Comments on: The good, the bad and the ugly, revisited http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/ turning the tide upstate Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:30:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: ladkiddo http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-163502 ladkiddo Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:14:08 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-163502 Thanks for your response, JoAnne. Thanks for your response, JoAnne.

]]> By: JoAnn http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154676 JoAnn Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:23:58 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154676 I am a microbiologist by training. The story of Edward Jenner and his discovery of the smallpox vaccine was practically a "Genesis" story to my entire field of study. All my life I had believed that vaccines were unquestionably modern medicine's greatest success story. When I was pregnant with my first child, a friend (whom I considered scientifically illiterate -- as her degree was in dance) suggested that, "before you automatically put vaccines into your child, you look into the issue." I agreed with her that I should look into this issue-- and did so mostly to put my own mind at ease that I was an "informed consumer" on the topic -- but also to prove my friend wrong and educate her -- after all she was scientifically illiterate. I started with books by people like Neil Miller and did not find his arguments and data persausive -- but then I read the book, Vaccination -- 100 years of Orthodox Research Proves Vaccines Represent a Medical Assault on the Immune System. by Viera Scheibner. I was shocked at her assertions in the book, and so I went to the primary literature myself and got the articles to which she referred and read them-- it totally changed my thinking on the issue to see that what she had alleged in her book was accurate. I also had the chance to meet with Dr Scheiber in person on several occasions and question her about statements that she made which at the time I did not understand. I then took what she told me to researchers at the CDC and my old microbiology professors, to hear their responses. Nothing the pro-vaccinators said could trump what Dr Scheibner said -- and they all clung tenaciously to their view -- but then all of them had their livelihoods invested in this issue and all of them had already vaccinated their own children. Going into this issue, I HAD NO AGENDA -- OTHER THEN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR MY CHILD. I started out a "believer" in vaccines. After one year of intensely studying this issue I came away seeing this issue quite differently. I have since discussed this with many doctors and scientists who are adamantly pro-vaccine. One of the things I have found, is that few vaccine proponents have even bothered to read the primary literature for themselves, and I have yet to meet a single individual who has read and collectedand analyzed as many original research studies on the topic as Dr Scheibner. Human belief/bias is very profound. All of us, from an early age have grown up believing that vaccines do more good then harm, but I no longer believe this view is supported by the bulk of science. But I do absolutely believe that eventually, as a society we will be able to examine this issue dispassionately and then the truth will be obvious -- that the risks are much greater then we are being told, and the benefits far less then what we believe. The real issue here is that NO ONE can guarantee you that a vaccine will not cause injury to your child, and in a free society we do not force parents to offer up their perfectly healthy children as a sacrifice for the percieved benefit to the masses. I also want to comment on the view expressed here that people who don't vaccinate put others at risk. There is no science to support this statement -- but their is science to support the opposite -- that is that a recently vaccinated child can put others at risk. The live polio vaccine was in fact finally discontinued for this very reason -- as it could be shed for weeks after being administered and it was causing about a dozen cases of paralysis each year in the US. The Chickenpox vaccine is also a concern for similar reasons -- when our child has chickenpox, we keep them home -- away from elderly people whose own immunity to this virus may be waning. But who keeps their recently vaccinated child home for the several weeks that they shed live varicella virus after being vaccinated? I believe that this explains many cases of shingles in elderly people who come into contact with newly vaccinated children. (Shingles can occur in partially immune individuals who come into contact with the chickenpox virus. Herd immunity sounds so wonderful, but there are simply too many documented instances of epidemics occurring in fully vaccinated populations for me to believe that it is a reliable phenomonon. I am a microbiologist by training. The story of Edward Jenner and his discovery of the smallpox vaccine was practically a “Genesis” story to my entire field of study. All my life I had believed that vaccines were unquestionably modern medicine’s greatest success story. When I was pregnant with my first child, a friend (whom I considered scientifically illiterate — as her degree was in dance) suggested that, “before you automatically put vaccines into your child, you look into the issue.” I agreed with her that I should look into this issue– and did so mostly to put my own mind at ease that I was an “informed consumer” on the topic — but also to prove my friend wrong and educate her — after all she was scientifically illiterate. I started with books by people like Neil Miller and did not find his arguments and data persausive — but then I read the book, Vaccination — 100 years of Orthodox Research Proves Vaccines Represent a Medical Assault on the Immune System. by Viera Scheibner. I was shocked at her assertions in the book, and so I went to the primary literature myself and got the articles to which she referred and read them– it totally changed my thinking on the issue to see that what she had alleged in her book was accurate. I also had the chance to meet with Dr Scheiber in person on several occasions and question her about statements that she made which at the time I did not understand. I then took what she told me to researchers at the CDC and my old microbiology professors, to hear their responses. Nothing the pro-vaccinators said could trump what Dr Scheibner said — and they all clung tenaciously to their view — but then all of them had their livelihoods invested in this issue and all of them had already vaccinated their own children. Going into this issue, I HAD NO AGENDA — OTHER THEN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR MY CHILD. I started out a “believer” in vaccines. After one year of intensely studying this issue I came away seeing this issue quite differently. I have since discussed this with many doctors and scientists who are adamantly pro-vaccine. One of the things I have found, is that few vaccine proponents have even bothered to read the primary literature for themselves, and I have yet to meet a single individual who has read and collectedand analyzed as many original research studies on the topic as Dr Scheibner. Human belief/bias is very profound. All of us, from an early age have grown up believing that vaccines do more good then harm, but I no longer believe this view is supported by the bulk of science. But I do absolutely believe that eventually, as a society we will be able to examine this issue dispassionately and then the truth will be obvious — that the risks are much greater then we are being told, and the benefits far less then what we believe.

