Outrage.

I'm convinced about the links between autism and other disorders and vaccinations. There are so many books out there for parents to become informed about regarding the risks and dangers of them. Just do a search on Amazon with 'dangers of vaccinations.' I recommend the book Vaccinations, the Silent Killer. And do you even know what they PUT into those vaccinations? Scary stuff. I'm lucky I've found a pediatrician who doesn't hassle us on the issue, though he still is an advocate for immunizing your child, he doesn't give us a hard time. This issue is close to my heart, glad to see people questioning and educating themselves about this topic. Knowledge is power!

Hi ali.
Glad to see you and the famiy hanging in there. Of course today's topic is as near and dear to my heart as I am sure it is to yours, and every other mother out there with children on the spectrum, and without. I came across this information last winter, and like you was outraged.
Hard to place trust in a medical system that is witholding information.
If i had known then what I do now, I would not have had Aiden immunized, and will not be giving him any further shots.
I hope the family is well. Nice to keep up with the happenings in your life via your blog. Here if you need to chat.

Ali, I just wanted to let you know that I do not have a child with autism, and I am outraged by this issue and have been for quite some time. My own extremely sever adverse vaccine reaction lead me to do extensive research about vaccine safety while I was pregnant, and I have been fortunate to find a pediatrician who is fully on board with my decision to not vaccinate at all at this time. I truly hope that *everyone* becomes outraged by this issue, because we all should be.

Hi Ali,
I have a son who was born in 1990 (in Canada)...he has severe autism and other disabilities (bipolar, epilepsy, an extra chromosome & intellectual disabilities..) I posted the following comments on my blog.
For a long time, I was suspicious of the vaccine hypothesis. However, over the years I've changed my mind...5 years ago, I was at autism conference and I heard a pediatrician (who had a child with autism himself) ask a well respected immunologist about vaccinating siblings of autistic children...the response was very cautious, don't vaccinate as early, give single vaccinations. He said that the immune system of autistic people is not normal, neither is their moms.
I myself have wondered about the effects on neurologically vulnerable children (I know vaccines have benefitted many but I worry they've been harmful to a small group of children). ...My best friend has 2 autistic sons (both young men, the child who was not vaccinated is much higher functioning than his brother.)
I personally don't know whether or not it was one of the factors in my own son's autism. (I had a greatuncle who may have have been higher functioning but much less affected than my son.)Graham has a lot of the genetic 'loading' factors for autism (history of bipolar, autoimmune disorders & allergies in both families) but is the only child (to date) who has been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder...he is considered to be one of the more severely affected people in our region.)
Five years ago, the kids in this Canadian province were given a 'top off' of the MMR vaccination (to take it from 98% to 100% immunity). I decided the risks vs. benefit were not good for my then 10 yr son with autism (as he has an atypical reaction to medication); my 'regular' daughter of 13 did receive the vaccination. (The punblic health department did not press me once I explained the reasons.) Since then, my son has gone on at age 12 to develop epilepsy (not uncommon in his functioning level); fortunately he hasn't had a seizure in the last 2 1/2 yrs.(Epilepsy is often a contraindication for vaccination). The faqct he now has epilepsy reconfirmed my decision not to revaccinate him.
I worry that the truth about the negative effects of vaccinations have been supressed; even it's only a small amount of children...personally I think it may be one of several factors contributing to the dramatic increase in autism.
It isn'tbetter diagnosis; we parents have been screaming about a dramatic increase since the early 90s...(In my son's school, 2/3 of the kids have autism; they are kids were *severe* autism, all nonverbal with an additional intellectual disability; whereas 15 years ago the kids with severe autism were a small percentage in the program.) My son was diagnosed in Jan of 1993; we could not get services for a year and half because of the sudden increase...
Autism affects every aspects of my son's life; even he was wasn't directly affected by these preserveratives, anything that could be done to reduce the number of children with disability should have been done.
It makes me angry and sad that this did not happen.

I don't have children yet but this is definitely a topic I keep in my mind. That, and the aluminum/alzheimers connection I have also read about. Thanks for posting this, Ali. Autism seems to be the new ear infection epidemic.

