Breastfeeding Discrimination

Facebook's Misogyny Needs to End Now

Facebook censorship of breastfeeding photos has been a long standing issue with hundreds of photos being removed over the years Facebook has been active, along with entire pages and profiles removed, many had thousands of followers. The site 'Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding is not Obscene' has been created to document many of the photos removed, though this is said to be a fraction of what may have been removed over the years.

Beautiful Breastfeedings Facebook page has recently come under fire from FB censors, who warned that the breastfeeding photos used on the page were "sexually inappropriate". Eight photos were removed and the page administrator banned for a short period of time. Facebook censors warned that if any more photos were reported, the page would be removed.

Like the Beautiful Breastfeeding blog, the FB page is filled with hundreds of beautiful photos and artworks of breastfeeding women and animals from around the world. Below are a sample of the photos removed.



These photos are not 'sexually inappropriate', these women are feeding their children, not performing a sexual act, or provoking sex. Lets remember too that breastfeeding is the most important evolutionary purpose of breasts, and standards for dress are different all around the world. Facebook argues that these photos are classed as 'nudity'. Why then are mens chests not classified as nudity, why are women singled out, particularly when women need to use their breasts so often to breastfeed their children? Logically womens breasts should remain bare, free to feed children as often as required. And in many countries they are, as evidenced in the above photos. So why not us here in Western countries?

In Western societies breasts have become a sexual icon, womens breasts have been 'fetishized', prompting women to cover their breasts so they don't appear sexually provocative. Is this fair? Shall we expect all women to cover their feet as well so we don't get potential foot fetishists all hot and bothered? No we don't cater to foot fetishists. So should we cater to breast fetishists? Many of our men have been taught that it's OK to oggle at breasts, it's OK to plaster pictures of breasts on their walls, they've been taught that objectifying breasts to the point of obsession is OK. This breast obsessed culture has been hundreds, if not thousands of years in the making. But it's not OK.

Let's get one thing clear, this is not about prudishness, this is about respect and fairness. All of us, men and women, need to respect a womans body, it's not fair to make a woman feel objectified, judged or embarrassed of an essential body part that she may one day use as a necessary tool to feed her child. The price of sexualizing breasts has been the inhibition to breastfeed. As a society our priorities are revealed by the fact we have put sexual gratification above the needs of women to breastfeed their children. We are content to perpetuate a breast obsession, while women feel too inhibited to breastfeed and children go without breastmilk. 

No, this is NOT OK. The only way it will end is when we, both men and women, stand up and refuse to participate in the objectification of womens breasts; when we create nudity laws that treat men and women equally; when we as a society respect and embrace the necessity of breastfeeding.

I'm asking you to join us in changing our society, so we can free women from this objectification. Please share this blog post or write your own on the issue, or send an email to Facebook administrators, telling them their misogyny needs to end now. Tell them breastfeeding is not 'sexually provocative', tell them bare breasts are not 'nudity' just as a mans chest is not classed as 'nudity' either.

One of our goals is to change Facebook policy, to allow all breastfeeding photos to be exempt from removal for reasons of being 'sexually inappropriate' or 'nudity'. So please join us in bombarding FB administrators with your disapproval of current FB policy that discriminates against breastfeeding women.

Mark Zuckerbergs official FB profile where you can send him a private message (he is the founder and chief executive at FB):
http://www.facebook.com/zuck

Chris Cox FB profile where you can send him a private message (he is the vice president of product at FB):
http://www.facebook.com/chris.cox

Facebooks official FB HQ page where you can comment:
http://www.facebook.com/facebookhq?sk=wall&filter=2

You can also sign a petition to exempt non-sexual breastfeeding images on Facebook from removal for nudity:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protect-breastfeeding-on-fb/

And another petition to stop removing breastfeeding support pages and pictures:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-facebook-to-stop-removing-breastfeeding-support-pages-and-pictures


This is the message I've sent to Facebook, feel free to copy, paste and send (insert your own name):

Dear Mark / Chris / Facebook Censors,

Are you aware of the misogyny and female discrimination that goes on within your company? Photos of breastfeeding women are constantly being removed from FB, being labeled by your staff as "sexually inappropriate" and "nudity". US federal law states that breastfeeding, in whatever fashion, is NOT classified as nudity. I implore you to please align FB policy with US federal law and exempt breastfeeding photos on FB from classification as nudity. Breastfeeding is in no way sexual, it is how all mammals feed their young. Breastfeeding mothers have a hard enough time establishing and maintaining breastfeeding, without having to deal with judgment and condemnation from their community. Please help our breastfeeding moms and show that you are supportive of them by allowing their lovely photos breastfeeding their children, that they are so proud of, to be allowed on FB.

