Outrage.

What is sad is that those that choose not to immunize possibly won't be admitted into public schools (not sure about private). This is true at least in Texas anyway.
Thanks for sharing. I had both my sons (born 2000 and 2002) fully vaccinated and every time I had fear in my stomach for about a month afterward. I realize now I should have looked into the matter deeper and trusted my "gut". Who knows why one child reacts differently than another--the fact is that that doctors should warn us what could happen and give us a choice instead of making it seem like we have none.
Simon is lucky to have you and your husband as his champions!

Ali. I refused the pneumococcal vaccination for my sons. I can't remember what the name of the drug is, but it was fairly new, and only tested on a few thousand children. When I asked my pediatrician how many cases she had a year of this disease, her reply shocked me. Maybe 2. Why in the he** would I want this? Maybe 2, out of all of the kids that she sees? Plus my sons didn't have higher risk factors. They were both breastfed and not in daycare. It's scary when your little one gets any kind of a shot. And, the doctors throw so much info at you, then 2 seconds later they are administering the shot. Something needs to change.

Scary. My daughter does have a neurological disorder....she was born in 1991. We know the cause of hers, though, and in her case it wasn't from the vaccines she was given (hers was present at birth and caused by a high, prolonged fever during labor & delivery). I could never be one of those who sticks their heads in the sand when it comes to our children - I deal with it on a daily basis. I know and am related to too many people who are dealing with autism on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing this article. Sickening how many things we aren't told about that we should be, all for the sake of lining some big company's pockets.

"I love my country, but I fear my government" is SO right...come on, we live in a country where medicines are advertised on television and viewers are encouraged to ask their doctors about specific drugs...what could be more appalling!!! The large pharmeceutical companies have one agenda...money, money and more money.
I don't have children yet, but before I ever vaccinate, I will think long and hard about it!

Ali, thanks for sharing.
My daughters were born 1999 and 2001. I WAS aware of the thimerosal issue and waited until my daughters were older before vaccinating them, and then only with thimerosal-free vaccines. My daughters both receive speech therapy now, and my 5 year old was held back and not allowed to start kindergarten this year. I don't blame the vaccines, I think my extensive mercury dental work is more likely the culprit. Or the herbacides and pesticides my neighbors spray on their lawns each week. Or the mildew that grows in the walls. Could be anything.
I have a friend who was against all vaccines and lost her only child to whooping cough. If you think the pressure to vaccinate is uncomfortable, you should hear comments like: "If you'd vaccinated, he'd still be alive," "You killed him by not protecting him," and "how selfish of you to impose your neurotic views on an innocent child." She heard them all.
My husband is a soil sediments scientist who specializes in chemical contamination. He has a PhD and has devoted his career to improving public safety. Whenever I obsess over something he reminds me of the chemicals we are exposed to in much greater quantity: the artificial ingredients in processed foods, the plume of toxins from idling SUV engines as I wait to pick my daughters up from school (turn your engines off, folks!), and the slew of chemicals used to keep the public swimming pool "sanitary." There is really no escape anymore.
Think city life, or suburban life is the worst? Buy property in the country and you're likely to find that a neighbor up hill is cooking meth and polluting your well water.
I know it seems that we have an epidemic of special needs kids on our hands. But really, I think we as parents are just more educated about our child's development, and more likely to seek intervention. Remember that a generation ago preschool was the exception -- most kids stayed home until kindergarten. Three and four year olds who didn't talk much or socialize well, especially boys, weren't considered odd. My brother was labeled a "momma's boy" when failed to adjust to school, had no friends, and wouldn't speak in class. Turns out he had a brilliant mind, a real savant, and today he is highly successful in a very technical job, but he still doesn't "do" public speaking.
Ali, your son has special talents and a wonderful future awaits him. How could it be otherwise with you as his mother!

Ali, I don't know what upsets me more -- the information that this was suspected but swept under the rug by those that are supposed to protect? Of the fact that so many of the comments before mine are from people that either have children with Autism, PDD, etc. or are related or close to a child with these challenges.
My son is six and a half. He'll be getting an assessment this summer because his pediatrician suspects Asperger's. There's a bigger story behind this too -- but the bottom line is that we had our suspicions, our pediatrician at the time told us not to worry Liam was fine. But Liam is not fine. And that pediatrician basically blew us off when he was supposed to be our protector in the sense that HE went to med school so everyone who chooses to have a child doesn't have to. I'm livid. I'm outraged. Julie's comment that she feels "raped"? That's the perfect way to describe how I feel the trust of my family has been violated.