The real issue here is that NO ONE can guarantee you that a vaccine will not cause injury to your child, and in a free society we do not force parents to offer up their perfectly healthy children as a sacrifice for the percieved benefit to the masses.

I also want to comment on the view expressed here that people who don’t vaccinate put others at risk. There is no science to support this statement — but their is science to support the opposite — that is that a recently vaccinated child can put others at risk. The live polio vaccine was in fact finally discontinued for this very reason — as it could be shed for weeks after being administered and it was causing about a dozen cases of paralysis each year in the US. The Chickenpox vaccine is also a concern for similar reasons — when our child has chickenpox, we keep them home — away from elderly people whose own immunity to this virus may be waning. But who keeps their recently vaccinated child home for the several weeks that they shed live varicella virus after being vaccinated? I believe that this explains many cases of shingles in elderly people who come into contact with newly vaccinated children. (Shingles can occur in partially immune individuals who come into contact with the chickenpox virus.

Herd immunity sounds so wonderful, but there are simply too many documented instances of epidemics occurring in fully vaccinated populations for me to believe that it is a reliable phenomonon.

]]> By: ladkiddo http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154570 ladkiddo Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:55:27 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154570 Thanks andrea-that's a great link! Yes GA, I read the piece about Japan. Thank you. Thanks andrea-that’s a great link!
Yes GA, I read the piece about Japan. Thank you.

]]> By: Andrea http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154543 Andrea Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:38:46 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154543 lad - that letter to the editor is from 2003. They started phasing it out in 2001 I think. There was some left until 2005, but I think it's out of the vaccines now. One exception is the flu vaccine, not the MMR http://www.immunize.org/thimerosal/ Flu vaccine is always optional. lad - that letter to the editor is from 2003. They started phasing it out in 2001 I think. There was some left until 2005, but I think it’s out of the vaccines now. One exception is the flu vaccine, not the MMR http://www.immunize.org/thimerosal/ Flu vaccine is always optional.