Sincerely,
Cherie
Beautiful Breastfeeding





Birth

The Rights of Childbearing Women

It's not uncommon to hear nasty stories from mothers who had their birthing rights violated (and often don't even know it). Whether it be a medical professional who performed an episiotomy after being expressly told by the birthing mother she did not want one, a medical professional who never informed the birthing mother of the risks and consequences of a certain procedure, or the birthing mother being restricted from food or movement during labor by a medical professional. It's clear that in some situations unless you know your rights and are determined to enforce them, your rights as a birthing mother will be violated.

Below is a list of birthing rights from The Birthing Connection website, where a PDF version is available for download.

* At this time in the United States, childbearing women are legally entitled to those rights.
** The legal system would probably uphold those rights.

  1. Every woman has the right to health care before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth.

  2. Every woman and infant has the right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks.* Practices that have been found to be safe and beneficial should be used when indicated. Harmful, ineffective or unnecessary practices should be avoided. Unproven interventions should be used only in the context of research to evaluate their effects.

  3. Every woman has the right to choose a midwife or a physician as her maternity care provider. Both caregivers skilled in normal childbearing and caregivers skilled in complications are needed to ensure quality care for all.

  4. Every woman has the right to choose her birth setting from the full range of safe options available in her community, on the basis of complete, objective information about benefits, risks and costs of these options.*

  5. Every woman has the right to receive all or most of her maternity care from a single caregiver or a small group of caregivers, with whom she can establish a relationship. Every woman has the right to leave her maternity caregiver and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care.* (Only second sentence is a legal right.)

  6. Every woman has the right to information about the professional identity and qualifications of those involved with her care, and to know when those involved are trainees.*

  7. Every woman has the right to communicate with caregivers and receive all care in privacy, which may involve excluding nonessential personnel. She also has the right to have all personal information treated according to standards of confidentiality.*

  8. Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that identifies and addresses social and behavioral factors that affect her health and that of her baby.** She should receive information to help her take the best care of herself and her baby and have access to social services and behavioral change programs that could contribute to their health.

  9. Every woman has the right to full and clear information about benefits, risks and costs of the procedures, drugs, tests and treatments offered to her, and of all other reasonable options, including no intervention.* She should receive this information about all interventions that are likely to be offered during labor and birth well before the onset of labor.

  10. Every woman has the right to accept or refuse procedures, drugs, tests and treatments, and to have her choices honored. She has the right to change her mind.* (Please note that this established legal right has been challenged in a number of recent cases.)

  11. Every woman has the right to be informed if her caregivers wish to enroll her or her infant in a research study. She should receive full information about all known and possible benefits and risks of participation; and she has the right to decide whether to participate, free from coercion and without negative consequences.*

  12. Every woman has the right to unrestricted access to all available records about her pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care and infant; to obtain a full copy of these records; and to receive help in understanding them, if necessary.*

  13. Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that is appropriate to her cultural and religious background, and to receive information in a language in which she can communicate.*

  14. Every woman has the right to have family members and friends of her choice present during all aspects of her maternity care.**

  15. Every woman has the right to receive continuous social, emotional and physical support during labor and birth from a caregiver who has been trained in labor support.**

  16. Every woman has the right to receive full advance information about risks and benefits of all reasonably available methods for relieving pain during labor and birth, including methods that do not require the use of drugs. She has the right to choose which methods will be used and to change her mind at any time.*

  17. Every woman has the right to freedom of movement during labor, unencumbered by tubes, wires or other apparatus. She also has the right to give birth in the position of her choice.*

  18. Every woman has the right to virtually uninterrupted contact with her newborn from the moment of birth, as long as she and her baby are healthy and do not need care that requires separation.**

  19. Every woman has the right to receive complete information about the benefits of breastfeeding well in advance of labor, to refuse supplemental bottles and other actions that interfere with breastfeeding, and to have access to skilled lactation support for as long as she chooses to breastfeed.*

  20. Every woman has the right to decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home, based on their conditions and circumstances.**

Copyright 1999, 2006 Childbirth Connection

Our Sources
The following sources, in their present or earlier editions, helped guide the development of this statement of rights:

American Hospital Association. The Patient Care Partnership: Understanding Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities, 2003.

