A while back, I published an article about vaccines. I wanted to take a moment to clarify a few things and answer a few questions that I have received.

Let us start with a few questions. Have vaccines eradicated disease and saved millions of lives over the years? Absolutely! Does that mean we should all hop in line for a shot anytime a new shot comes out? Absolutely not!

We should know a few things before we get any shot. First, we must understand that not all vaccines are made the same way, and we must also understand that not all vaccines eradicate the disease. Just look at the flu vaccine. It has been around for a while, and we still have the flu. Furthermore, there are various types of vaccines; some are much safer than others. For example, some vaccines use a denatured virus and can be a little more dangerous, while some use only specific proteins of the virus and are considered highly safe. I’ll leave a link with more information on this at the bottom.

Now, we know that the principle of vaccination is sound. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect, though. We’ve known all of this for quite some time. For the most part, I don’t think these facts are in question by most. However, the question on the minds of those concerned about vaccines is whether or not the additives are dangerous.

So let’s ask the question the way it should be stated: what about the additives, and why do they add them? Vaccines can contain adjuvants, preservatives, and low levels of contaminants that find their way into the vaccines during manufacturing. Before we get into the potential dangers, let’s talk about what these things really are.

Adjuvants

Adjuvants are made of aluminum salts. These are used to enhance the response to the vaccines. Aluminum is toxic in high doses. However, we should temper our fear about this idea because aluminum is the third most abundant chemical in the world, and we all get low doses of aluminum in our food and even in the air we breathe.

Granted, this constant and passive exposure isn’t to say it’s okay because aluminum toxicity can occur. We probably shouldn’t be “trying” to put more of it into our bodies if we can help it. Simultaneously, we should also pay homage to the idea that aluminum is suspected of being linked to cancer, especially in females.

However, vaccines tend to have just about 250 MICROgrams of aluminum. This is compared to the roughly 10–20 MILLIgrams of aluminum found in each tablet of buffered aspirin. And don’t get me started on antiperspirants or anti-acids because the amount in these is substantially higher.

To give you a better idea, know that 140 milligrams per day is considered relatively safe for adults. Whether you want that inside or on you is a personal choice. Act accordingly.

With that being said, we also need to understand that there might be an issue regarding the bioaccumulation of aluminum in the brain. Specifically regarding the nanoparticles of aluminum from the vaccines. There is not much information on this, but the alarms have been sounded. I will leave you a video at the end regarding this topic.

Mercury

Mercury is another one that many are concerned about. Arguably, injecting any amount of mercury isn’t a good idea. We can probably all agree on that. Of course, neither is eating it, yet, we do that much more than you might want to consider. Let me explain.

When inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury by bacteria in the sea, it ends up in the fish we eat, and it can potentially cause neurological disorders for us. Of course, I will probably not stop eating my fish anytime soon. It’s a personal choice, but I do things to help clear such material from my body.

When it comes to vaccines, some vaccines indeed contain a substance known as “Thimerosal,” which is a mercury-containing preservative. This type of mercury turns into ETHYLmercury in our bodies, not METHYLmercury. So that’s not entirely terrible. The good news is that they have taken this out of vaccines for children. However, that leaves some still available for adults.

This is not to suggest you should avoid vaccines, though. It’s just something to consider. Is “less toxic” better than “toxic”? Of course, it is. The real question is, how willing are you to avoid “less toxic”? For instance, if you’re willing to walk away from vaccines due to the ethylmercury, are you also ready to walk away from fish? Better yet, are you willing to walk away from your cosmetics, makeup removers, mascara, eye moisturizers, ear, eye, and nose drops, eye ointments, and medicated sprays (and so on) that also contain ethylmercury? Some are. Some didn’t know that was an issue and just wanted something to complain about. Regardless, these are just things to consider.

