, and the committee's conclusions and recommendations based on those assessments.

Immunization Safety Review: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism

Medical Books

Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Immunization Safety Review Committee

Basic Sciences

National Academies Press

By two years of age, healthy infants in the United States can receive up to 20 vaccinations to protect against 11 diseases. Although most people know that vaccines effectively protect against serious infectious diseases, approximately one-quarter of parents in a recent survey believe that infants get more vaccines than are good for them, and that too many immunizations could overwhelm an infant's immune system. The Immunization Safety Review Committee reviewed the evidence regarding the hypothesis that multiple immunizations increase the risk for immune dysfunction. Specifically, the committee looked at evidence of potential biological mechanisms and at epidemiological evidence for or against causality related to risk for infections, the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes, and allergic disorders.

Immunization Safety Review: Multiple Immunizations and Immune Dysfunction

INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

Administration & Medicine Economics

Immunization to protect infants and children from vaccine-preventable diseases is one of the greatest achievements of public health. Immunization is not without risks, however. It is well established, for example, that the oral polio vaccine can on rare occasion cause paralytic polio. The Immunization Safety Review Committee was established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate the available evidence on a series of immunization safety concerns. The committee is charged with examining three immunization safety hypotheses each year during the three-year study period (2001- 2003). While all of the committee members share the view that immunization is generally beneficial, none of them has a vested interest in the specific immunization safety issues that come before the group. In this report, which is the fourth in the series, the committee examines the hypothesis that the hepatitis B vaccine increases the risk for demyelinating disorders of the central or peripheral nervous systems, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Table of Contents <ul>
<li>Front Matter</li>
<li>Executive Summary</li>
<li>Immunization Safety Review: Hepatitis B Vaccine and Demyelinating Neurological Disorders</li>
<li>Appendix A: Committee Conclusions and Recommendations from Previous Reports</li>
<li>Appendix B: Public Meeting Agenda</li>
<li>Appendix C: Chronology of Important Events Regarding Vaccine Safety</li>
</ul>

Immunization Safety Review: Hepatitis B Vaccine and Demyelinating Neurological Disorders

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Diseases & Physical Ailments

The Immunization Safety Review Committee was established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate the evidence on possible causal associations between immunizations and certain adverse outcomes, and to then present conclusions and recommendations. The committee's mandate also includes assessing the broader societal significance of these immunization safety issues. While all the committee members share the view that immunization is generally beneficial, none of them has a vested interest in the specific immunization safety issues that come before the group. The committee reviews three immunization safety review topics each year, addressing each one at a time. In this fifth report in a series, the committee examines the hypothesis that exposure to polio vaccine contaminated with simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus that causes inapparent infection in some monkeys, can cause certain types of cancer.

Immunization Safety Review: SV40 Contamination of Polio Vaccine and Cancer

Mental Health

With current recommendations calling for infants to receive multiple doses of vaccines during their first year of life and with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) the most frequent cause of death during the postneonatal period, it is important to respond to concerns that vaccination might play a role in sudden unexpected infant death. The committee reviewed epidemiologic evidence focusing on three outcomes: SIDS, all SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy), and neonatal death (infant death, whether sudden or not, during the first 4 weeks of life). Based on this review, the committee concluded that the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between some vaccines and SIDS; and that the evidence is inadequate to accept or reject a causal relationship between other vaccines and SIDS, SUDI, or neonatal death. The evidence regarding biological mechanisms is essentially theoretical, reflecting in large measure the lack of knowledge concerning the pathogenesis of SIDS. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive SummaryImmunization Safety Review: Vaccinations and Sudden Unexpected Death in InfancyAppendix A: Committee Recommendations and Conclusions from Previous ReportsAppendix B: Public Meeting Agenda October 28, 2002Appendix C: Chronology of Importanat Events Regarding Vaccine SafetyAppendix D: Acronyms

Immunization Safety Review: Vaccinations and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy

In this report, the Immunization Safety Review committee examines the hypothesis of whether or not the use of vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal can cause neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), specifically autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and speech or language delay.

Immunization Safety Review: Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Infection with the influenza virus can have a serious effect on the health of people of all ages, although it is particularly worrisome for infants, the elderly, and people with underlying heart or lung problems. A vaccine exists (the â€œfluâ€ shot) that can greatly decrease the impact of influenza. Because the strains of virus that are expected to cause serious illness and death are slightly different every year, the vaccine is also slightly different every year and it must be given every year, unlike other vaccines. The Immunization Safety Review committee reviewed the data on influenza vaccine and neurological conditions and concluded that the evidence favored rejection of a causal relationship between influenza vaccines and exacerbation of multiple sclerosis. For the other neurological conditions studied, the committee concluded the evidence about the effects of influenza vaccine is inadequate to accept or reject a causal relationship. The committee also reviewed theories on how the influenza vaccine could damage the nervous system. The evidence was at most weak that the vaccine could act in humans in ways that could lead to these neurological problems. Table of Contents <ul>
<li>Front Matter</li>
<li>Executive Summary</li>
<li>Contents of Report</li>
<li>References</li>
<li>Appendix A: Committee Recommendations and Conclusions from Previous Reports</li>
<li>Appendix B: Public Meeting Agenda, March 13, 2003</li>
<li>Appendix C: Chronology of Important Events Regarding Vaccine Safety</li>
<li>Appendix D: Acronyms</li>
</ul>

Immunization Safety Review: Influenza Vaccines and Neurological Complications

This eighth and final report of the Immunization Safety Review Committee examines the hypothesis that vaccines, specifically the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines, are causally associated with autism. The committee reviewed the extant published and unpublished epidemiological studies regarding causality and studies of potential biologic mechanisms by which these immunizations might cause autism. Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism finds that the body of epidemiological evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. The book further finds that potential biological mechanisms for vaccine-induced autism that have been generated to date are only theoretical. It recommends a public health response that fully supports an array of vaccine safety activities and recommends that available funding for autism research be channeled to the most promising areas. The book makes additional recommendations regarding surveillance and epidemiological research, clinical studies, and communication related to these vaccine safety concerns. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive SummaryImmunization Safety Review: Vaccines and AutismAppendix A: Committee Recommendations andConclusions from Previous ReportsAppendix B: Public Meeting Agenda February 9, 2004Appendix C: Thimerosal Content in Licensed Vaccines (Adapted from FDA, 2003, 2004)Appendix D: Chronology of Important Events Regarding Vaccine SafetyAppendix E: Summary of Public SubmissionsAppendix F: Acronyms

Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism

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Books by Immunization Safety Review Committee

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Immunization Safety Review Committee. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Immunization Safety Review: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism

Immunization Safety Review: Multiple Immunizations and Immune Dysfunction

Immunization Safety Review: Hepatitis B Vaccine and Demyelinating Neurological Disorders

Immunization Safety Review: SV40 Contamination of Polio Vaccine and Cancer

Immunization Safety Review: Vaccinations and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy

Immunization Safety Review: Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Immunization Safety Review: Multiple Immunizations and Immune Dysfunction

Immunization Safety Review: Influenza Vaccines and Neurological Complications

Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism

Immunization Safety Review: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism