Vaccine safety issues at the turn of the 21st century

Abstract

Global gains in vaccination coverage during the early 21st century have been threatened by the emergence of antivaccination groups that have questioned the effectiveness of vaccines to generate public distrust of vaccines and immunisation programmes. This manuscript summarises six key topics that have been at the centre of global discussions on vaccine safety during the early 21st century: thiomersal in multi-dose non-live vaccines, aluminium adjuvants used with several non-live vaccines, autism and auto-immune conditions as possible consequences of vaccination, a risk of immune overload with increasing numbers of vaccinations, and detrimental non-specific effects (NSEs) of vaccination. For each topic, we describe the hypothesis behind the public concern, the evidence reviewed by the WHO’s Global Advisory Committee for Vaccine Safety (GACVS) during 1999–2019, and any significant new data that has emerged since GACVS conclusions were made. Although the scientific evidence on these issues overwhelmingly supports the safety of vaccines, communication messages to caregivers and providers need to condense and convey scientific information in an appropriate way to address concerns contributing to vaccine distrust. In addition, there is need for further studies specifically designed to address both positive and negative NSE of vaccination. The role of GACVS will be increasingly important in evaluating the evidence and engaging the global community in promoting and assuring the safety of vaccines in the decades to come as we move into an era in which we use new vaccination platforms, antigens and formulations.

Widespread Public Misunderstanding of Pivotal Trials for COVID-19 Vaccines May Damage Public Confidence in All Vaccines

“…It is important to maintain public trust in vaccine efficacy and safety in order to sustain gains made by vaccination programs ( 17 ). If too much is expected of COVID-19 vaccines, from a public believing they were trialed against more exacting standards than is actually so, as real-world performance fails to meet these exaggerated expectations there may be growing doubts about efficacy not just of these vaccines but of all vaccines.…”

Impfungen

“…Aluminiumsalze

Aluminiumsalze

werden seit Jahrzehnten als Adjuvans in Impfstoffen eingesetzt [ 11 ]. Die Aluminiumkonzentration in Impfstoffpräparaten variiert stark und reicht von 0 bis 1,5 mg je Dosis [ 14 ]. Impfkritiker vermuten immer wieder einen Zusammenhang zwischen der Exposition gegenüber Aluminiumsalzen durch Impfung und einer Gesundheitsbeeinträchtigung, beispielsweise im Sinne von Entwicklungsverzögerungen, Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen oder Autoimmunerkrankungen.…”

“…einseitig fehlinterpretiert. Hingegen widerlegen methodisch hochwertige Studien einen kausalen Zusammenhang klar [ 14 ].…”

“…Thiomersal

Thiomersal

ist ein Natriumsalz einer organischen Quecksilberverbindung und dient als Konservierungsstoff in kosmetischen und pharmazeutischen Produkten. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen einer Thiomersalexposition durch Impfung und dem Auftreten von Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen besteht nicht [ 14 ]. Mit Ausnahme pandemischer oder präpandemischer Influenzaimpfstoffe sind alle in Deutschland aktuell zugelassenen Impfstoffe zudem thiomersalfrei [ 16 ].…”

Introducing the role of metals in biology to high school and undergraduate students

“…[20][21][22] This rationale is supported by recent misinformation regarding the presence of metals in the COVID-19 vaccine which was misunderstood to make humans magnetic. [23][24][25][26][27] We believe educating students at high school and undergraduate level on the role of metals in biology and biocatalysis will help alleviate misinformation in public, and at the same time, engage students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and build interest in sciencerelated careers. Educating the public about the relevance of metals in biology is also necessary because deficiency or excess of various metal ions can lead to diseases, such as anemia (iron deficiency), 28 osteoporosis (calcium deficiency), 29 and hyperkalemia (potassium excess).…”