Contaminants

As for the contaminants… these tend to be relatively safe for most people. However, they can be pretty dangerous for those allergic to various things. So, for instance, if you have an egg allergy, flu vaccines can be particularly hazardous because (for example) the flu vaccine is made in eggs, and some of that material will likely end up in the vaccine. It’s a bad idea for these people. But each vaccine has its own level of risk. Understand that there isn’t going to be much you can put in your body that will not have some risk. Even water carries risks.

Other Things to Consider

Then there is the “human element.” Have mistakes happened regarding vaccines? Sure they have. Have people been made sick by vaccines in the past? Of course. But have a lot of people benefited from vaccines? Absolutely. See? There are two sides to this coin on several different levels.

Many “pro-vaccination” people will bring up polio as an excellent case for vaccines. It’s true. The vaccine for polio did wonders. But that’s not the argument from those who are “anti-vax.” Their case usually surrounds what we have addressed so far and the number of shots people are receiving now. And you know what? They have a good point.

The number of vaccines people (especially kids) are expected to get has increased dramatically over the years. Some haven’t stopped to ask if this is a good idea. For instance, should we be concerned about the bioaccumulation of preservatives or adjuvants? Can our immune system effectively handle all of those shots in such a short period of time? Do all of those shots have to happen at the same time? Is it remotely possible that a link exists between vaccinations and autism? Are people dying due to COVID-19 vaccinations? These are all great questions!

The answers to these questions will likely be different from person to person because every body is different. Bioaccumulation (for example), which is the gradual accumulation of toxic substances in the body, should always be considered. But some people can handle it better than others. Again, compared to some of what we passively ingest anyway, what we find in vaccines is substantially less and relatively well-tolerated. However, I understand the position of not adding to the pile if we can help it. Similarly, while the immune system is fantastic, it can also be overwhelmed as these toxins collect in our tissue. Also, not a good thing.

So, let me say that if you’re on the fence, that’s okay and totally understandable. You’re not weird for wanting more facts or wanting to avoid the “fight” between anti and pro-vaccine crowds. It can be overwhelming because it’s a lot to consider. As I have said in previous articles on the topic, it’s hard to argue with the parents of the children impacted by getting a simple shot (or too many).

So on that note, I will also tell you that spreading out the injections and splitting up combined vaccines is totally fine. Unfortunately, the multiple shot situations usually happen for the convenience of you and your doctor. On the other hand, in many cases, natural immunity is superior. However, even that has its risks. Now, if it seems like it could go either way, that’s because it can. Remember that either method can be dangerous for some, particularly the young, the really old, and people with already weakened immune function.

While we are at it, we should also pay homage to the idea that the safety profile of various vaccines is improving. Much of this actually has a lot to do with people like yourself becoming more informed and speaking out about the things you don’t like. So keep learning but understand that things are getting better, and new vaccines are being created to deal with some of our more challenging health issues. They are not all bad. With that, we must also understand that they are not all good either. This is especially true when it comes to vaccines regarding rapidly changing viruses – like the flu.

Before I move on to this next point, we must first recognize that the flu can be a severe and deadly virus. In fact, the 2017-2018 flu season was responsible for more than 80,000 deaths in the US alone. For clarity, that’s more than double that of all gun violence. Was this due to a lack of vaccination, or was the vaccine just not effective? The answer is likely “a little bit of both.” The same mix will be true for other viruses such as COVID.

Let’s explore this for a moment. From a statistical point of view, we must admit that the 2018 flu vaccine proved to be only 29% effective overall. It was down to about 9% effective towards the end of the season. So for many, the shot was entirely worthless. From this perspective, unless you were in danger of dying (really young, really old, or have an underlying condition), you were better off simply trying to adapt to the flu by reducing sugar, upping nutritious foods and supplements, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest.

Of course, we discover new things about the use of vaccines all the time, some of which are good, and some are not so good. These discoveries usually lead to innovations and new techniques, so we must be open-minded about progress and failures. Just as we don’t tell a kid to give up after a failure, we must also recognize that scientists continue trying to find answers to our major health issues and should encourage it.

