A Response to Address Vaccine "Shedding"

**This post has been edited from it's original version to better explain the role of RNA and vaccination, as well as to site sources.**

The more I dig into this thing, the more interesting it gets. 

There has been a link to a web page making it's rounds in the anti-vax community claiming they have proof that the MMR vaccine transmits the measles virus through "shedding". It is the belief of the antivaccination community that vaccinated individuals are transmitting the measles virus to the unvaccinated and that is what caused the recent outbreaks of measles. You can view that article, here: *Source

The reason they believe this is because there are some documented cases, though rare, of live attennuated vaccines transmitting through "shedding" the virus from the vaccine to another unvaccinated or immune compromised person. 

The inhaled/nasal spray version of the influenza vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine and there are rare, but documented cases of it being transmitted to unvaccinated individuals. *Source

The oral version of the polio virus vaccine, which is attenuated, does actually shed through fecal matter and can be transmitted. This version of the vaccine has not been used in the US since 2000, but is still used in other parts of the world where polio is a major concern. *Source

Also, sometimes, a vaccinated individual will develop milder symptoms of the chicken pox virus after receiving the varicella vaccine. While symptoms are present, due to the nature in which the virus is transmitted, it can be contagious: "Available data suggest that healthy children are unlikely to transmit vaccine virus. Transmission of vaccine virus to a household contact has rarely been documented. It appears that transmission of vaccine occurs mostly, or perhaps even exclusively, when the vaccinated person develops a rash following vaccination." So, if you get the vaccine and develop a rash, you could transmit chicken-pox to another person, however, it's highly unlikely and there are very few documented cases of this. *Source

This is how vaccines work: they introduce the body to a killed or damaged version of a virus (so that it does not produce the full effects of the virus, but, sometimes you WILL have milder symptoms of the virus you are being inoculated for, and it states this clearly on the documentation provided by your doctor) so the immune system will react and develop antibodies against the pathogen. That way, if the body comes in contact with the actual virus, it can mount a better defense against it. *Source

There is a significant lack of evidence that MMR vaccines transmit the measles virus through shedding. *Source

There have been reports of people developing mild measles symptoms and rash after vaccination, but I have found 0 confirmed reports of the virus shedding to unvaccinated or immune compromised individuals - and I've really scoured and scrubbed all kinds of medical journals and studies because, this would be a big deal for my kid! This is what I did find: "Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine viruses are not transmitted from the vaccinated person, so MMR vaccination of a household contact does not pose a risk to a pregnant household member." *Source 

To address the specific information sited in the article I mentioned that's circulating the antivaccination circuit, I asked Christina Seaman, who works as a Technical Specialist in Infectious Disease Diagnostics, to help clarify the connection between the vaccination and RNA found in blood and urine samples. 

Christina says, "RNA is the genetic material contained in Measles (viruses either have RNA or like humans, DNA).  The study was performed to prove a method used to detect measles infections from urine samples.  Because of the lack of actively infected patients to test their method on, the study was performed on the recently vaccinated. The Measles virus RNA was detected because of the recent vaccine material being filtered and excreted by the kidneys and not because of any replication and spreading of live organism. The article states that:

'The finding that several of the urine samples were positive for measles virus RNA as early as 1 day after vaccination was surprising. In the previous study (19), none of the urine specimens were positive by immunofluorescence before day 4. Since a single cycle of viral replication would be expected to take 17 to 24 h, it is unlikely that the RT-PCR detected the progeny of virus replicating in the urinary tract. Rather, this observation suggests that shortly after vaccination the input virus or viral antigen, in the form of nucleocapsids, is deposited directly into the bladder via interstitial fluid.'

In layman’s terms:  The material detected was found too early to be a product of active viral amplification.

RT-PCR is a laboratory detection method that finds and amplifies genetic material to detectable levels. It is widely accepted as a very sensitive method of viral detection. However, it does not distinguish between live and non-viable organism. The fact that RT-PCR detected the material does not prove that vaccinated persons are spreading Measles disease.  It simply proves that the vaccinated were vaccinated." 

You can find more information on the statistics of vaccination and how they correlate to the decline or increase of measles and other diseases, here and here.  

Both of Kai's siblings are fully vaccinated and she is around other vaccinated individuals (including myself and my husband, who were required to get MMR boosters) and she has never had a problem with virus shedding. Because she is intentionally immune suppressed to keep her from rejecting an organ transplant, she cannot have the attenuated vaccines. Her immune system is too weak to defend itself from even a damaged virus. She was never able to be vaccinated for MMR because she received her transplant at 4 months old. So, if she comes into contact with this outbreak, she will almost certainly catch it and she has no defense against it. She has a 30% chance of mortality if she contracts the measles virus. *Source

*If you are an immune suppressed or immune compromised person, you should check with your provider before any exposure to anyone who has recently been vaccinated with live attenuated viruses.* 

YES, there ARE risks to vaccination. It's a very rare risk, but no one wants their child to be the one that it happens to. I understand it's a very scary reality. However, an even scarier reality is when diseases like measles, polio, small pox and diptheria make a comeback.

Antivaxxers: I HAVE done my research. I am NOT uninformed. I read your articles and listen to your "experts". I feed my kids all organic, non-gmo foods. I practice baby-wearing and child-led weaning/breastfeeding, as well as cosleeping. 

You are ONLY trying to do what is best for your child. I understand that and I also understand your fear.

You are being lied to.

Even one of the leading advocates for the anti-vax movement, Dr. Jack Wolfson, has freely admitted, "People will die" if we stop vaccinating kids. He asserts that it's the normal course of nature. Well, so is starvation. That's why we grow food.


I don't believe our society was founded on eugenic philosophy, casting aside the sick and the weak and allowing nature to take it's course. Only the strongest survive. Is that REALLY the world you want to live in?

Think about it. And feel free to share this post and comment, below.