Interesting and controversial topic today, Ali. The connection between vaccines and autism has been discussed in Europe for many years, and many of my German friends chose not to have their kids immunized (or they delayed and spread out the shots over several years). One of these friends had to forge her immunization records to get her child into daycare and public schools in the United States. Another friend lost her excellent pediatrician, because he refused to treat her children if they were not vaccinated.
It's a tough choice parents face: there are risks involved whether you choose to vaccinate or not. I am one of the "lucky" parents too, I guess, because my kids have had almost all their shots (I bowed out of a few "optional" ones) and have had no complications. I would not be able to tell anyone what to do: some people cannot afford to have a blank immunization record. They need the day care, the public schools, and their pediatrician. And, yes, if we all choose not to vaccinate our kids, we probably will see polio, whoopping cough, and other debilitating disesases again. How do we fight autism without bringing back diseases that are almost eradicated?
I completely agree that it's very important to stay informed and put pressure on the pharmaceutical industry, the CDC and the FDA. Biomedicine means BIG money in this country, and the pharmaceutical companies have not shown a great deal of responsibility so far. Personally, I think it's an incredibly ruthless and corrupt industry. Vaccines MUST be 100% safe. Any drugs for children must be 100% safe. We need to figure out what the heck is going on with this autism epidemic and do what's right for our kids. If the pharmaceutical companies don't feel the outrage from the parents, if they think we don't care, nothing will change. As long as we let them go on, it's business as usual.

OK...this article ticks me off. I haven't been this fired up after reading something in awhile(other than some editorials in the Register-Guard awhile back). It's so frustrating that people can skew studies to say whatever they want them to say...not conduct research thoroughly, not collecting data with honesty and integrity. It's insane. Of course, I realize that not all researchers do this.
Sorry for my venting. Like I said, I'm a bit fired up right now.
Thanks for sharing the article, though--it was definitely a good read.
~c :)

I have been carefully reading through this, Ali.
For those who have not immunized, were you allowed into school?
My kids, both vaccinated. At the time, I felt it was a gamble, but a gamble i had no choice in taking.
Cole is slated for his next round before he will be allowed into kindergarten. For those who choose not to vaccinate, is your only option home school?
I do care, Ali. There are many days when I thank God for the health of my children, and pray for those who've faced more difficult challenges. Including Simon. Or McKenna.
Strangely enough, I was reading about vaccinating animals. And the damage it does. The increase in epilepsy in breeds and other behavioral problems.
Thanks, Ali. For provoking some thought.

Ali, if this burns you, you must check out the new Evidence of Harm book. Truly sad :( bought it 2 days ago and can't put it down. I am fearful when I take Derek next week for Mercury testing. So sad that this would be covered up!! they have created and covered an epidemic!
Jackie

Just wanted to say that as someone who does not have children, or anyone with autism, this still scares me. But I already believe that mercury is linked to autism, even if they can't prove it. I know a woman who are tuna fish as her "craving" while pregnant, and now her daughter is showing early signs of autism. And there have been several articles lately about autistic children having elevated mercury levels.
Thanks for sharing the information-- the more we can all read, the better decisions we can make.

My husband and I have made a lot of unconventional, yet eductated choices regarding our children and our lifestyle. Yet this topid -vaccination- has me PARALYZED. It has from day one.
I have so many questions and can't wrap my head around all the research that would need to be done to "arm" myself against the government, against our doctors, against even well-meaning friends and family.
I never felt good about vaccinating my kids, who are now 3.5 and 2.5 and totally vaccinated (except for the last round of Prevnar (pneum. menengitis) which happened to be hard to get a hold of). I was most definately bullied; The ped. office fed off of my uncertainty.
How do I protect my kids from illnesses if they aren't vaccinated? What if my ped will not order thermerisol-free vaccines for us? What if I refuse and the pediatrician refuses to see us anymore? What if I can't get my kids in school, or what if I choose to homeschool but then find myself not able to? What if my child dies?
I'm paralyzed.