With that being said, let’s talk about mandatory vaccinations. I alluded to this before. Getting a vaccine every year may not be the best idea either. As you know, many organizations jumped on the bandwagon regarding compulsory vaccinations for both the flu and COVID. Some people protested the move for a variety of different reasons. We have begun to see that getting a flu shot yearly is probably not a good idea. Recent evidence suggests that getting flu shots repeatedly can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines in some circumstances. Of course, the jury is still out on COVID vaccinations, but it’s not looking good. We already see reduced vaccine efficacy with some newer variants of the virus. Of course, there are various versions of the COVID vaccine, and at least one of them is causing some MAJOR side effects – to the point it has now been suspended in at least 17 nations (at the time of this writing). So, now what?

I share all this to help you understand that it’s not all just “black or white.” It’s not “all or nothing.” There are many things to consider and some pros and cons for both sides. I, for one, wouldn’t be so quick to jump on the bandwagon either way. I recognize the benefit if they work, but I also appreciate the danger regardless. I’m okay with some vaccines, and I’m not okay with others. It’s situational for my family and me.

My advice is NOT to go all-in either one way or the other. Both sides present some decent points, and each vaccine carries a different level of risk and benefit. I think you should be smart about it and look into yourself. Do your homework (like you already are). Know your body (including your allergies). Know the technology and methods behind the different vaccine types you consider and their ingredients. Then weigh the facts (including the risks and benefits) and act accordingly.

Don’t be a vaccine denier, but don’t be a vaccine drone either. And finally, if there is something you don’t like something about a particular vaccine, vocalize it and help spread awareness about it but don’t blanket it to all vaccines (because they are likely made differently). However, be patient and understand that science is always trying to develop better ways of doing things.

One more thing before I let you go. A while back, there were concerns raised regarding glyphosate in some vaccines. Scary stuff! Of course, this rumor was started by the anti-chemical group Moms Across America when they announced that a study they commissioned found trace amounts of glyphosate in several vaccines. In fact, the study (A Samsel and S Seneff, Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry 2017;17:8-32) suggests that the MMR-II (measles, mumps, and rubella) contains roughly 3.74 parts per billion and that several other popular vaccines contain some as well. However, it should be noted that the reliability of those tests has been questioned by many. Based on what I have reviewed, their scenario seems highly unlikely.

With that being said, they did support the claim with a statement from MIT scientist Dr. Stephanie Seneff, who added that “glyphosate could easily be present in vaccines due to the fact that certain vaccine viruses (including measles in MMR and flu virus) are grown on gelatin derived from the ligaments of pigs fed heavy doses of glyphosate in their GMO feed. Livestock feed is allowed to have up to 400 PPM of glyphosate residues by the EPA, thousands of times higher than has been shown to cause harm in numerous studies.” This is sometimes true, but the statement is also a little misleading. “Could easily be” doesn’t necessarily mean “is.”

And with that, I think it’s only responsible to point out that most vaccines are grown in cells in serum-free nutrient media, and independent and supporting studies demonstrating the presence of glyphosate in vaccines are not there (that I know of). Additionally, this wouldn’t be the first time Moms Across America made a false claim. Of course, it is something to keep an eye out for and if I have missed something, then, by all means, send it my way.

Either way, these are just things to consider. You need to think for yourself and make up your own mind based on the facts, but you would benefit significantly by examining both sides of the debate. Do some research and weigh the evidence for yourself. As I have said, some vaccines are not entirely terrible, and some are just bad news.

Here is some additional reading material to consider:

• Repeated flu shots may blunt effectiveness
• Why flu vaccines so often fail
• The Different Types of Vaccines

Dr. Robertson is a health researcher and educator, not a physician. The information provided here is not medical advice, a professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or service to you or any other individual. The information provided is for educational and anecdotal purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation, or the advice of your physician or other healthcare providers. Dr. Robertson is not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or additional information, services, or product you obtain or utilize. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 OR YOUR PHYSICIAN.