Annas, G..J. A national bill of patients' rights. New England Journal of Medicine 1998;338(10):695-699.

Annas, G. J. The Rights of Patients: The Authoritative ACLU Guide to the Rights of Patients, third edition. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2004.

The Boston Women's Health Book Collective. Sections on "Childbearing" and "Knowledge is Power." In: Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005;417-524, 699-758.

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS). The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative, 1996.

Enkin, M., Keirse, M. J. N. C., Neilson J., Crowther, C., Duley, L., Hodnett, E. and Hofmeyr, J. A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth, third edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

International Childbirth Education Association, Inc. The Pregnant Patient's Bill of Rights. Minneapolis: ICEA, 1975.

President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. Appendix A: Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. In its Quality First: Better Health Care for All Americans.

United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

Thank you to George Annas, professor and chair of Health Law at the Boston University School of Public Health, for clarifying the legal status of the individual rights.
Most recent page update: 11/21/2011
Related Links
Informed Consent, Informed Refusal
© 2011 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.

Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families.
Aluminum

Childhood Vaccination: Aluminum

Aluminium Hydroxide
Aluminum is a metal used in small quantities in childhood and adult vaccines, usually in the form of Aluminium phosphate or Aluminium hydroxide. Aluminum's role in vaccination is to be an adjuvant - a substance that stimulates the immune system to react.
"The success of aluminium as a vaccine adjuvant is due to its potent stimulatory effects on the immune system. In fact, with the exception of attenuated viruses (eg. MMR), in the absence of aluminium most antigenic compounds (eg. viral or bacterial compounds used in vaccines) fail to launch an adequate immune response, suggesting that a significant part of the immuno-stimulatory effects of vaccines may be driven by the aluminium adjuvant itself." - Tomljenovic et al 2012 [1]
"The use of adjuvants enables the use of less antigen (eg. viral or bacterial compounds) to achieve the desired immune response, and this reduces vaccine production costs. With a few exceptions, adjuvants are foreign to the body and cause adverse reactions." - Scheibner 2000 [2]

Aluminum is not a 'safe' substance
Despite Aluminum being one of the most abundant metals on earth, Aluminum is by no means 'safe'.
"Aluminum is an 'excitotoxin', a substance that damages neurons".Bernardo et al 2012 [3] (Excitotoxins bind to certain receptors and may cause neuron cell death. [4])
"Excitotoxicity may be involved in spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss (through noise overexposure or ototoxicity) and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such asmultiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, alcoholismor alcohol withdrawal and Huntington's disease."[5]
"We emphasize the DNA damaging potential by aluminium. Aluminium acts as a pro-oxidant in the cells. Aluminium induces DNA damage in the human peripheral blood lymphocytes (a type of immune cell) at a concentration of 10 mcg/ml". - Bharathi et al 2008 [6] (The Infanrix-hexa vaccine contains an aluminium concentration of 1640 mcg/ml, surpassing the threshold for DNA damage 164 times over) [7]
"Aluminum in various forms can be toxic to the nervous system. The widespread presence in the human environment may underlie a number of central nervous system disorders. The continued use of aluminum adjuvants in various vaccines for children as well as the general public may be of significant concern. In particular, aluminum presented in this form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences." - Tomljenovic et al 2011 [8]
"Aluminum was determined to stand out among all the ions studied for its remarkable ability to induce reactive oxygen species (which promotes cell death), even compared with mercury and lead. Aluminum induced a response that was a factor of seven higher than that of mercury and a factor of three higher than that of lead. Since aluminum is a known neurotoxin, there is no safe level. The central nervous system is particularly susceptible to the deleterious effects of aluminum." - Seneff et al 2012 [9] 
Aluminum has been used numerous times in past scientific experiments with animals (monkeys, rabbits, and cats) specifically to induce chronic epileptic seizures (Rogozea et al 1976; Wyler et al 1978; David 1982;  Bostantjopoulou et al 1990). [10-13]