]]> By: Grievous Angel http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154541 Grievous Angel Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:17:52 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154541 Did you not read the link I posted about Japan? Japan does not use this vaccine and its rate of autism has NOT changed over time, either before the vaccine, during the time they used the vaccine and after they stopped. THAT speaks volumes, does it not? 904 subjects tested. That's an "n" (number of subjects used in a research study) of huge proportions, considering many studies use an "n" of only 20. I'm glad to question everything in life but we should try to make sure we're asking the RIGHT questions. Did you not read the link I posted about Japan? Japan does not use this vaccine and its rate of autism has NOT changed over time, either before the vaccine, during the time they used the vaccine and after they stopped. THAT speaks volumes, does it not? 904 subjects tested. That’s an “n” (number of subjects used in a research study) of huge proportions, considering many studies use an “n” of only 20.

I’m glad to question everything in life but we should try to make sure we’re asking the RIGHT questions.

]]> By: ladkiddo http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154456 ladkiddo Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:20:01 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154456 We are one of the few cultures that does not routinely sleep with their children. The cultures with the lowest rate of SIDs are the countries who co-bed. Home births are monitored by trained nurse-midwives. These aren't little old ladies with dirty fingernails, they are trained professionals. This country has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the world and I can assure you, it's not because babies are being born at home.Do you have any idea of the rate of post-partum infections after a hospital birth, especially in c-sections? Do you have any idea of the joy a woman experiences when she has a natural delivery and how that aids in all the post-partum adjustments because of the natural flow of hormones to mom and baby? I'm not against immunizations, I don't hate children, and sensationalizing the issue accomplishes nothing. I feel bad that you feel you have to attack me for questioning the status quo. I'm not saying that I know anything any more than anyone else. I am just saying-look into things first. get the education that you need to make an informed choice for what is right for you, stop following blindy, and stop telling other people what to do. And above all, stop with the judgement. Risky behavior? please! . We are one of the few cultures that does not routinely sleep with their children. The cultures with the lowest rate of SIDs are the countries who co-bed.
Home births are monitored by trained nurse-midwives. These aren’t little old ladies with dirty fingernails, they are trained professionals. This country has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the world and I can assure you, it’s not because babies are being born at home.Do you have any idea of the rate of post-partum infections after a hospital birth, especially in c-sections? Do you have any idea of the joy a woman experiences when she has a natural delivery and how that aids in all the post-partum adjustments because of the natural flow of hormones to mom and baby?
I’m not against immunizations, I don’t hate children, and sensationalizing the issue accomplishes nothing.
I feel bad that you feel you have to attack me for questioning the status quo.
I’m not saying that I know anything any more than anyone else. I am just saying-look into things first. get the education that you need to make an informed choice for what is right for you, stop following blindy, and stop telling other people what to do.
And above all, stop with the judgement.
Risky behavior? please!
.

]]> By: ladkiddo http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154452 ladkiddo Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:48:22 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154452 According to the letter, it is not, necessarily out of the vaccines. The controversy is far from over: <em>many vaccines given to children even today contain 25 micrograms of thimerosal including: pediatric Diphtheria-Tetanus (DT) vaccine, Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine, tetanus toxoid vaccine, meningitis vaccine, and influenza vaccine. Many of these vaccines have expiration dates towards the end of 2005, and there is no reason to think that the manufacturers are planning to completely remove thimerasol anytime soon. In fact several documents recently obtained from WHO state that is their policy to lobby strongly for maintaining thimerasol in childhood vaccines for the foreseeable future because they say it is necessary for use in third world counties and if it is removed from US vaccines these countries may refuse to use thimerasol containing vaccines.</em> According to the letter, it is not, necessarily out of the vaccines. The controversy is far from over:
many vaccines given to children even today contain 25 micrograms of thimerosal including: pediatric Diphtheria-Tetanus (DT) vaccine, Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine, tetanus toxoid vaccine, meningitis vaccine, and influenza vaccine. Many of these vaccines have expiration dates towards the end of 2005, and there is no reason to think that the manufacturers are planning to completely remove thimerasol anytime soon. In fact several documents recently obtained from WHO state that is their policy to lobby strongly for maintaining thimerasol in childhood vaccines for the foreseeable future because they say it is necessary for use in third world counties and if it is removed from US vaccines these countries may refuse to use thimerasol containing vaccines.

