Vaccines Demonized??? Parents Just Want The Truth!

By: Angela Warner

When I read the Commentary titled “Vaccines and Autism”, by Ari Brown in the October 27, 2007 issue of the Wall Street Journal, just a short time ago; I came close to blowing my stack!

I should have known… The first two sentences of Ari’s commentary are a feeble attempt to position the medical establishment in the role of the martyr.

Jenny McCarthy has NOT said vaccines are evil. Nor has any other site I’ve been on in the past three years that discusses disease, and the pros and cons of vaccination.

What Jenny is sharing is that bio-medical treatment works, and that there is hope! She is also stating that vaccines are not a one size fits all. Every child born is an individual; they are unique. As they are unique, they should be looked at as an individual when it comes to vaccination. But this is not what happens. Its one size fits all! For all!

Dr. Brown says that upon approval of the chickenpox vaccine she “vowed never to let a child on my watch suffer from a disease that was preventable by vaccination”. I would ask how Dr. Brown addresses the issue of vaccination efficacy? Three of my four children were vaccinated against Pertussis, up to date on their vaccines, and developed Pertussis.

My younger son (three at the time) had it the worst; so bad in fact that he vomited every time he coughed for nearly twenty four hours. Within six hours of the onset of the coughing fits and vomiting; I took him to his doctor. His doctor insisted it was a viral stomach bug because he did not actually see him have a coughing fit, or vomit. My older daughter (eighteen months at the time) developed secondary pneumonia and a bi-lateral ear infection. The doctor tried to say this too was viral, even though they were still coughing. This doctor refused to believe there was even a remote possibility they had Pertussis, and refused to order the testing.

I AM a parent today who has seen these diseases. I trusted my children would be protected by the vaccinations they received. They weren’t. It was their DOCTOR who was not familiar with the diseases the vaccines supposedly prevent, and as such, further jeopardized my children’s health. I was the one who did the research into why my son vomited every time he coughed, and why suddenly my daughter developed pneumonia and a bi-lateral ear infection. I was the one who searched and found that my children had been exposed to Pertussis. And I was the one who found a new doctor who would listen to me.

Our new doctor immediately put all of my children on antibiotics, and within two days their symptoms were much improved. It was later documented that there was a Pertussis outbreak in my region that year. But even so, I gather from Dr. Brown’s strong belief in vaccination, she too would say it was viral. That my children were given antibiotics, and their symptoms cleared? I know… Just a coincidence.

Parents have the right to make informed decisions for their children; especially when it comes to vaccinations. I wonder if Dr. Brown personally knows people who are lying about religious beliefs to avoid vaccination, or if is this another part of the media hysteria she has gotten caught up in? If parents were truly educated about all the neurotoxins vaccines still contain, and other questionable ingredients they either contain or are grown in; we would likely have thousands of parent’s world wide refusing, by any means available, to vaccinate their child.

Dr. Brown also states: “the mercury preservative Ms. McCarthy assails was removed from the childhood vaccination series in 2001”. Correction: In 2001 the use of Thimerosal as a preservative was discontinued, although many still contained trace amounts of left over from the manufacturing process. Because Thimerosal containing vaccines were never recalled; those vaccines containing Thimerosal continued to be used until they were gone. It is very likely that Jenny’s son Evan received Thimerosal containing vaccines. I know my younger son (born in mid 2001), and my older daughter (born in 2003) received vaccines containing Thimerosal.

I do not feel bad for Dr. Brown, or any other doctor in the world who would say, “Celebrity books come and go, but the anxiety they create lives on in pediatricians’ offices across the country”. I am glad for that anxiety. It means parents are educating themselves as a result of Jenny’s work. What I feel bad about is the parents and children who are continually misled about vaccination, and those who will suffer as a result. Jenny’s book will not be one to “go” anytime soon. The autism epidemic continues to grow, or maybe it’s been awhile since Dr. Brown brushed up on the stats. If Dr. Brown is as confident as she portrays herself to be about the vaccines she injects children with day in day out; this bit of anxiety should not be an issue for her.

Jenny in no way “demonized” the vaccination program. Dr. Brown says, “Let’s put our energy into funding autism research and treatment”. This is exactly what Jenny brought to the table. I guess Dr. Brown missed that.

Dr. Brown, when are you going to start listening to us, the parents? When are you going look at our children as individuals? When are you going to get past the media hype and realize there are children recovering all over the world, and that recovering a child from autism happens by being an educated parent, consumer, and not looking at our children from the perspective of one size fits all? When are you going to realize that our children are recovering, not because we listened to the medical establishment, but because we listened to each other? We listen to parents of children who are recovering. When you are ready to listen and learn from those of us who have children who are recovering; we may be willing to listen to you again.

Angela lives in Vancouver, Washington with her husband Dave, and their four wonderful children. Two of their children have Autism Spectrum Disorders and are recovering. Three of her children have recovered from a “deadly disease” in spite of their doctor! In addition to being a full time mom and military spouse; Angela loves helping others advocate for their children and works hard to raise awareness about vaccines, autism, and treatment.