Symptoms of Aluminum toxicity
Musculoskeletal disorders - Muscle pain and weakness, macrophagic myofasciitis (pain and inflammation of muscles). Bone pain and weakness, premature osteoporosis (thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density), arthritis, fractures (particularly of the ribs and pelvis), bone deformity - due to the increased rate of growth and remodeling usually involving the epiphyseal plates (ie, femur, wrist), thoracic (rib) cage abnormalities, lumbar scoliosis (curving of the spine sideways), kyphosis (curving of the spine leading to a hunchback), rickets (softening of bone leading to bone deformities), craniosynostosis (premature ossification of the skull and obliteration of the sutures in infants).
Neurological disorders - Encephalitis (acute inflammation of the brain), dementia (loss of brain function affecting memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior), difficulty learning, inability to concentrate, lack of co-ordination, confusion, disorientation, extreme nervousness, speech impairment, mutism (in infants and children), seizures, multiple sclerosis (degradation of the central nervous system), Guillain-Barré syndrome ( paralysis and loss of reflexes), transverse myelitis (erosion of spinal cord), facial palsy
Iron anemia - Due to the interference of aluminum with iron metabolism
Liver and kidney disorders - Decreased liver and kidney function, liver and kidney disease
Gastrointestinal disorders - Nausea, flatulence, heartburn, stomach and intestinal ulcers, intestinal colic, gastrointestinal disease.
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders - Idiopathic thrombocytopenia
Immune System Disorders - Anaphylaxis and/or other generalized hypersensitivity reactions, inflammatory arthritis/arthralgia, fever, and dermatologic reactions such as erythema, systemic lupus erythematosus
Cardiac Disorders - Cardiac arrhythmias
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders - Asthma
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders - Angioedema, erythema

Infants are significantly more vulnerable to neurotoxins, such as Aluminum, than adults
"During prenatal and early postnatal development the brain is extremely vulnerable to neurotoxic insults. Not only are these highly sensitive periods of rapid brain development in general but also, the blood brain barrier (BBB) is incomplete and thus more permeable to toxic substances during this time. Further, immune challenges during early development, including those induced by vaccines, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of nervous and immune system function. Additionally, the immature renal system of neonates significantly compromises their ability to eliminate environmental toxicants. For all these reasons, children are at much greater risk of adverse reactions from aluminium adjuvants than adults." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [14]

The artificial immune response created by aluminium is likely too potent for an infant
"Immune stimulation induced by vaccinations may be much greater in magnitude than that  resulting from natural infections. The main reason for this is that early-life immune responses (before 6 months of age) are weaker and of shorter duration than those elicited in immunologically mature hosts. Thus, to provoke and sustain an adequate B-cell immune response (the principal function of B-cells is to make antibodies against viruses, bacteria etc) in neonates, strong immune adjuvants such as aluminium, as well as repeated closely spaced booster doses are needed. In contrast, during the course of natural infections, children are in most cases exposed to one pathogenic agent at a time (i.e., measles only as opposed to measles, mumps, and rubella all at once). This allows for a more subtle priming of the immature immune system, as well as brain recovery from the potential neuroimmune challenge." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [14]

The level of Aluminum in pediatric vaccines is well over the threshold for toxicity
A 2004 statement by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), a group that monitors oral and injectable nutritional products for safety and side effects, states the daily limit of aluminum is 5 mcg per kilogram of body weight (Charney et al. 2004). [15]
An average 6 week old weighs 4.5kg, measures 55cm in length, and has just 400mL of blood. For an infant of this size, the daily allowable limit of injectable aluminum is 22.5mcg. A 6 week old infant receiving the Infanrix and Synflorix vaccinations as per NZ schedule, will receive 1320mcg of aluminum in one sitting, grossly exceeding the daily allowable limit of 22.5mcg aluminum for a 6 week old, 59 times over. This will be repeated at 3 months, again 5 months, and at 15 months a final 4th dose of Synflorix will be administered. Following the NZ Immunization Schedule, by the time an infant has reached 15 months old, he or she will have received 6260mcg of aluminum. [16,17]

New Zealand Immunisation Schedule 2011
Age
Diseases covered and Vaccines
6 weeks
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae type b
1 injection (INFANRIX®- hexa)
Pneumococcal - 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
3 months
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae type b
1 injection (INFANRIX®- hexa)
Pneumococcal 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
5 months
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae type b
1 injection (INFANRIX®- hexa)
Pneumococcal - 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
15 months
Haemophilus influenzae type b - 1 injection (Act-HIB®)
Measles / Mumps / Rubella - 1 injection (MMR® II)
Pneumococcal - 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
4 years
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio - 1 injection (INFANRIX-IPVTM)
Measles / Mumps / Rubella - 1 injection (M-M-R® II)
11 years
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough - 1 injection (BoostrixTM)
12 years
girls only
Human Papillomavirus - 3 doses given over 6 months (GARDASILTM)
45 years
Diphtheria / Tetanus - 1 injection (ADTTM Booster)
65 years
Diphtheria / Tetanus - 1 injection (ADTTM Booster)
Influenza 1 injection (annually)
http://www.moh.govt.nz/icons/ecblank.gif*Synflorix will be available when existing stocks of Prevenar are used up.