]]> By: Rottenchester http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154438 Rottenchester Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:14:13 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154438 That letter to the editor (not a peer-reviewed study) is about thimerosol, which has been removed from vaccines as I said above. My point is that the references you use are about a controversy that is over, yet you seem to think that they are about today's vaccines, which do not contain this compound. That letter to the editor (not a peer-reviewed study) is about thimerosol, which has been removed from vaccines as I said above.

My point is that the references you use are about a controversy that is over, yet you seem to think that they are about today’s vaccines, which do not contain this compound.

]]> By: Bigboy http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154426 Bigboy Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:37:24 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154426 I put faith based healing in because it exposes nuts that would let a kid die because they refuse a blood transfusion or antibiotics and are the same ones who think they know better than doctors. Regarding my strawman argument from STLO7, I am actually concerned that someone who would increasingly take risks with co-sleeping, birth at home and avoid vaccines is ultimately going to harm a child. The more risks, the more likely something bad comes this way. Remember why people use to die in past centuries during child birth? Its because they were being born at home and not under a doctors care. Here's some reasons in wikipedia: At the beginning of the 1900s, maternal death rates were around 1 in 100 for live births. The number today in the United States is 13 in 100,000, a decline by orders of magnitude. The decline in maternal deaths has been due largely to improved asepsis, use of caesarean section, fluid management and blood transfusion, and better prenatal care. Generally speaking, the midwife will not be able to perform these functions. Remember the kids in the 50's who got polio and lived in Iron lungs? Its because they didn't have a vaccine. And now that its available, its been eradicated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eradication_of_infectious_diseases And no matter what, if someone falls asleep on a child and suffocates them by "co-sleeping", the comfort you bring is not worth the risk. http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML99/99175.html I wish you the best but thinking you know better than clinical trials and thousands of years of collective experience is just wrong. Challenge the thoughts - sure. But making a habit of risky behavior won't help anyone. I put faith based healing in because it exposes nuts that would let a kid die because they refuse a blood transfusion or antibiotics and are the same ones who think they know better than doctors.

Regarding my strawman argument from STLO7, I am actually concerned that someone who would increasingly take risks with co-sleeping, birth at home and avoid vaccines is ultimately going to harm a child. The more risks, the more likely something bad comes this way.

Remember why people use to die in past centuries during child birth? Its because they were being born at home and not under a doctors care. Here’s some reasons in wikipedia:

At the beginning of the 1900s, maternal death rates were around 1 in 100 for live births. The number today in the United States is 13 in 100,000, a decline by orders of magnitude.

The decline in maternal deaths has been due largely to improved asepsis, use of caesarean section, fluid management and blood transfusion, and better prenatal care.

Generally speaking, the midwife will not be able to perform these functions.

Remember the kids in the 50’s who got polio and lived in Iron lungs? Its because they didn’t have a vaccine. And now that its available, its been eradicated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eradication_of_infectious_diseases

And no matter what, if someone falls asleep on a child and suffocates them by “co-sleeping”, the comfort you bring is not worth the risk.

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML99/99175.html

I wish you the best but thinking you know better than clinical trials and thousands of years of collective experience is just wrong. Challenge the thoughts - sure. But making a habit of risky behavior won’t help anyone.

]]> By: ladkiddo http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154387 ladkiddo Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:16:49 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154387 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/eletters/112/6/1394 read the whole thing. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/eletters/112/6/1394
read the whole thing.

]]> By: ladkiddo http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154386 ladkiddo Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:09:00 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154386 thanks mm-it's nice to hear. thanks mm-it’s nice to hear.

]]> By: Grievous Angel http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154385 Grievous Angel Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:04:49 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154385 J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Feb;37(2):210-7. MMR-vaccine and regression in autism spectrum disorders: negative results presented from Japan. Uchiyama T, Kurosawa M, Inaba Y. Department of Human Welfare, Otsuma Women's University, 2-7-1, Karakida, Tama-city, Tokyo, 206-8540, Japan. tokiouch@otsuma.ac.jp It has been suggested that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) is a cause of regressive autism. As MMR was used in Japan only between 1989 and 1993, this time period affords a natural experiment to examine this hypothesis. Data on 904 patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were analyzed. During the period of MMR usage no significant difference was found in the incidence of regression between MMR-vaccinated children and non-vaccinated children. Among the proportion and incidence of regression across the three MMR-program-related periods (before, during and after MMR usage), no significant difference was found between those who had received MMR and those who had not. Moreover, the incidence of regression did not change significantly across the three periods. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Feb;37(2):210-7.
MMR-vaccine and regression in autism spectrum disorders: negative results presented from Japan.

Uchiyama T, Kurosawa M, Inaba Y.

Department of Human Welfare, Otsuma Women’s University, 2-7-1, Karakida, Tama-city, Tokyo, 206-8540, Japan. tokiouch@otsuma.ac.jp

It has been suggested that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) is a cause of regressive autism. As MMR was used in Japan only between 1989 and 1993, this time period affords a natural experiment to examine this hypothesis. Data on 904 patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were analyzed. During the period of MMR usage no significant difference was found in the incidence of regression between MMR-vaccinated children and non-vaccinated children. Among the proportion and incidence of regression across the three MMR-program-related periods (before, during and after MMR usage), no significant difference was found between those who had received MMR and those who had not. Moreover, the incidence of regression did not change significantly across the three periods.

]]> By: milkmoney http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154322 milkmoney Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:00:54 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154322 I think lakiddo has a good point with informed consent. What's wrong with a little bit more information about something that has the potential to alter your child's life? No one is saying that science is in the wrong here, but more research definitely needs to be done on this very difficult topic. I am the proud mother of 3 beautiful children. 2 boys and 1 girl. Both my boys have been diagnosed with Autism. Do I blame the immunizations? Do I blame environmental factors? Do I blame genetics? Quite honestly, blaming is futile. It will not change the diagnosis of my boys. I would not be opposed to having more information on the subject. Those of you who are so convinced that science is undeniable should attend an Autism rally sometime with other parents who suffer and struggle with this day in and day out. We just want answers...in any form. I do not have an opinion on whether or not immunizations are to blame in the case of my boys. I can tell you this for sure...if I had known about the controversy surrounding the immunizations when it was time for my kids to be immunized I would have definitely asked more questions, done more research, and considered spacing out the toxins being injected into my babies. I would take a few more co pays and the office staff thinking I am a nut anyday over having 2 Autistic children. You can't even compare the two. Thank you for bringing this to the fore front lakiddo. Mom to mom, supporter of cosleeping and home births, I am grateful for your voice here. Maybe we can all learn a little something. I think lakiddo has a good point with informed consent. What’s wrong with a little bit more information about something that has the potential to alter your child’s life? No one is saying that science is in the wrong here, but more research definitely needs to be done on this very difficult topic.

I am the proud mother of 3 beautiful children. 2 boys and 1 girl. Both my boys have been diagnosed with Autism. Do I blame the immunizations? Do I blame environmental factors? Do I blame genetics? Quite honestly, blaming is futile. It will not change the diagnosis of my boys. I would not be opposed to having more information on the subject. Those of you who are so convinced that science is undeniable should attend an Autism rally sometime with other parents who suffer and struggle with this day in and day out. We just want answers…in any form.

