March 11, 2008
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Puzzling the Pieces
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Its a condition characterized by lack of social skills, problems with communication
and repetitive behaviors. It's back in the news because the Federal Government conceded in a case last week that vaccines given to Hannah Poling as a toddler complicated a rare underlying brain disorder and led to her Autism.As reported in the media, the result now seems to be a battle between "anti-vaccine" parents and a panel of "experts" warning us of all the dangers of disease without the routine vaccinations. I really hate when people who don't know what they are talking about jump into the middle of an argument and try to make a judgment.
Even the most ardent believers that vaccines (or more specifically the mercury laden thimerasol used to preserve them) contribute to autism are not calling for parents to refuse the vaccines for their children. They are calling for 1) the production of "safe" vaccines which don't have the thimerasol, and 2) a less aggressive vaccination schedule that is less likely to exacerbate any underlying conditions in the still developing neuromotor transmitters of infants.
Think about it. You give shots at birth, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months, and these are not mild little vitamins we're talking about. We are giving our precious future injections of some of the most toxic and harmful substances known to man and then we step back disingenuously and argue that they are "safe?" How do we know they are safe? Long term studies of vaccinations have not been done. Did you catch that? There are NO long term studies on the safety of vaccinations.
Yet we are told that there is scientific proof that vaccinations are safe.
Poppycock.
Vaccines are not "safe". And for some kids they are harmful. Whether or not they contribute specifically to the incidence of autism may yet be a subject for debate, but there's no reasonable person anywhere who can say they are "safe" without revealing a massive lack of ignorance about what it is we are talking about.
The argument might be, "Populations of children who receive vaccinations suffer fewer deaths from diseases than none vaccinated populations.." That's demonstrably true. It cannot be shown empirically that the vaccines themselves do not cause harm of a different manner and degree than the diseases. And IF the choice is between death, the ultimate evil, and disability which will follow that child through the rest of his or her life, lets be clear about what it is we're choosing and don't ridicule parents for their concerns. As a parent who is now dealing with the repercussions of lifelong disability in both my kids, I would have liked someone to have been a little more honest with me 13 years ago, and maybe considered a less aggressive vaccination schedule.
There is much we don't yet know about the long term impact of many many medical practices we have not questioned. But the fact that we don't know for certain doesn't support the assertion that there is no link.
I realize that it's not as much fun to report logically as it is to stir up crap. But it sure does irritate me. Apply some critical thinking skills Mr. News Reporter Man.
Further reading on the subject of Vaccinations
Comments (14)
I just read one in five children in the US have different degrees of Autism that is massive amounts of children. Safe Vacines are imperative. Thanks for writing this and getting the word out. Judi
I'm sorry, I know you said a lot of really important stuff about autism and vaccines...
but you lost me at poppycock!
*stifling chuckle*
@RnBoW_SPOT - I calls 'em like I see 'em.
I heard about that settlement on the news. I was not aware that vaccinations could lead to autism. There is one family in the news here in Utah that have either five or six children all with autism. That must be so difficult.
I can only imagine how you feel....I'm certain if I were in the same situation, I would also have liked someone to have been a little more honest.
I think way too many vaccinations are given way too early......I was aghast when my little grandsons got them when they were just babies, seemed too much to me.
@DawnsEarlyLight - The jury is still out on whether vaccines conclusively may be linked to autism, but there is a lot of evidence pointing in that direction. We have a public policy that the elimination of certain diseases from our population is worth the damage to some of the individuals who receive the vaccine. But our government has also paid out over a billion $ in damages awarded to families of children harmed by vaccines. As far as I'm aware, the Hannah Poling case was the first award linked to autism.
@mammaquiet - the immunization schedule is not only aggressive but over the past 13 years since my oldest was born more immunizations have been added into the mix. Parents seeking information from their pediatrician are intimidated by health professionals who in this one instance do not have the best interest of the individual in mind but the health of the broad population. Very few pediatricians give anything like a balanced answer to the questions of vaccine safety. I'm not opposed to giving immunizations, but I wish we had the option to be a little more sane about it. I know one thing, my cousin who is a doctor didn't start immunizing his own kids until after their second birthday.
Excellent post, I use to work with Autistic Children.........love the job, but saddens me to think vaccines had caused much of it............hugs to you.
I just don't understand why this post hasn't been promoted to the front page on it's merit alone.
A thousand stars, my love.
Not having children of my own, I didn't know there was such an aggressive vaccine schedule. I have, however, heard about the supposed link between autism and vaccinations. This whole thing makes me wonder about things like SIDS. I wonder if there is a link there, too?
Well written and rational. True, I'm sure many parents would choose autism risk over death by diptheria, pertussis, or tetanus. However, if given a choice of lower doses over a longer period of time or alternative vaccines (Are there any? Is any research uncovered less aggressive, even if less effective, vaccines?) some parents may choose the risk of DPT, measles, mumps, and rubella. However, This then might prove a greater risk to the population at large.
Hmmm. Let's dramatize the typical two extremes (which is what the media always does - they avoid the gray where the rational people are): I'm thinking of a Lifetime movie in which one child has autism from vaccines, so the rest are vaccinated with a less effective vaccine, and then they all die from whooping cough.
@coffeeiv - I don't think that anyone is promoting a less effective vaccine. Just a rational application of what we have. Most children have their mother's immunity for at least the first six months of life, so they are at no risk during the time they receive the first FOUR rounds of shots. Also, many children develop a full immunity (which can be measured by titer in the blood) after ONE round, which means that the follow-ups provide no benefit but increasing risk with every additional exposure. Some of the immunizations required by schools and recommended by the CDC are for diseases which have never been rampant in the population (hepatitis for example) - there is a lot more to the discussion than a false either/or argument.
Another possibility is to give the shots one at a time instead of in a multi-pack. It's a matter of convenience to give one shot for MMR and another for DPT all in the same day, but they can be given individually over a period of days or weeks. It's also possible to achieve immunity with exposure to non-living viruses as opposed to live virus. We have options. And we are too smart and too capable of achieving the elimination of these diseases without risking disability to so many kids not to implement a more rational policy.
I guess the CDC thinks we're too dumb and/or lazy to make decisions for ourselves and they have to do it for us. And some people are content with that, which bowls me over,because i want to know it ALL when you're talking about the health of my family.
Is this something that ordinary citizens can affect? Is there anyone to e-mail or a petition of any kind? Does it have to do with any pending legislation?
I never had any vaccinations. Neither did my children. Reason - my older sister was a perfectly normal baby until she received her first set of vaccinations at 3 months old. She has had nothing but problems, since then. The day of her first shot she spiked a fever of 106 something and then spent months in hospital. As you probably know, I am from the UK, there they actually vaccinate later than here and do not use "live" vaccines like here. Additionally, not vaccinating your children is seen as a parents choose. Here, not doing it, it is almost impossible to get your children into school, daycare. Here not doing it is almost viewed as a criminal act, and you have to justify your position at every turn. It disgusts me that I have to jump through legislative hoops, just to defend a position that I have taken, that in my view protects the wellbeing of my child. So much for freedom.
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