Ali, I just read this article on a PDD email list I am on earlier this morning. It is outraging. I had all 3 of my kids fully vaccinated and thankfully my oldest two are fine. But Caleb (who is 3) is on the autistic spectrum. We have been told he will probably classify as PDD-NOS or Aspergers.
Caleb will be due another round of immunizations and my husband and I have discussed holding off.
On an interesting note: The autism specialist that we have worked with has suggested that the harm of the vaccinations is when the vials aren't shaken well prior to administering. I'm assuming the thimersol must settle. She told us that it is possible that children with severe cases have received the last dose in the vial and have received a bolus of thermisol.
Scary to think that some of these cases might have been prevented if the vial had just been shaken properly.
It is definitely a frightening thing. I have always been nervous when all of children received vaccinations because my best friends cousin had a severe reaction and will never advance beyond 1st or 2nd grade level and he has problems with seizures.
I don't believe it is something that we should take sitting down. I have even talked with my pediatrician several months ago about vaccinations linking to Caleb's problems, but he simply brushes me off. I think the medical community may have to stopped being swayed so much by the big drug companies.
Thanks for posting this. It really opens up this topic to those of us who are living with autism and educated those that do not. Your site is always an inspiration.
Kim

So when are all the parents of these millions of children going to SUE THE GOVERNMENT? Its their fault this happened. GRRRRRRRRR.

I had a lot of concerns about mercury when my daughter was born in 2000. Apparently in Canada, at that time, there was no longer any mercury in the vaccines. So I went ahead. But to read that they still put it in for the vaccines they ship to 3rd world countries makes me want to throw up. WHAT THE???? WHY! It's ridiculous. I also chose not to give her the chickenpox vaccine, and hear about it every time we go to the pediatrician.
And as far as the teeth and fillings thing goes, my dentist told me (when I asked about this for this reason) that since my fillings are in good shape, removing and changing them would release more mercury into my system than leaving them there would.....I don't know. I am going to look in to that again, after reading about the migraines, and look into mercury poisoning testing as well...although I bet finding a doc who will give me the requisition will be fun.
This is sad. They suspected it, and hid it. Did nothing. Just sad. I'm not sure one way or the other if it is a definite link, but if they thought for one second that it might be then to continue using it was outright evil.

I was born in 1962 and there was mercury in the vaccines I was given. I am dealing with systemic inflammation, causing all manner of physical problems for me today. This kind of cover-up is one of many examples of ignorance and greed-based choices made by those in positions that could have done otherwise. How would lives have been different?

Ali, thank you for continuing to share information about autism. I do not have any children yet, but my niece, Grace, was diagnosed with "severe" autism almost one year ago. She is only 2 years old.
The statistics are quite alarming. Why has this become such an epidemic? And why isn't more being done to find a cause?
Thanks again. More people will become aware of autism through you.

Ali, I posted this on two peas for you in the Pub and on the NSBR. So far 280 people have reviewed my post. I wanted to help you get the word out re: this important article.

This article scares me half to death -- I live in Eugene also, and I have a daughter that is Simon's age. I get sick to my stomach to think that I could have unwittingly exposed her to such danger. Thankfully I stopped vaccinating after my 6 yr old's 2-month vaccinations when I learned of some of the adverse effects of vaccinations, but what if I hadn't had access to that information?? I'm so glad I managed to withstand all the doctors badgering and bullying me into vaccinating my children - it was hard to do without absolute concrete evidence, and I worried that perhaps they were right -- that I was exposing my children to more dangerous things by not vaccinating them. Holy cow -- I could so easily have gone the other way, it's frightening. My best friend's nephew has just recently been diagnosed with autism. They live in the Salem area. You can bet I will be sending this information to them immediately. Thanks, Ali, for posting this.

am i correct in thinking that autism shows up around the age 3 and children who are older are not at risk. my 5 yr old is suppose to go get her Hep B vaccinaton for kindergarden. Could she still be at risk?
i had a baby in 2004 and she had been vaccinated so far but has an appointment to go in for 5 more shots. are the vaccines ok? Ali you said 1991-2003.
i thought all of this was resolved back in 2000!! i asked all the questions and read what i could and it all said this connect just isn't there. UGH!
BTW i think you can get special permission to send you kids to public school if they haven't been vaccinated, well at least in UT i believe thats the rule. but really i wouldn't want my child to go because diseases are sure to come back with so many not vaccinating and at school sicknesses spread way too easy.