My grandson is affected by this, it's something we are dealing with right now, my youngest son is affected by this. I am so mad right now I can't talk. I don't know what I am going to do but I know I am going to do something. Thank you for posting this Ali, my daughter and I really apreciate it!! Hugs to you and your family Wanda

Ali,
I am glad you have posted this and made so many more people aware of the issues. (Isn't it the added responsibilities to make issues public? ;-) ) I've been aware of this problem for years but not long enough to ask for delayed immunizations for my boys. I wish I would have known and had the option.
Though I don't know for certain if thimerosal caused the autism or merely added to all the other factors contributing to it, but I do know it is a problem that the drug companies and government are doing a hell of a job trying to hide.
Yes, I would suggest that everyone delay or at least spread out the immunizations so these kids are getting several shots on day. Let their bodies and mind recover before they are innoculated again.
Thanks,
Sharon

I really worry about articles like this.
My son is autistic did not receive vaccinations containing thimerosal. This substance has not been used in routine Children's vaccinations since 1994. My son has not had the flu vaccine either.
Cutting and pasting from the Public Health Agency of Canada
"Since 1994, all routine childhood vaccines, with the exception of the flu vaccine, administered in Canada have not contained thimerosal. Thimerosal is not added to single dose vaccines.
In Canada, vaccines to prevent the following diseases are used for routine immunization of children and do not contain thimerosal:
Diptheria
Tetanus (lockjaw)
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Polio
Rubella (German measles)
Measles (red measles)
Mumps
Hepatitis B (available free to children only in some provinces and territories)
Haemophilus influenzae type b disease
Meningococcal C
Pneumococcal
Varicella
Cutting and pasting from a Danish article on the same site:
"In a study published in 2003, Danish researchers examined records for all children born in Denmark between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1996. They compared all the children vaccinated with vaccines containing thimerosal to those vaccinated with thimerosal-free vaccines. The study found that the risk of autism was similar in children regardless of the type of vaccine and concluded that the results did not support a direct link between childhood vaccination with thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism."
Not to mention that the occurance of autism is growing rapidly in Canada and we are thimerosal free for childhood vaccinations.
It has been proven as someone else mentioned that children with autism have a different immune system. What causes this is unknown.
Also, if you google search "autism in unvaccinated children" you will come up with numerous articles. The findings are that the rates of autism are similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated children.
another cut and paste
"Although virtually no data indicate an association between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, speculation persists. These investigators used national registry data in Denmark to evaluate whether MMR-vaccination status was related to diagnoses of autism and other autistic-spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children born from January 1, 1991, through December 31, 1998.
Of the 537,303 children in the cohort, 440,655 (82%) received the MMR vaccine. Autism was diagnosed in 263 vaccinated children (5.9%) and 53 unvaccinated children (5.4%); ASD was diagnosed in 345 vaccinated children (7.8%) and 77 unvaccinated children (7.9%). After adjustment for potential confounders, the risks for autism and ASDs were similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated children (relative risks, 0.92 for autism; 0.83 for ASDs).

I don't have children (yet) and I watch this issue very closely. I don't think there's a woman of child-bearing age in America who isn't concerned about this, who isn't affected in some way by this, who doesn't know someone's child (be it a relative or a friend or acquaintance's child) who is on the spectrum. It's an ALARMING rate of diagnosis these days.
So you ask if you'd care if your family wasn't personally touched by this, but I bet you would. because chances are, your son isn't the only child in your life with this type of issue. And that's frightening, and alarming, and I hope it means we find an answer to this, a way to prevent it, something.

Oh, Ali, I don't know what to say except that I have tears in my eyes and I, too, am outraged. As a mother, as an American citizen, as a human being. It's hard to stomach that something we do to protect our children could actually cause harm and furthermore that this risk was known and intentionally kept from us. It's so sad that we live in a society in which we need to question and suspect everything. What is a government for if not to look out for its citizens' best interests?

oh Ali. i am outraged, and i am BLESSED to not have any of these problems. earlier today i forwarded this info to all of the moms of young children i know. i work for early intervention so i see A LOT of kiddos with a host of problems. how many of them are related to this? who knows. most of the kiddos we see have no "reason" for whatever delay they have. i have twins and they both were speech delayed. one recovered nicely, the other still has issues, but they are easily managed. they and my oldest child are due for boosters in the next year or two. we will be holding off until we have more info. love and prayers to you and all the other families dealing with these issues and now learning this horrendous information.

