While millions of Americans receive vaccinations each year, a vocal segment of the population is opposed to all immunizations—some even refusing to get mandated vaccinations for their children. In The Vaccine Controversy, Dr. Kurt Link—a specialist in internal medicine—explores that paradox and provides a history of vaccine development, including such possible future vaccines as those being developed in the hope of immunizing against HIV. A strong supporter of vaccination programs, Link explains the immune system and how it works, as well as outlining the various types of vaccines (including the efficacy and potential toxicity of each). Appendices spell out current medical recommendations for vaccines, describe the legal issues involved in decisions to vaccinate or not, and explain the workings of clinical trials where work is done to determine if a vaccine is effective or not, or has any remarkable side effects. Millions of Americans are vaccinated each year, whether they are elders looking to avoid bouts of influenza or children whose parents want to protect them from potentially deadly childhood diseases. Still, there remains a vocal segment of the population in opposition to all immunization, some even refusing to get mandated vaccinations for their children. Here, a specialist of internal medicine explores that paradox. Dr. Link explains the immune system and how it works, as well as the history of vaccine development, and the various types of vaccines including the efficacy and potential toxicity of each. A physician for more than 35 years, Link also spotlights possible future vaccines, such as those being developed in the hope of immunizing against HIV. Appendices to this work spell out current medical recommendations for vaccines, describe the legal issues involved in decisions to vaccinate or not, and explain the workings of clinical trials where work is done to determine if a vaccine is effective or not, or has any remarkable side effects. A strong supporter of vaccination programs, Link says that all people should understand the powers, limitations and risk of immunization.

Although medicine and sanitation in modernized countries are more advanced than ever before, over the past three decades we have seen the emergence of some 30 new diseases, such as HIV, SARS and Ebola. Lyme Disease, hepatitis C, Legionnaires' Disease and even Jacob-Creutzfeld, the human form of a disorder we know as "Mad Cow," have made headlines. We are also facing a resurgence of diseases once thought nearly eradicated, including tuberculosis and smallpox, and the persistence of rare disorders such as leprosy. In this work, Dr. Link explains the extent of new, resurgent, and resistant diseases defying the abilities of science and medicine, or often finding strength in globalization or other facets of modernization. Link also explains why such diseases are not prevented by our current systems, and why some rare diseases persist despite technology that could cure them. He offers insight into why we may not be able to predict or prevent factors such as mutations, and also shares thoughts about what we can do--as individuals, communities and countries--to reduce the dangers of disease. Including a basic review of elements that cause them--viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi among them--this work gives a brief history of human diseases and points out how the burden of disease has increased throughout the history of mankind. Diseases addressed in this book include, but are not limited to: BLMad Cow BLTuberculosis BLRabies BLSARS BLEbola BLLeprosy BLSmallpox BLDracunculiasis BLRingworm BLMalaria

While millions of Americans receive vaccinations each year, a vocal segment of the population is opposed to all immunizations—some even refusing to get mandated vaccinations for their children. In The Vaccine Controversy, Dr. Kurt Link—a specialist in internal medicine—explores that paradox and provides a history of vaccine development, including such possible future vaccines as those being developed in the hope of immunizing against HIV. A strong supporter of vaccination programs, Link explains the immune system and how it works, as well as outlining the various types of vaccines (including the efficacy and potential toxicity of each). Appendices spell out current medical recommendations for vaccines, describe the legal issues involved in decisions to vaccinate or not, and explain the workings of clinical trials where work is done to determine if a vaccine is effective or not, or has any remarkable side effects. Millions of Americans are vaccinated each year, whether they are elders looking to avoid bouts of influenza or children whose parents want to protect them from potentially deadly childhood diseases. Still, there remains a vocal segment of the population in opposition to all immunization, some even refusing to get mandated vaccinations for their children. Here, a specialist of internal medicine explores that paradox. Dr. Link explains the immune system and how it works, as well as the history of vaccine development, and the various types of vaccines including the efficacy and potential toxicity of each. A physician for more than 35 years, Link also spotlights possible future vaccines, such as those being developed in the hope of immunizing against HIV. Appendices to this work spell out current medical recommendations for vaccines, describe the legal issues involved in decisions to vaccinate or not, and explain the workings of clinical trials where work is done to determine if a vaccine is effective or not, or has any remarkable side effects. A strong supporter of vaccination programs, Link says that all people should understand the powers, limitations and risk of immunization.