| A review of Harris Coulter's Vaccination, Social Violence, and Criminality Reviewed by Lon Morgan, DC Coulter's next paperback on the supposed adverse effects of vaccination invents a condition known as "post- encephalitic syndrome." Under this supposed condition the child is alleged to suffer from "staring spells" or "absence seizures," and to experience a loss of IQ. Further, nystagmus, astigmatism, dyslexia, "glue ear," stuttering, speech impediments and allergies are to be expected. The list goes on: vaccinated children are supposedly "alienated and paranoid," they have "severe ego weakness," and even "high levels of homosexuality and bisexuality." Coulter further claims "they are fascinated by fire and attracted to burning buildings. . " and have "premature, exaggerated sexuality." All of this supposedly culminates in runaway violent criminal behavior. Apparently Coulter slipped and accidentally omitted diaper rash, dental cavities, acne, hang nails, bruised knees, dandruff and freckles. Perhaps in the next edition - - - - Coulter has conveniently overlooked one simple fact: Since he wrote this book immunization levels have gone from around 60% to over 90% nationwide. During this same time interval police departments across the country are reporting a steady decrease in the incidence of violent crime. In the official FBI statistical report from 1996 to 1997 violent crime decreased in the United States by 4.0 %, and the total crime index decreased by 3.2%.(1) This holds true in European countries also. Norway, for example, has a high level of immunization, but has an exceptionally low crime rate. In fact, one recent news report noted that Norway had the lowest crime rate of any nation on earth. Finally, numerous large, well-controlled studies have clearly demonstrated that "pertussis vaccine encephalopathy is a myth."(4,5,6,7) Coulter apparently believes society once lived in a pre-vaccine Utopia. A simple look at the facts, however, reveals that infant mortality - the one sure way of measuring infant health and the effectiveness of health programs - has decreased from 20 infant deaths per thousand live births in 1950, to only 7 deaths per thousand births today. Much of the credit must go to the control of childhood infections by immunization.(8) A May 1, 1999 Associated Press story by Judith Ingram reported that the murder rate in Russia was skyrocketing, doubling since 1990. In 1997 it was shown that Russians women are 2 1/2 times more likely to be killed by husbands. This has come over the very same time frame when immunization levels in Russia have plummeted dramatically due to the interruption of health services caused by the breakup of the former Soviet Union. Finally, the Associated Press, May 16, 1999, reports that serious crime in the US has now declined for the 7th straight year. This includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — and property offenses — burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.(9) This comes during the 90s decade when immunization levels have reached new alltime highs. Thus, Coulter's fundamental premise is fatally flawed, erroneous, and without foundation in fact. An abundance of the best current scientific evidence overwhelmingly refutes Coulter's claims. REFERENCES: |