What Is VacciShield And Does It Really Work?
The use of blended medicinal approaches is on the rise. Numerous herbal remedies are moving back into the mainstream and, naturally, new products arise as a result. Some work, some don't, and others can actually be harmful. The hard part, as with all medical practices, is knowing what's what and how it all works together.
As Science-Based Medicine points out, many alternative medicinal products on the market today seem geared toward conditions that mainstream medicine doesn't have a permanent solution for. These conditions can range from mental health issues to chronic joint pain. They are the sort of conditions that can last for years or even a person's lifetime. And when there is no end in sight, it's hard to dismiss products with little or no science behind them.
Other products seem designed to reassure patients who may not entirely understand mainstream medicine. VacciShield is one such product. Its creator, Catherine Clinton, came up with the product after she became concerned about the effect vaccines would have on her son's body. It is not a substitute for vaccines. Instead it is a supplement allegedly based on vaccine research.
There's no evidence it works
The American Council on Science and Health covered several products, including VacciShield, that claim to augment the vaccination process in some way. When they turned their attention to VacciShield, they found such claims on the product's website as "parents want a way to support their children's health during immunizations. VacciShield is an easy to use supplement that will support your child's health during the time of vaccinations."
As the Council points out, VacciShield is a product designed to boost a child's health during the time around vaccination, a time when the product's creator feels their bodily systems might be compromised. The product is listed as a supplement containing two strains of probiotics, five vitamins, two minerals, and L-glutamine, according to the company's website.
Both the Council and Science-Based Medicine point out that there is no indication a child's health is at risk during a period of vaccination. And while there are similar supplements marketed for general use, both sites also point out that supplements are not subject to testing by the FDA and are not proven effective in their claims. Ultimately there is no evidence that a product like VacciShield is necessary or that VacciShield itself has any benefits.