Aluminum Levels in NZ Childhood Vaccines 2011
Vaccine Name
Aluminum type
Amount
Infanrix®-hexa 
Aluminium hydroxide
Aluminium phosphate
500mcg
320mcg
Synflorix®
Aluminium phosphate
500mcg
Prevenar®
Aluminium phosphate
500mcg
Infanrix®-IPV
Aluminium hydroxide
625mcg
Boostrix®
Aluminium hydroxide  & aluminium phosphate
390mcg
Gardasil®
Amorphous aluminium  hydroxyphosphate sulphate
225 mcg
Prevenar 13®
Aluminium phosphate
570mcg
ADT™ Booster
Aluminium hydroxide (hydrated)
500mcg
HBvaxPRO®
Amorphpus aluminium hydroxyphosphate sulphate
250mcg
IPOL
Aluminium
0mcg
Hiberix®
Aluminium
0mcg
Act-HIB™
Aluminium
0mcg
M-M-R® II
Aluminium
0mcg

For more information on US vaccination schedules and vaccine ingredients:

Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 Years, or 7 Through 18 Years —United States 2011
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/0-6yrs-schedule-pr.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/7-18yrs-schedule-pr.pdf

Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary, Part 1 & 2 - CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-1.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf

Package Inserts and Manufacturers for some US Licensed Vaccines and Immunoglobulins
http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/package_inserts.htm

Aluminum in the NZ vaccine schedule has increased 5.5 fold
In the 1980's the amount of aluminum in the NZ vaccine schedule was 1120mcg. Today, in 2013, the amount is 6150mcg. Perhaps most alarming was the year 2006 when the schedule included a whopping 10105mcg aluminum. This was largely due to the inclusion of the Meningcoccal group B vaccine, a three dose regimen that included 6600mcg aluminum. [18,19]

Additional Aluminum is leached into vaccines via glass vials
"Based on concerns that the mercury in thimerosal (used as a preservative in vaccines) might be contributing to autism, the industry made an effort to significantly reduce the amount of mercury present in vaccines beginning in the late 1990's. In parallel, they began storing the vaccines in individualized glass vials—to avoid the ostensible need for a preservative to reduce the danger of contaminating repeated invasions of multidose vials. However, this raises another concern, as aluminum can be leached out of the glass vial and the rubber stopper during storage. Glass contains aluminum oxide at levels  ranging from 1.9% to 5.8%. Leaching from a container is an ongoing process until the product is used."Seneff et al 2012 [9]

If the body is overloaded with Aluminum it will deposit it in various organs
"Approximately 95% of aluminum in the body becomes bound to transferrin (plasma protein that transports iron through the blood to the liver, spleen and bone marrow) and albumin (main protein in human blood) in blood vessels and is then excreted via the kidneys. If a significant load exceeds the body's excretory capacity, the excess is deposited in various tissues, including bone, brain, liver, heart, spleen, and muscle. This accumulation causes morbidity and mortality through various mechanisms." - Bernardo et al. 2012 [3]

Once inside the body, Aluminum can take years to be cleared
"The elimination half-life of aluminum from the human brain is 7 years, this can result in cumulative damage via the element's interference with neuron transport and assembly." - Bernardo et al. 2012 [3]
"Aluminium accumulates in the brain with age and exposure is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases." - Exley & Vickers 2014 [22]
"In patients with macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) Aluminum was shown to persist at the site of injection from several months up to 8 years following vaccination. Patients were found to suffer from diffuse arthromyalgias, chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and in some cases, multiple sclerosis. Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) has been specifically attributed to aluminum adjuvants in recipients of hepatitis A and B and tetanus toxoid (Td) vaccines. MMF Electron microscopy and microanalytical analysis showed that the appearance of MMF lesions was due to long-term persistence of aluminum adjuvants at the site of injections and concomitant ongoing local immune reactions." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [8]

