Thinking of Getting the Shingles Vaccine?
“There are two Shingles vaccines approved for use in the US: Zostavax was approved for use in 2006 (Merck), and Shingrix newly approved for use in 2017 (GlaxoSmithKline, GSK).
Let’s Take a Look at Zostavax
From the Zostavax insert: “Each dose contains 31.16 mg of sucrose, 15.58 mg of hydrolyzed porcine gelatin, 3.99 mg of sodium chloride, 0.62mg of monosodium L-glutamate… residual components of MRC-5 cells including DNA and protein; and trace quantities of neomycin and bovine calf serum.”
That is: Sugar, pig gelatin, MSG, antibiotics, cow blood, and…
“The MRC-5 cell line was derived from normal lung tissue of a 14-week-old male fetus…”
What this means is that when you are vaccinated with Zostavax, you are being injected with human DNA fragments from an aborted fetus.
Note: While the manufacturers do not test their vaccines for the potential of their products to mutate DNA or cause cancer, independent scientific research has found that these DNA fragments have the potential to spontaneously integrate into the vaccinated host’s DNA. (link)
Since 2006, Zostavax has been found to cause the following adverse events:
– Autoimmune disorders, including Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Meniere’s Disease
– Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis)
– Cardiovascular event
– Congestive heart failure
– Death
– Hearing loss
– Herpetic Neuralgia (disorder in the nerves)
– Myelitis (spinal cord inflammation)
– Pneumonia
– Postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN (pain continuing after shingles blister subside)
– Serious neurological diseases or disorders, including brain inflammation (encephalitis)
– Stroke
– Vasculitis
– Vision problems, including blindness, eye infections, retinal damage, acute retinal necrosis
Zostavax lawsuits for the above adverse events here.
And because Zostavax is a live-virus vaccine, it can actually *cause* shingles as well as shed the virus to others – for up to four weeks post-vaccination.
Remember, Zostavax was recommended by the CDC as a good option… as a safe vaccine with minor side effects. This was back in 2008.
Twelve years later, the CDC is recommending that people get the new Shingrix vaccine instead of Zostavax (ignoring the lawsuits and injuries, and focusing on claims made by the manufacturer, GSK, that Shingrix is more effective).
But, can we really trust GSK to make honest claims about their vaccines when they’ve been convicted of fraud? Want to take your chances?
Let’s take a Closer Look at Shingrix
While Zostavax is manufactured with MRC-5 cells (cells from an aborted fetus), Shingrix is not. Instead, it is made using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Therefore, instead of being injected with human DNA, you are being injected with genetically engineered Chinese hamster DNA.
Unlike Zostavax, Shingrix is not a live virus vaccine, therefore it requires an adjuvant to provoke the immune system to attack the contents of the vaccine.
The adjuvant used by GSK, called “AS01b”, is what is used in Shingrix. AS01b contains QS-21, a potent adjuvant made from synthetic saponins – a toxic compound isolated from the soap bark tree.
“In preferred embodiments of the invention QS-21 is present in the composition in an amount which does not engender substantial local toxicity in a mammal to whom the composition is administered… In preferred embodiments, QS-21 is present in the composition in an amount of less than 10 μg, more preferably less than about 4 μg, and even more preferably less than about 1 μg.” (link)
The Shingrix vaccine contains 50μg (micrograms) of QS-21, five times greater than the highest preferred dose, causing “substantial local toxicity“.
And – side note – Shingrix also contains polysorbate 80, which is used to help transport other compounds across the blood brain barrier (potentially bringing toxic substances with it):
SO. This new adjuvant “technology” is being hailed as what makes the new Shingrix vaccine safer than Zostavax for those who are immune compromised.
Sounds great! Do YOU want to be one of the first of many experimental test subjects (especially when Zostavax was regarded as a good, safe option when it was introduced)?
When it comes down to it, long term serious adverse events of the new Shingrix vaccine are yet to be known. But we do have a a bit of a hint at how it may go…
US News: A New Shingles Vaccine: Prepare for Harsher Side Effects
“Anecdotal reports of Shingrix side effects don’t come as a surprise, says Dr. Kathleen Dooling, a medical officer and shingles expert with the CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases. ‘In clinical trials that have studied this vaccine, we knew that it caused more side effects than perhaps some of the other adult vaccines that are recommended.’”
HMM… Sounds promising?
I would suggest looking into potential natural remedies for shingles, such as L-lysine or apple cider vinegar (ACV). Although I haven’t found any “solid evidence” in my quick search that these remedies can help, I personally know people who have used them for shingles and have found them to be effective.
Shingles Natural Remedies and Effective Home Treatment.”
Shared with permission from Ashley Everly, Toxicologist and author/creator of ThinkLoveHealthy and Vaccine.Guide.
