Outrage.

This is indeed a very scary topic.
On the one hand you could have the horrors of returning to times where these now "rare" diseases like measles routinely struck down and killed or permanently affected many many children in our society to weigh up against giving vaccines which still are faily "young" in the scale of medicine and of which the full outcomes of affect on growth and development really are still to be determined, but does stop a lot of these diseases making a rampant comback into society.
It is a VERY difficult issue to personally resolve and comprehend.....
I have my daugher vaccinated, and I do believe that there is a need for it in society as I would hate my child to die from one of those "preventable" diseases. I then have to weigh up the possibility that she could be one of the children who does have a reaction to the vaccine and could potentially have autisim or adhd etc.
As a mother I have taken trust in our medical system as I am not a qualified doctor, scientist or nurse. I generally do not like to take a "heresay" approach to any information that I just recieve from one source, I like to investigate it for myself. I immunised my daughter as I personally felt that letting my child get sick or die from a bout of measles or polio etc would be too much to bear, or worse still especially if she had one of these diseases and infected another child who then died as a result, and the "minimal" risk of a "behavioural" problem was worth it. BUT THAT SAID when I made that decision after my daughter was born in 2000, and she had her first rounds of immunisation, there has since been released FURTHER information about this possible link.
And yes I am concerned. Is the MMR triple shot (which is the one that I have read has the most concern surrounding it) just a cost saving exercise when apparently giving 3 separate injections LESSENS the chance of side effects? Or was the thinking that one shot would be less traumatic on the child than three???? I don't know, but am interested in learning more.
I appreciate people who choose not to immunise AFTER they have personally researched details for themselves, but I do not like it when hysteria is created because of selective media coverage of a topic (which everyone would have to agree we see again and again on a whole range of issues), and people just take as gospel "something" they "heard" somewhere.
Ali I applaud your desire to learn more on this topic, as knowledge is the best thing to have to be able to make informed decisions. Your links to a wide variety of topics is invaluable, and thank you for taking the time to share this detail, as I truly believe the more people who stand up and try to make a difference can make a difference if they have the information to back them up.
My daugher does have some "naughty" days and some difficulty with her speech (she is going to see the speech pathologist soon), but does not particularly seem any less developed than the other children at her preschool. But I will be speaking with my doctor about the possibility that the "little" things I may have noticed may potentially be a result of her immunisation. That said though, I have a friend who did not get her children immunised as one of her extended family had a bad reaction to an immunisation, and yet both of these children display behavioural and learning deficiencies.
It leads me to ponder if a lot of behavioual problems are more related to our general "toxic" lifestyles that we generally lead - for example living in high-traffic pollution areas, being exposed to cigarette smoke, living in houses wich walls, floors and ceilings rigged with electric cabling that gives off emmissions, eating processed foods that are full of preservatives and chemicals, and using many chemicals in everyday 2005 life, in comparision to what life was like 50 years ago.
I wonder if this is whay "isolated" communities (for example the amish) may display as healthier than communities that are "advanced"........??? Our whole "western" and "developed" lifestyle probably needs a jolly good look at!
Ali your post today really touched me.....I need to strive for further understanding and knowledge. Thanks for being so open and sharing your story.
Gosh, that is probably the longest thing I have ever written on any site!! Sorry for rambling (and for any spelling errors) - I really was just typing what came into my head!!

I appreciate this topic even though I do not have children of my own yet. I have forward this to my mom who works daily with autistic children and is very intersted on any findings that surface.

You've stated some very profound phrases in this blog and I love that you kept it real. I'm a super busy person, but I made time this evening to read your blog and have had my heart lifted and my mind opened. I've been so blue lately and struggling with my own creative talents that I was about to quit all scrapbook related projects. Thank you Ali for letting your talent shine, for you have inspired me and helped me to see my light again with your words of truth and wisdom.

You know, I've refused ultrasounds for all 3 of my pregnancies for this very reason. It's one of those things that I've always been afraid (and still am) will be attached to something like this in the future.
But vaccines to autism. Wow. As I hold my 13 week close to me I find myself feeling very very sad. He's already had 2 rounds of shots. So at this point I will continue to hold him close and say a little prayer. Make that a big prayer.
I've also refused the chicken pox shot for my children, on the grounds that it's too new, it's too unknown...and chicken pox in itself is not that bad. I've had to really stomp my foot down with my doctors to get this point across.
So very very sad. I'm so sorry!!!
Hugs

Thank you for posting this. It's terrifying. Both of my children are in daycare and *have* to have immunizations to attend... so what on earth can we do?! I can't wait to dig deeper into this. We've definitely been going on *blind trust*.

Hello Ali!
When I read your entry this morning, I was stunned and outraged as well, I am a pre-K teacher to students with delays and disabilities, and over the course of the last five years, the severity of the children's issues has increased...we all wonder why, question what is happening with these children. I refuse to believe that it is just the luck of the genetic draw...I have tried to find places to lay blame, cow's milk, engineered veggies, red dyes, immunizations, who knows???
But to then find out that some in the medical community even suspected that immunizations could cause such conditions, it sickens me to even think that anyone could allow this to continue. I have no children but if I ever do, I will have to seriously consider whether or not to immunize my child. But that is a slippery slope as well...
The other problem with not choosing to immunize is the school issue, everyone has bought into the deal and that is where education (how ironic) is so vital now.
Thanks for sharing this information! Courtney

I have three daughters -- they were born in 1983, 1990, and 1995. All daughters received all shots Daughters one and three have Asperger's Syndrome. I think it's awful that doctors and companies did not release this information to the general public about vaccines, but I don't believe we can lay the increase in autism at the feet of vaccines. There's been an incredible increase in awareness and understanding about autism. It's challenging to live with kids with autism and the good news is that my oldest is living on her own, going to school, working. She has her days, but she's doing okay. The little one also has her days, but we're discovering ways for to overcome the challenges that are in front of her. It's hard to be the mom in this situation and I wish you all the best as you seek the best for your son. Ann

Hey Miss Ali
I have struggled with this too, and chose to delay immunizations slightly. They are all caught up, but I waited for the big ones until they were closer to two. I got a lot of pressure from our pediatrician who always assured me that there was no link but did admit that they did them early only because they are afraid that the parents won't bring them back after the first year and that children's immune systems are more fully developed by age two and much better at handling the vaccinations. Like someone said above, Mothering Magazine has a ton of info on this.
Take Care Girl
Elisa

Ali-
From a mom who is working tirelessly with doctors to remove the toxic mercury that is in her son,thank you for putting the message out there. Thank you.
Nicole

As a nurse, I am outraged. As a mom, I am outraged. My 12 year old niece has fairly severe autism. She too, seemed perfectly normal until around 6 months. My heart breaks for my SIL and niece. You accept the vaccines because you are educated that it is the safest thing for your child and the community. Who are you to argue? You can't. Schools, daycares require vaccination, health departments provide them for free...as a parent you beleive you are doing the right thing by vaccinating. I seriously feel so lucky to have 3 vaccinated daughters without obvious complications. My sister has decided not to further vacinate her 18 month old son...the risks of autism are too high in boys. I can't blame her and am glad she made that decision.
My heart goes out to you and your family Ali. Thanks for educating others and taking a stand!

Wow. I feel raped. I never NEVER questioned immunizations. I was told they were safe, that they needed to have them, that it was the right thing to do as a parent.
My oldest son (6) suffers from depression and we are starting to see some attention problems now that he is in school. I assumed the depression was a result of my divorce and his fathers' abandonment but maybe there is another underlying cause.
How can the government AND the pharmacautical companies allow these things to occur? They are supposed to help and protect US, not poison us and then knowingly cover it up so that their profit margins aren't hurt.
It's disgusting and appalling and I've now increased my distrust of the government again...

Ali,
Wow, this is scary. I'm expecting twins in October & I'm going to have to really think about vaccinations. Is is possible to get a vaccination that doesn't have the thimerosal as a preservative? Are there no alternatives?
Kim