Even minimal exposure to Aluminum through vaccines can provoke autoimmune disorders
"Experimental evidence shows that simultaneous administration of as little as two to three immune adjuvants, or repeated stimulation of the immune system by the same antigen, can overcome genetic resistance to autoimmunity." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [15]
"Aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form (from vaccines) carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [8]
"Vaccines can induce the appearances of autoantibodies, enigmatic inflammatory condition, and overt autoimmune disease. Of which, non-specific manifestations such as arthritis, neuronal damage, fatigue, encephalitis and vasculitis were frequently described." - Shoenfeld et al, 2010 [23]
"A variety of conditions encompassed by the 'Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants' (ASIA) have been linked to exposure to aluminum (Al) vaccine adjuvants. These conditions include: Siliconosis, the Gulf war syndrome (GWS), the macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome (MMF), and post-vaccination phenomena. Furthermore, these four diseases share a similar complex of signs and symptoms: Myalgia (muscle pain), myositis (inflamed, damaged muscles) or muscle weakness, arthralgia (pain in joints) and/or arthritis (inflammation of joints), chronic fatigue, un-refreshing sleep or sleep disturbances, neurological manifestations (especially associated with demyelination (degeneration of nerves)), cognitive impairment, memory loss, pyrexia (fever), dry mouth, appearance of auto-antibodies or antibodies directed at the suspected adjuvant, irritable bowel syndrome, evolvement of an autoimmune disease (i.e. Multiple Sclerosis)." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [24]
"Recently, autoantibody, production was studied in 92 healthy medical workers after influenza vaccination. For subjects with autoantibodies before vaccination, increased titers were documented 1 and 6 months post-vaccination in 11% and 13% of them respectively. Moreover 4 participants developed de novo (new) autoantibodies 6 months after vaccination, one of them with very high titers alluding to a possible long-lasting effect. In addition to the appearance of autoantibodies, clinical presentations or mild exacerbations of an autoimmune disease were occasionally observed following vaccinations. Autoimmune diseases develop in individuals who are genetically susceptible after their immune system is triggered (i.e., by infection or vaccine). Avoiding such a triggering stimulus may allow an individual to remain asymptomatic throughout his or her life." - Agmon-Levin 2009 [25]
"The increased risk of autoimmunity among recipients of a certain vaccine may stem not only from its antigenic-mediated responses but also from other constituents of the vaccine, such as yeast, adjuvant and preservative. For example adjuvants have been added to vaccines to improve their immunogenicity. However, alongside their supportive role they were found to themselves inflict an illness of autoimmune nature, defined as "adjuvant disease".  Agmon-Levin 2009 [25]
"Influenza vaccine, like most human vaccines, is capable of inducing immune responses and includes also an adjuvant and other components that can increase its autoimmune pathogenicity (ability to cause harm). Thus, for the minority of individuals who are probably genetically susceptible, as well as for patients with active Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease, the influenza vaccine, among others, may trigger an overt autoimmune disease." Agmon-Levin 2009 [25]
"The latency period between immunization and autoimmunity ranges between days to years. An individuals susceptibility (for example, relating to genetic factors) might have an important role in vaccine–autoimmunity interactions." - Agmon-Levin 2009 [26]
"Aluminum has a range of mechanisms inwhich it causes inflammation: 
  • Aluminum is a pro-oxidant (induces oxidative stress) which inturn induces an inflammation response.
  • Aluminum induces an inflammation response known as NALP3 inflammasome (associated with autoimmune disease).
  • Aluminum itself can be antigenic (elicits the response of antibodies)." - Exly et al, 2010 [27] 
"Aluminum (found in vaccines) is a potential factor for the induction of inflammation in Crohn's disease (chronic inflammation of the intestines), and its immune activities share many characteristics with the immune pathology of Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease mucosa is confronted with numerous inappropriate bacterial components adsorbed on the aluminum compound surface, constituting a pro-inflammatory supra-adjuvant. Aluminum fits the diagnostic criteria of the newly described autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)." - Lerner 2012 [28] 

