UPDATE: New Label Standard for Nosodes

On July 31, 2015, Minister of Health Rona Ambrose announced an upgrade to the labeling of homeopathic nosodes. Product labels are now required to warn:

“ This product is neither a vaccine nor an alternative to vaccination. This product has not been proven to prevent infection. Health Canada does not recommend its use in children and advises that your child receive all routine vaccinations..”

This was due to increased pressure motivated by our Stop Nosodes campaign and started with Bad Science Watch’s NNHPD submission in 2013. This eventually led to the Canadian Pediatric Society openly condemning nosodes in this position statement. This is a much stronger warning than the original change in June of 2013 and we welcome it, with the caveat that this will not stop homeopaths from prescribing these as vaccine alternatives. An outright ban on the sale of these products is the only way to prevent their harming children. Please find more information here.

H omeopaths and naturopaths who use homeopathy in their practice offer preparations called “nosodes” that they claim, among other things, are capable of preventing infectious diseases. Using homeopathy for this purpose is known as “homeoprophylaxis”. Some homeopaths even claim that nosodes can serve as effective replacements or alternatives to standard vaccinations. Currently there are over 179 different nosode products that have been approved for sale by Health Canada under the Natural Health Product Regulations. At least 82 of these contain nosodes being used for the prevention of diseases like influenza, pertussis, measles, and polio.

However, the scientific evidence shows that people that choose a homeopathic alternative to standard vaccinations are not protected from infectious diseases. Even worse, because these products do not provide protection, relying on their use would actually increase the risk of contracting and spreading infectious diseases.

Bad Science Watch wants Health Canada to stop approving nosodes for sale in Canada, as there is no scientific evidence supporting claims that nosodes are effective vaccine replacements.

We have to spread the word that nosodes do not protect against infectious diseases and their use instead of vaccines puts our children and our communities at risk.

While the active part of this project of Bad Science Watch has ended (June 2013) we would like to encourage you to engage with Health Canada and continue to let them know that this issue is important.

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