Do vaccines increase or decrease susceptibility to diseases other than those they protect against?

Vaccine. 2024 Jan 25;42(3):426-440. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.12.060. Epub 2023 Dec 29.

Abstract

Contrary to the long-held belief that the effects of vaccines are specific for the disease they were created; compelling evidence has demonstrated that vaccines can exert positive or deleterious non-specific effects (NSEs). In this review, we compiled research reports from the last 40 years, which were found based on the PubMed search for the epidemiological and immunological studies on the non-specific effects (NSEs) of the most common human vaccines. Analysis of information showed that live vaccines induce positive NSEs, whereas non-live vaccines induce several negative NSEs, including increased female mortality associated with enhanced susceptibility to other infectious diseases, especially in developing countries. These negative NSEs are determined by the vaccination sequence, the antigen concentration in vaccines, the type of vaccine used (live vs. non-live), and also by repeated vaccination. We do not recommend stopping using non-live vaccines, as they have demonstrated to protect against their target disease, so the suggestion is that their detrimental NSEs can be minimized simply by changing the current vaccination sequence. High IgG4 antibody levels generated in response to repeated inoculation with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines could be associated with a higher mortality rate from unrelated diseases and infections by suppressing the immune system. Since most COVID-19 vaccinated countries are reporting high percentages of excess mortality not directly attributable to deaths from such disease, the NSEs of mRNA vaccines on overall mortality should be studied in depth.

Keywords: Excess deaths; IgG4 antibodies; Immune training; Non-specific effects of vaccines; Tolerance.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines