AAP WAGS THE DOG: FIND US SOME SICK KIDS PRONTO!
Internal American Academy of Pediatricians email reveals panic and new low in “media planning.” (Full email at end of post.)
By J.B. Handley
Dear Ms. Martin:
I understand you are the Director of Media Relations for the American Academy of Pediatrics. I read your email of February 13th to medical practitioners (that I have included below in its entirety) describing a nationwide search for parents that, in your words, fit one of two profiles. First:
“Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders who support immunization and who do not believe there is any link between their child’s vaccines and his or her autism.”
Second:
“Parents of children who suffered a vaccine-preventable illness. This could be a parent who declined immunization, whose child became ill before a vaccine was available, or whose child was ineligible for immunization.”
Apparently, you are trying to establish connections with these families because:
“The anti-vaccine groups often have emotional family stories on their side. The ability to offer a reporter an interview with a similarly compelling parent who is sympathetic to the AAP’s goals is a powerful tool for our media relations program.”
It sounds like you have a system in place to prepare these parents to meet the media, according to your email:
“We will contact candidates in advance to conduct pre-interviews, to offer guidance on talking to reporters and to obtain a signed waiver giving us permission to release their name.”
As the father of an autistic child and the leader of a national autism organization, I found myself sitting at my desk, my chin nearly hitting the floor, in stunned astonishment as I read your email. Where, exactly, has the AAP’s humanity and moral compass gone?
Ms. Martin, let me give you a little insight into my world. If I wanted to find parents who had autistic children and who believed their child’s autism was impacted by vaccines, I wouldn’t need to email the nation’s pediatricians hoping I might find one or two. I could just open my window and yell, because these parents are everywhere in my neighborhood and town! Worse, our numbers continue to grow.
You see, not a day goes by without Generation Rescue receiving an email from a new parent who watched their child decline following a vaccination appointment with their pediatrician. While you search for the handful of parents with autistic children who may support immunizations, we can’t respond to emails fast enough from the thousands we hear from who feel vaccines contributed to their child’s autism. You may think our organizations have some sort of well-orchestrated system for having “emotional family stories” teed up for reporters. What’s actually true is that within a phone call or two, any reporter worth their salt could find parents anywhere in the country who feel exactly like I do.
And, that gets us right back to the problem with your organization as many of us see it. When Generation Rescue rented a booth at your national convention 2 years ago, we were stunned by how many AAP members came to our booth, quietly mentioned that they supported what we were doing, and encouraged us to keep fighting for the kids.
Let me repeat that: Hundreds of your members congratulated my organization for fighting for the kids!
Meanwhile, employees of the AAP like yourself have your head in the sand:
Where is the media story of the AAP sounding the alarm that the prevalence of autism continues to rise?
Where is the media story of the AAP digging into the growing number of stories of children recovering from autism?
Where is the AAP when parents return to the pediatrician and explain to the doctors they trust that their child disappeared after receiving multiple vaccines?
Where is the AAP to help protect our kids from a growing, devastating epidemic of Autism, ADHD, PDD-NOS, asthma, food allergies, learning disorders, and other autoimmune issues?
You are nowhere.
You are looking for the needle in the haystack parent with the autistic child who supports vaccines.
You are looking for the parent with the illness to exploit to scare the masses.
What you should be looking for, Ms. Martin, is your own soul, which you seem to have lost somewhere along the way. Worse, particularly if you are a parent yourself, you also seem to have lost the ability to listen to the parents and to put the needs of our kids first.
Shame on you, Ms. Martin, for planning such blatant manipulation of the media.
Shame on you for being part of an organization that has done nothing to respond to the growing epidemic of autism.
Shame on you and your organization for never exploring the growing body of stories of recovered children.
With deep disappointment and disgust,
JB Handley
Co-Founder
Generation Rescue
Your complete email:
From: Susan Martin
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:29 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: parent spokespersons
Hello,
As part of our ongoing response to media stories regarding autism and vaccines, the AAP communications department is compiling a list of parents who support the AAP and are available for interviews. We are looking for two types of parents who could serve as spokespersons:
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders who support immunization and who do not believe there is any link between their child’s vaccines and his or her autism.
Parents of children who suffered a vaccine-preventable illness. This could be a parent who declined immunization, whose child became ill before a vaccine was available, or whose child was ineligible for immunization.
We are asking for your help identifying parents who would be good spokespersons. They do not need to be expert public speakers. They just need to be open with their story and interested in speaking out on the issue. We will contact candidates in advance to conduct pre-interviews, to offer guidance on talking to reporters and to obtain a signed waiver giving us permission to release their name.
If a parent were placed on our list, we would offer their name and contact information to select media. We hope to build a list of parents from a wide range of geographical areas.
