SHORT DURATION OF VACCINAL PROTECTION AND NECESSITY OF FREQUENT RE-VACCINATIONS NOW ADMITTED. DANGER FROM SUCH REPEATED VACCINATIONS GREATER THAN FROM SMALLPOX
We have seen in the preceding chapter how the original false and reckless claim of Dr. Jenner for absolute protection for life from one vaccination was soon abandoned when put to the actual test of smallpox epidemics and that a modified position was then taken in the necessity of re-vaccination in certain periods of about seven years, more or less. This limited claim has, however, been also abandoned in recent years and the term of alleged vaccinal protection has been getting successively shorter and shorter, until it has now fallen to the ridiculously short protective period of only six months or a year for each vaccination or re-vaccination! This seems to be the present position of our most recent medical authorities and advanced vaccinators, which is not only a great shrinkage in protective claim but is very interesting and significant in that it closely approaches, and admits, the rational position of the anti-vaccinators who have contended consistently and persistently from the days of Jenner that vaccination, at the best, gave merely a limited immunity of only a few months, more or less, and, in some cases, in very susceptible persons, gave no immunity; and that frequent and repeated vaccinations are more dangerous as being multiple and cumulative infections of an artificial or inflicted disease than beneficial as the preventive of a natural disease.
To show the present position of advanced pro-vaccinators on this point and their virtual agreement with anti-vaccinators as to the very limited period of vaccinal protection and the necessity of frequent repetitions, I will now quote from a recent high medical authority, viz., Dr. Robert Olesen, of the U. S. Public Health Service, stationed at Manila in the Philippine Islands, which is supposed to be one of the greatest fields in the world for practical experience with smallpox and vaccination.
In an elaborate article by Dr. Olesen printed in the New York Medical Record of March 4, 1911, he makes these very serious statements as to the necessity of frequent re-vaccinations and the short duration of protection from each vaccination, as follows:
“The Necessity for Re-Vaccination.—There is abundant reason for believing that a person who has been successfully vaccinated is absolutely protected against smallpox during a period varying from six to twelve months, probably the latter. After this time his immunity may or may not continue indefinitely....
“In the absence of means of determining accurately the length of perfect resistance it is best to re-vaccinate once a year.”
Now here we plainly see that this Government Expert after long experience in the fertile field of the Philippines admits clearly and positively the very limited protective power of vaccination, so that it is practically evanescent in duration, or extends over a few months only, or at most can not, or should not, be relied on for sure and safe protection longer than from six months to one year! And for this reason Dr. Olesen carefully advises that “it is best to re-vaccinate once a year.”
Now, surely, this modest position of Dr. Olesen as to the short duration of protection and the necessity of re-vaccination once a year is very similar to the position of the anti-vaccinators, but very different from the positive claim of Dr. Jenner on which vaccination started and for which he got his big prize or “graft” of thirty thousand pounds for the grossly false claim of his alleged “discovery” that one vaccination would give absolute protection from smallpox for life!