Although some chiropractors and homeopathic physicians are against vaccination, the policy of the Faculty of Homeopathy at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital is: "Where there is no medical contraindication, immunisation should be carried out in the normal way using conventional tested and approved vaccines." Many believers in homeopathy, naturopathy and other alternative systems of medicine seem to believe that nature's way is best and that "foreign," "unnatural" or "artificial" things like vaccines should be avoided. It is difficult to comprehend why a disease like measles is considered "natural" and "beneficial" when it kills and damages so many children -- even healthy, well-nourished children. The only infections that are natural and beneficial are those that lead to the successful growth and multiplication of many kinds of bacteria within our bodies within a few days of birth. These bacteria are called "normal flora" because they live on our skin and within us on the lining of the nose, throat, stomach and intestines without making us sick. They are beneficial to us because they make it harder for harmful bacteria to infect us. They are also beneficial because they help make certain vitamins for us from chemicals in our food. The bacteria and viruses that make us sick are part of nature, but like many things in nature, they are harmful, not helpful. Being natural is not always good for human beings. Vaccines are also part of nature. Some vaccines are made from live viruses that have undergone natural mutations (weakenings). They have been altered so that they no longer make us sick, but still induce immunity to the natural, "wild" virus. Other vaccines are actually chemicals that have been extracted or purified from viruses or bacteria. When injected into the body, they stimulate the immune system in a way very similar to the infection, again without making us sick.

This document was published by the Canadian Paediatric society, 1997.

Posted by the Canadian Paediatric Society, July 1997.

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