Other studies correlating Aluminum with illness
Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is characterized by specific muscle lesions with long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide at the site of previous immunization. Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions show an ongoing local immune reaction, and are detected in patients with systemic symptoms which appeared subsequently to vaccination. Affected patients mainly complain of arthromyalgias (joint and muscle pain), chronic fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. One-third of patients with macrophagic myofasciitis develop autoimmune disease. [29,30,31]
In preterm infants, prolonged intravenous feeding with solutions containing aluminum is associated with impaired neurologic development. We estimate that for infants receiving full intravenous feeding (approx 180ml per kilogram every 24 hours) with a mean aluminum intake of 45μg per kilogram per day, the expected reduction in the Bayley Mental Development Index (a score of 50 to 150) would be, on average, one point per day of intravenous feeding. The former (infants who received an intravenous feeding solution with higher amounts of aluminum) were significantly more likely (39 percent, vs. 17 percent of the latter group; P = 0.03) to have a Mental Development Index of less than 85, increasing their risk of subsequent educational problems. [20] (The Infanrix-hexa vaccine contains an aluminium concentration of 1640 mcg per dose. Using the above calculation in which an infant receiving 45ug (equivalent to mcg) per day would lose one point per day in the Bayley Mental Development Index, a 6 week infant weighing 4.5kg receiving the infanrix-hexa would suffer brain damage equivalent to the loss of 36.4 points.) [7]
Young, male colony CD-1 mice were injected with the (aluminum) adjuvants at doses equivalent to those given to US military service personnel. Subsequent testing showed:
  • Motor deficits expressed as a progressive decrease in strength (50%).
  • Significant cognitive deficits in water-maze learning (4.3 vs 0.2 errors per trial).
  • Significant motor neuron loss in the lumbar spinal cord (35%).
  • Significantly increased numbers of astrocytes (cells that are expressed when the nervous system is injured and needs repair) in the lumbar spinal cord (350%).
  • Significantly increased activated caspase-3 (protein that promotes programmed cell death) labeling in lumbar spinal cord (255%) and primary motor cortex (192%).
The findings suggest a possible role for the aluminum adjuvant in some neurological features associated with Gulf War Illness (GWI). [32]
Vaccine-exposed and saline-injected control infants (macaques) underwent MRI and PET imaging at approximately 4 and 6 months of age, representing two specific timeframes within the vaccination schedule. Maturational changes in amygdala (part of the brain involved in processing and expressing emotions) volume was significantly altered in infant macaques receiving the vaccine schedule (the complete US vaccine schedule that was given in 1994-1999). [33]
We conclude that exposure of Hepa1-6 cells (mouse liver cells) to a low dose of (aluminum) adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine leads to loss of mitochondrial integrity, apoptosis (programmed cell death) induction, and cell death. [34]

Studies show Aluminum is also correlated with Autism
Aluminum (Al), the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant Al has the potential to induce neuroimmune disorders. Our results show that:
(i) children from countries with the highest ASD prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to Al from vaccines;
(ii) the increase in exposure to Al adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in ASD prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades (Pearson r = 0.92, p < 0.0001); and
(iii) a significant correlation exists between the amounts of Al administered to preschool children and the current prevalence of ASD in seven Western countries, particularly at 3–4 months of age (Pearson r = 0.89–0.94, p = 0.0018–0.0248).
The data indicates that the correlation between Al in vaccines and ASD may be causal. [35]
Our results provide strong evidence supporting a link between autism and the aluminum in vaccines. We propose that children with the autism diagnosis are especially vulnerable to toxic metals such as aluminum and mercury due to insufficient serum sulfate and glutathione. A strong correlation between autism and the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is also observed, which may be partially explained via an increased sensitivity to acetaminophen administered to control fever. [9]
The higher the proportion of children receiving recommended vaccinations, the higher was the prevalence of autism or speech or language impairment. A 1% increase in vaccination was associated with an additional 680 children having autism or speech or language impairment. The aluminum in vaccines has been associated with disorders in the central nervous system as well as with autism. Combining mercury and aluminum magnifies the toxicity of each. Both metals also are known to suppress the immune system; thus, a susceptible person may not be able to mount an effective immunological response to the live viruses found in certain vaccines. [36]
The correlation between autism spectrum disorder rate and aluminium adjuvant amounts appears to be dose-dependent and satisfies 8 of 9 Hill criteria for causality. These current data implicate aluminium injected in early postnatal life in some central nervous system alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder. [37]
In young children, a highly significant correlation exists between the number of pediatric aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines administered and the rate of autism spectrum disorders. Many of the features of aluminum-induced neurotoxicity may arise, in part, from autoimmune reactions, as part of the ASIA syndrome. [38]