Ali, I too am outraged!
Where do I start? I am outraged that there is such an apparent connection, yet the government chooses to cover it up.
I am outraged that there is such an increase in the number of vaccinations since 1989 - and for what? Lining the pockets of pharmeceutical companies?
I am outraged that we are REQUIRED to vaccinate our children or they cannot attend daycare, school, sports, etc.
I am outraged that the public is thought to be ignorant. Has no one else made the connection between warnings about not eating too much fish because of the levels of MERCURY and mercury-laced vaccinations? I have two sons, one born in 1996 and one born in 2004 (and had several miscarriages inbetween). When I was pregnant with the first, I was warned to keep my consumption of fish to a minimum. By the time I was pregnant with the second, I was given a pamphlet at my OB/GYN's office with very specific types of fish to avoid, and what was considered safe, i.e. only eat tuna once per week. All this because it was dangerous to my developing baby. So, then my baby is born, and he immediately gets hepatitis B shots, and the rounds of vaccinations begin... I have asked the pediatrician, and am assured that the vaccinations my son is being given now do not contain thimerisol, though I will now do my own investigation into the actual shots and what they do and do not contain.
I have been aware of this issue for several years, and have followed all the studies that show "no apparent connection". Why am I aware? My older son began having seizures at 14 months, 2 months after receiving the MMR vaccination in 1997. I was assured that the seizures were not related to the vaccination, though in my heart I was unconvinced. The medical community could not explain the reason for the seizures though, and by 6 years of age, he was considered "cured", since he hadn't had one in 3 years.
As a parent, I have tried to be an advocate for my children. When DS was hospitalized after one of the seizures, and on a breathing machine because they'd given him so much medication (morphine derivative) to stop the seizures that he needed assistance to breathe... I insisted they stop giving him the medication. Then they
put him on an anti-seizure medication, which completely changed his personality and behavior. They kept testing his blood to monitor the level of medication in his system. Then the nurse came in at a specified time to give him more medication, per the doctor's orders. I asked his level, and it was high. OK, then, don't give him any more med. I refused to let her give him any more until I talked to my own pediatrian, who agreed with me, by the way.
DS was given the MMR vaccination 3 days prior to his first birthday. When he began kindergarten, they wanted me to have him given another vaccination, because it was not given to him AFTER his 1st birthday, per state law. I went back and forth with school and medical personnel, refusing to give him another vaccination, and they allowed me to have a blood test to prove his immunity. His levels were OK. If I had just agreed to the second vaccination, what could that have done???
Do no harm....
Yep, totally understand where you are coming from....
And yep, I am sending this to everyone I know! Thanks for getting the information out!

It's sad....that so many people in our country feel they have no choice when it comes to immunizing their children. We have chosen NOT to immunize each of our 3 and for more reasons than what you have stated. We also believe that they compromise the immune system, as do the foods we eat and the drugs (any and all) that we put into our systems. I could go on and on...but I won't do that here.
Preventable diseases....because of vaccines? There is so much more to this....sadly, I think a lot of things are linked to vaccines. That is my opinion.....and one I have had to defend far too many times. We have made our decision and it is not an UNeducated one.
I admire you so much for bringing so much awareness to people about so many things, this one being close to my heart.

Just looked for info regarding a common vaccination that my 14 month old has received...
from the CDC website regarding Pediarix:
"Pediarix™ is a combination product containing DTaP, hepatitis B, and inactivated polio vaccines. It is produced by GlaxoSmithKline, and was licensed on December 13, 2002.
Does Pediarix contain thimerosal?
Pediarix does not contain thimerosal as a preservative. Thimerosal is used during the early stages of production, and subsequently removed, leaving only a clinically insignificant trace."
And what exactly does "clinically insignificant trace" mean?????
Outraged, indeed!

Hey Ali,
I just knew when I sent this to you that you would get the word out. Thank you.
What I find most compelling in the article is the control group they found - the Amish - who do not believe in vaccinating children. Instead of the approximate 100 children that they expected to find with autism/neuro disorders - they found ONLY 4 and of those 4 - 3 HAD BEEN BORN OUTSIDE OF THE AMISH COMMUNITY AND WERE FULLY VACCINATED - the 4th had mercury poisoning from chemicals on a nearby property. If that is not proof of the damage from these vaccinations then what is?
Please be advised that while thimerisol is no longer used routinely in US childhood vaccinations - it is still used in the yearly flu vaccination. (and drs. still advise flu shots for pregnant women) Also the US drug companies still use thimerisol for vaccines that they ship out to 3rd world countries and the autism rates in those countries are also rising.
Thank you again & Namaste

I haven't had a chance to read the link you provided yet. But I will. I just wanted to let you know about Mothering Magazine. I see someone else has already mentioned it. I think it's really worth your time to look into it if you haven't already. Very informative stuff...backed up with real facts not just a lot of fluff and opinion. I'm always learning something new and feeling like my eyes are opening when I get a new issue in my box. They have a website as well with a pretty active board. They have had many articles dealing with immunizations - I believe an entire issue dedicated to it. You can purchase many of the back issues. Check it out!

That's scary and sickening. Sometimes we put WAY too much trust into doctors/government.

Thanks for posting about this article Ali. I have been following your son's story as well as others. This is such a concern for me b/c my DD was born in 2003 and she has had all of the recommended vaccines b/c they would not let her into daycare without them. This is a very scary thing and I am concerned for all children out there.
Thank you!

This is horrifying - my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are both speech therapists and we have often discussed how odd it is how many autistic kids they work with - in school they told them they might see one or two their whole careers and it's been a lot more than that in just a short time. Sounds like there's a reason. Another great saying - "I love my country, but I fear my government" I think we all need to take that attitude - thanks for sharing this important information, the more people who speak out the better!