I do not have an opinion on whether or not immunizations are to blame in the case of my boys. I can tell you this for sure…if I had known about the controversy surrounding the immunizations when it was time for my kids to be immunized I would have definitely asked more questions, done more research, and considered spacing out the toxins being injected into my babies. I would take a few more co pays and the office staff thinking I am a nut anyday over having 2 Autistic children. You can’t even compare the two.
Thank you for bringing this to the fore front lakiddo. Mom to mom, supporter of cosleeping and home births, I am grateful for your voice here. Maybe we can all learn a little something.

]]> By: Itchy http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154316 Itchy Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:29:39 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154316 We make our pediatrician space them out, because it stinks for the baby to have all those shots at once. It makes them feel sick and cranky. Some problems we've encountered: many of the vaccines are currently combined into a single shot (eg MMR,) you end up getting hit with a couple more co-pays and trips, and the office staff pegs you for a nut.... We make our pediatrician space them out, because it stinks for the baby to have all those shots at once. It makes them feel sick and cranky.

Some problems we’ve encountered: many of the vaccines are currently combined into a single shot (eg MMR,) you end up getting hit with a couple more co-pays and trips, and the office staff pegs you for a nut….

]]> By: milkmoney http://rochesterturning.com/2008/06/26/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-revisited/#comment-154312 milkmoney Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:13:03 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/?p=5050#comment-154312 What everyone seems to be missing here is the idea of informed consent. There is nothing wrong with the idea of researching whether or not shots can be given at longer intervals. There is not much research done on any of this and I thank lakiddo for bringing this to the forefront. There are some of you out there commenting that science rules over the rest and the idea of no immunizations can only be a negative thing. I really do not have an opinion either way. I believe in information, non-judgemental, honest to God information. I am the proud mother of 3 beautiful children...2 boys and one girl. Both my boys are diagnosed with Autism. Do I blame immunizations? Do I blame environmental factors? Do I blame genetics? Who's to say? And quite honestly, the damage is done. Blaming is not going to change the diagnosis of my children. Attend a rally on Autism sometime and meet other parents just like me who deal with this struggle and challenge on a daily basis. You may change your mind about what you believe to be true and what you believe to be hokey. Sometimes mothers of children with disabilities just need the information. I can tell you one thing for sure. Had I know about the controversy over the immunizations when it was time for my kids to be immunized I would have DEFINITELY done things differently. I would have researched it more. I would have asked more questions. I would have requested spacing out the chemicals going into my babies. Would it have made a difference? Who knows. But at least I would have known that I did all I could do. So thank you lakiddo...mom to mom, believer of co-sleeping and home births. I am so glad you are not afraid of voicing your beliefs. What everyone seems to be missing here is the idea of informed consent. There is nothing wrong with the idea of researching whether or not shots can be given at longer intervals. There is not much research done on any of this and I thank lakiddo for bringing this to the forefront. There are some of you out there commenting that science rules over the rest and the idea of no immunizations can only be a negative thing. I really do not have an opinion either way. I believe in information, non-judgemental, honest to God information.

I am the proud mother of 3 beautiful children…2 boys and one girl. Both my boys are diagnosed with Autism. Do I blame immunizations? Do I blame environmental factors? Do I blame genetics? Who’s to say? And quite honestly, the damage is done. Blaming is not going to change the diagnosis of my children. Attend a rally on Autism sometime and meet other parents just like me who deal with this struggle and challenge on a daily basis. You may change your mind about what you believe to be true and what you believe to be hokey. Sometimes mothers of children with disabilities just need the information.

I can tell you one thing for sure. Had I know about the controversy over the immunizations when it was time for my kids to be immunized I would have DEFINITELY done things differently. I would have researched it more. I would have asked more questions. I would have requested spacing out the chemicals going into my babies. Would it have made a difference? Who knows. But at least I would have known that I did all I could do. So thank you lakiddo…mom to mom, believer of co-sleeping and home births. I am so glad you are not afraid of voicing your beliefs.

]]>