Ingested Aluminum is not a valid comparison to injected Aluminum.
In healthy subjects, only 0.3% of orally administered aluminum is absorbed via the GI tract and the kidneys effectively eliminate aluminum from the human body. It is only when the GI barrier is bypassed, such as intravenous infusion or in the presence of advanced renal dysfunction, that aluminum has the potential to accumulate. As an example, with intravenously infused aluminum, 40% is retained in adults and up to 75% is retained in neonates. [3]
Additionally...
Although the half-life of aluminum consumed through the diet is short (approx 24hr) the same cannot be assumed for aluminum in vaccines because the molecular size of most aluminum in vaccines (24-83 kDa) is higher than what the human kidney or other bodily filtering systems can process (18 kDa). [38]

Aluminum has never been tested by the FDA for safety
Aluminum has been exempted from testing for safety by the FDA and has been classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe). It has never been tested by the FDA for its safety. Yet, there are numerous studies confirming the adverse effects of aluminum. This means vaccine manufacturers can technically say Aluminum is 'safe', even though it's a neurotoxin. There are no enforceable regulations on Aluminum. Agencies such as the EPA or FDA cannot enforce any organization to comply with their recommendations. [39,40]

Aluminum does not have to be used in vaccines
Calcium phosphate adjuvant has been used for simultaneous vaccination with diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, BCG, yellow fever, measles and hepatitis B vaccines and with allergen. The advantage of this adjuvant has been seen to be that it is a normal constituent of the body and is better tolerated and absorbed than other adjuvants. It entraps antigens very efficiently and allows slow release of the antigen. Additionally, it elicits high amounts of IgG-type antibodies an much less of IgE-type (reaginic) antibodies. [2]
While having similar properties to alum salts, calcium phosphate has the advantage that it is a natural compound to the human body and is therefore exceptionally well tolerated. It has a reasonable capacity to adsorb antigens, induces high levels of IgG antibodies and does not increase IgE production. Neurological reactions to pertussis vaccines adsorbed to calcium phosphate are rare. [41]

Last updated: 6/9/13

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[2]. ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ADJUVANTS IN VACCINES
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[12]. THE ORIENTING REFLEX IN CATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY Radu ROGOZEA and Viorica FLOREA-CIOCOIU, ACTA NEUROBIOL. EXP. 1976, 36: 359-371. Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry, Bucharest, Romania

[13]. Behavioral and electrical correlates of absence seizures induced by thalamic stimulation in juvenile rhesus monkeys with frontal aluminum hydroxide implants: a pharmacologic evaluation.David J, Marathe SB, Patil SD, Grewal RS. J Pharmacol Methods. 1982 May;7(3):219-29.

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[15]. P. Charney, The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Aluminum Task Force, "A.S.P.E.N. Statement on Aluminum in Parenteral Nutrition Solutions," Nutrition in Clinical Practice 19 (August 2004): 416-417.
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[16]. Blood Volume Calculator

[17]. Baby Weight & Length Charts

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[19]. MeNZB, Meningococcal group B Vaccine Data Sheet

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[29]. Long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide is associated with chronic cognitive dysfunction. Couette M, et al, INSERM, Unite U955, Team 1, Creteil F-94010, France. J Inorg Biochem. 2009 Nov;103(11):1571-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2009.08.005. Epub 2009 Aug 20.

[30].Vocal fold deposits in macrophagic myofasciitis – Case Report. Fergal Glynn et al, 2007

[31].Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions assess long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminium hydroxide in muscle. R. K. Gherardi et al, Brain (2001) 124 (9): 1821-1831.

[32]. Aluminum Adjuvant Linked to Gulf War Illness Induces Motor Neuron Death in Mice
Michael S. Petrik et al, 2006, NeuroMolecular Medicine, ISSN1535-1084/07/09:83–100

[33]. Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study
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[34]. Hepatitis B vaccine induces apoptotic death in Hepa1-6 cells
Apoptosis. 2012 Jan 17. Hamza H, et al. Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China

[35]. Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?

[36]. A positive association found between Autism prevalence and childhood vaccination uptake across the U.S. population, Gayle DeLong , 2011 J Tox Env Health.pdf
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[37]. Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. Shaw CA, et al. J Inorg Biochem. 2013 Jul 19. pii: S0162-0134(13)00177-3.
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[40]. TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR ALUMINUM

[41]. Vaccine adjuvants: Current state and future trends