I am blessed that I have 3 children who were born from 1886-2001 who don't have any signs of any neurological issues. Believe me, I thank God for that!
As far as Cathy's question, in the state of Texas, you can file exemptions based on Medical reasons (there is some medical reason why the child cannot have immunizations . . . .they are in treatment for something that contradicts the immunizations) -- in this instance, you have to have a signed form from your child's doctor; or you may be a conscientious objector (either religious or otherwise) (well, or something with the military service, but that doesn't apply to this discussion). People who choose not to immunize their children usually fall under this category. There are forms to fill out, perhaps notorize? And I believe it's up to individual districts on what they'll say yes or no to. I know of people who said "Absolutely no immunizations" who have their children in public schools in the north Dallas suburbs. However, where the districts have issues is where they have picked out which ones they will and will not use (everything but chicken pox. . .that's the one my SIL tried to go for, and they wouldn't allow it) and they don't see refusing ONE shot a conscientious objection. My guess would be that if people gave early immunizations and now don't want to continue series based on the most recent information released, the best thing to do would be to check and see what your state laws are (google [name of your state] school immunization and you should find listing what the exemptions are) and if you have a conscientious objector clause, gather up the most recent information released and say you've become one based on that information. It's always going to work better for you if you can have the most up to date resources on the materials, because they won't necessarily know it.
I did google Minnesota for Cathy, as, being a scrapbooking fan, I know that's where she's at. . . they have the same two exemptions Texas does.
HTH someone who is interested in sending a child to school without all their immunizations.

I am a pediatrician of twenty years and have a child with autism. She is at the lowest end of the spectrum. Did that stop me from having my other kids immunized…no. We live in a country that has been blessed by immunizations. You can go to China, Russia or another third world country and their children DIE everyday of these diseases. That is why we immunize our children…to keep them from dying. To suggest there is only one cause for autism and it is only the immunizations is to be dishonest. Do you really want to scare other parents into not immunizing their children against diseases that can kill them? I would rather have my daughter the way she is than dead from a disease I could have prevented. There are so many causes of autism…genetics, environmental and causes we don’t know yet. Why there is a need to blame someone for something that has happened to your child instead of just accepting that not every child is born normal. People have ingested mercury for years in food…this is just so unfair to children to assume and spread vicious lies about vaccines that can’t even be proven. It benefits no one.
I know I hold the unpopular view that “shit happens”. But why try to blame it on one thing that has never been proven? I don’t understand why parents are so happy to blame it on the government when there is no proof except what some non-scientist says. Do parents feel guilty that they have an abnormal child…that they did something to cause this child to be this way?? I don’t feel that way nor do I feel a need to blame it on the government. God has a plan. God provided you this child…why blame it on something…why not just accept your child.
Send your child to school without immunizations...all of you do, but don't complain when they DIE of a disease. That is why immunizations were invented!!! Your lack of understanding just shows what a spoiled YUPPIE population the US is. I have seen children die of these diseases....and I do have a child with autism...you haven't seen a child die have you. You live in your little perfect world thinking that the government has a conspiracy to damage your children. And when your children die...who are you going to blame then?

Hi - my friend forwarded this to me. I have 3 sons, 1st and 3rd are diagnosed with autism. I have mercury fillings, I ate a lot of tuna over the years trying to lose weight, and my children were all vaccinated - their birth years are 1990, 1993, and 1995. I do believe that vaccines were a big part of the problem; I have a lot of mercury fillings and ate a lot of tuna fish (I mean a lot!) while on Weight Watchers many years ago.
My oldest has had a diagnosis of autism for over 7 years; and I would like to respons to a couple of things from others posts: 1st: there are parents TRYING to sue the pharmaceutical companies; there are too many politicians receiving mega amounts of money from them to actually let the companies be sued. 2nd: The vaccines with thimerasol were no longer PRODUCED after 1994. It is entirely possible that vaccines containing themirasol were used in 1994, 1995, and maybe even in 1996, depending on the amount of vaccines stored in the doctors' offices. They use the older ones first, and since most of them poo-poo the idea of the connection, or a problem, they would have used up their old inventory.
My oldest is more severly affected than my younger one, who is Aspergers. My middle son does have mild ADHD, but not severe enough to warrant treatment. Here in Texas, for public school purposed, you can file a form with the state for conscientious objection to vaccinating your child; it is good for one child at a time and for a term of 2 or 3 years only. It must be renewed, and it was a royal pain to take care of; just something else to complicate our already complicated life.
Sorry this was so long, but I feel strongly enough about this that I had to post - never done that before. Nothing personal to those of you who disagree; it is your right. I just know that I'm encouraging my niece NOT to vaccinate right away when her son is born next month. Single dose vaccines given later and further apart seem to be safer and a pretty good compromise at this point. At least there seem to be choices nowadays; I only wish there had been 15 years ago!

Thimerosal is not the only additive in vaccines that you need to be concerned about. Most people are not aware of what is written in the package insert to the vaccines that are given. Thimerosal is a preservative and when it was removed, something had to take its place. The amount of aluminum has increased in the vaccines as a preservative. Vaccines also contain formaldyhyde and antifreeze. You can read them for yourself here. http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm
In disagreement to the ped who posted above. The diseases that we vaccinate against today are childhood diseases that were in steep decline before the introduction to their respective vaccine, due to better nutrition, proper sanitation, and better living conditions. The only thing that can confer life long immunity is to actually get the disease. Buried on the CDC's own website is a document they create weekly called the Morbidity and Mortailty Weekly REport (mmwr). http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5423.pdf (this weeks's statisitcs) Near the end of the report is all of the stats for the total number of reported disease cases for the entire country. Here is a sampling:
2004 # of cases
Diptheria 0
Measles 16
Mumps 95
Rubella 9
Tetanus 9
these few of cases out of more than 250,000,000 people. There is a higher chance that my child could be vaccine damaged (based on the data from the VAERS site) than actually getting the disease.
Interestingly, there are 2 reported cases of the plague this year...hmmm, where is the vaccine for the plague or scarlett fever? They are both still around but people are not dying off from it because of better living conditions. And there are no cases of wild polio in the western hemisphere. The only known reports of polio were caused by the live oral polio vaccine.
Ali, I am sorry that you are travelling down this road. Simon has an amazing set of parents. And I commend you for starting this thread so that others can see different sides to this very hot topic.

My son was Diagnosed April 15th, 2003 at the age of 2 1/2. I had known something was different about him from birth. I know that many people believe that the childhood immunizations have caused their children to have autism. I don't believe this is so. My son has never done anything according to the charts. I have decided instead of trying to find out why he is like this to spend my time helping him to overcome this. Things could be worse. I know that autism will not cause him death and for that I am greatfully. I need to spend all the time I can helping him instead of trying to find someone to blame. My son's birth was not easy and I almost died that night. I am greatful to have him with me everyday no matter how he is. I believe there is a higher power that decides stuff for us and he would never give me anything I couldn't handle. I am greatful for my son. I wouldn't trade him for anything. If I do have another child, I would immunize them also. I have a 7 year old that had all the immunications and is just fine. I know that it is easier to put the blaime on someone but sometimes we need to look at what is more important. My child's development now is more important and I really need to concentrate on that.

WOW and WOW....
How does a child get into school without immunizations?
What symptoms do we watch for?
Are the shots safe now?
How am I to know or trust anything?
WOW!

Hi Ali,
Thank you so much for posting this article. I had actually come across this article earlier this week and posted it on my blog. My son was born extremely premature in 2003 and weighed a mere 1lb 12 oz. We were told that we should immunize him according the schedule for normal children. I am heartsick and frightened that I may have poisoned my child.
By nature of his prematurity, my son has already experienced delays in speech and development. He is already seen by a cadre of therapists ranging from OT to PT to Speech to Feeding to Educational. He is turning two next month and he still cannot walk or talk. I am now asking myself, is this because of his prematurity or because he was poisoned by mercury or BOTH????? He has received all of his routine vaccinations to date in addition to two years worth of flu shots which most likely contain thimerosal. I am disgusted, angry, distraught....basically beside myself.
We have an appointment with his Pediatrician for his 2 year check up and I have already emailed him that we are going to be discussing all of his past vaccinations and future vaccinations. As a parent of a special needs child, I have quickly learned that you are your child's best advocate. The system is NOT perfect and cannot be trusted 100%. I have experienced this first hand. We as parents have to educate ourselves and must not be pushed around by the medical community and the government any longer.
The part of the article that just adds insult to injury is the following:
"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has received $873,000 in contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, has been working to immunize vaccine makers from liability in 4,200 lawsuits that have been filed by the parents of injured children. On five separate occasions, Frist has tried to seal all of the government's vaccine-related documents -- including the Simpsonwood transcripts -- and shield Eli Lilly, the developer of thimerosal, from subpoenas. In 2002, the day after Frist quietly slipped a rider known as the "Eli Lilly Protection Act" into a homeland security bill, the company contributed $10,000 to his campaign and bought 5,000 copies of his book on bioterrorism. The measure was repealed by Congress in 2003 -- but earlier this year, Frist slipped another provision into an anti-terrorism bill that would deny compensation to children suffering from vaccine-related brain disorders. "The lawsuits are of such magnitude that they could put vaccine producers out of business and limit our capacity to deal with a biological attack by terrorists," says Andy Olsen, a legislative assistant to Frist."
I wanted to vomit after reading that. Stay strong Ali. Your posting of this article is helpful to us that are going through this...in many ways.
Thank you,
Susan

Wow. Wow. I feel almost responsible that so many mothers were just unaware--not uneducated, but falsely educated by what they never even realized were members of only one side of a very polarized issue. I was insistent that my stepdaughter be vaccinated (at the time, my opinion was that her monther "had the nerve" to let her vaccinations fall behind"--and it was simply that, not a decision not to vaccinate). But when I was pregnant with my first in 2000, I got a vaccination schedule from my pediatrician--and WHOA... my whole thought process came to a screeching halt. How many shots by the time they are one--11? 15? How many by the time they enter kindergarten--35? 45? I started to wonder...and I went online and did the research. I was shocked.
Being a math person, I ran the numbers, and to put it in understandable terms, I based my decision not to vaccinate my kids on this: if there's a 1/1,000,000 chance that they'll be seriously damaged or die from the disease, and a 1/1,000,000 chance that they'll be seriously damaged or die from the vaccine, I'll let them run the risk of the disease, and that way it won't be from something I did to them. Just my position. I had no idea at the time how much more I'd learn to reinforce my position.
If you're in the mood to read about this, read "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations" by Stephanie Cave. Eye opening. Scary. Sad.
I am hopeful that you are going to help Simon fight and beat what troubles him--you are proactive, educated, and willing to learn. God doesn't make mistakes, and even though it might not always feel like it, he gave you the perfect child, and he gave Simon the perfect mom.
My prayers for you and for wisdom for the doctors and educators that work with your family.
Love,
Nikki

HI
I just wanted to add a personal situation. I have a brother that is 23 now and autistic. It was tough to grow up with. But I wanted to make a point (which might just be unique to my brothers situation)-
When he was born you could tell something was different. At 6 weeks he still could not hold up his head, didn't roll over or sit up....
All of this happened before he had any vaccinations... We don't know what caused or contributed to his condition.
The thing I have learned from growing up with him (I am 9 yrs older).. is that you can't 2nd guess the decisions you make as a parent. My mom I'm sure blamed herself for his Autism,,, I'm sure she thought it was all her fault. That "guilt" ate away at her and she became "not so nice"...
I don't know if that makes any sense but you can't play the "what if" game.