As the Jenny McCarthy and “Eli Stone” stories illustrate, this issue is likely to recur in the national and local media. The AAP is committed to doing all we can to counter such erroneous reports with factual information supported by scientific evidence and AAP recommendations.
The anti-vaccine groups often have emotional family stories on their side. The ability to offer a reporter an interview with a similarly compelling parent who is sympathetic to the AAP’s goals is a powerful tool for our media relations program.
Please contact me if you have any questions or to suggest a parent to interview.
Thank you,
Susan Stevens Martin
Director, Division of Media Relations
American Academy of Pediatrics
847.434.7131
JB Handley is Co-Founder of Generation Rescue and Editor at Large for Age of Autism.
I was vaccinated a few times, I supposedly had a seizure after the first shot, and I'm fine- the age at which vaccinations take place also tends to be the age at which autism is noticed. Crime rates and sales of icecream tend to be related as well- both go up in the summer. I've had a veritable cocktail of vaccines for various holidays, and we get 'flu shots every year. On the other hand I know 3 people on the autistic spectrum who were never vaccinated. How many people have died or been crippled by paralytic polio, measles, mumps, 'flu? 20-40 million people were killed by the spanish flu of 1918.
Physicians have children too, and they get vaccinated.
Posted by: Con | September 08, 2008 at 06:26 PM
wow i've read alot about autism and i undestand what you can be going through well i dont have alot time so im going to go read some more :) stay in touch mokaya.
Posted by: mokaya thomas | August 21, 2008 at 03:39 PM
And if you're looking to understand why there is concern about more than autism, and wish to educate yourself about all the harm vaccines may do, please consider utilizing the tremendous resource provided by Vaccination News (http://www.vaccinationnews.com/ ) and reading my column Scandals (http://www.vaccinationnews.com/Scandals/past_scandals.htm ).
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 19, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Hank,
The AAP is not simply looking to use anecdotal evidence in the way that you state Generation Rescue is.
First, a survey sponsored by Generation Rescue and modeled after the CDC's own survey to find the prevalence of autism, demonstrated quite clearly that children who are vaccinated are more likely to develop a myriad of neurological disorders. This is far from anecdotal.
Second, the AAP did not ask about children who may have been vaccinated yet came down with the very diseases they were supposedly protected against. This lack of scrutiny leaves one who is educated regarding the issues with no other thought than the AAP will stop at nothing to cover their asses at the expense of thousands of children's lives who are and continue to be damaged by vaccines.
Why is this such a big deal? It's quite simple really. Two reasons off the top of my head. NO ONE has ever conducted conflict of interest free studies proving the safety and efficacy of the ingredients in vaccines. NO ONE has ever conducted safety studies on the number of vaccines being given in combination on the current (or past for that matter) vaccination schedules.
The AAP, CDC, FDA, and big pharma have not done this. They also continue to feed us with the BS line year in year out that a study such as the very one sponsored by Generation Rescue needs to and should be done. THEN DO IT! But they won't and they can't because they know what they'll find. So in the meantime the AAP is attempting to exploit children and families, just as they attempted censorship of a fictional TV show roughly two weeks ago. And the AAP is attempting to use these children to show that parents still believe in vaccinating their children with autism; therefore you should trust them and us (the AAP) and not these highly educated parents out there who are recovering their children from the world of autism, and who are anti-toxin and pro-safety.
I hope this answers your question. I would encourage you to do some research of your own. A couple good places to start are Dan's series, the autism organization websites (including Generation Rescue) and of course David Kirby's book (Evidence of Harm). Taking all that in will provide you with more than you bargained for and hopefully explain to you in further detail why what the AAP has done and continues to do is wrong.
Off my box :)
Ang
Posted by: Angela Warner | February 19, 2008 at 05:42 PM
I don't see the problem here. The AAP is looking to use anecdotal evidence in the same way that Generation Rescue is using anecdotal evidence to support its claims. Why is it ok for one group and not for the other? I'm genuinely curious, and am interested in an explination.
Posted by: Hank | February 19, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Oh Cobbler! Biological Terrorism with Chicken Pox and Measles and STDs like Hep B! So glad you're well-informed on the subject!
Posted by: Lori | February 18, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Well, thats certainly an emotional story there JB; a little light on erudition but definitely strong on the heart strings.
Posted by: alyric | February 18, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Thank You! I want to thank the Academy (of pediatrics) for this Autism Award given to my youngest son. Thanks to the pharmaceuticals that contributed to the disorder. Thanks to the CDC for covering up adverse reactions! Thanks to the pediatrician that assured me that the vaccines were necessary, like Hepatitis B, at birth, just in case he ever became a IV drug abuser or promiscous sex addict at a tender age. "The Risk is Worth the Benefits" mantra was uttered. This award of autism has freed me from a life of workaholicism, business ownership, and homeownership. They were all stressful anyway. Thank you for relieving me of having to pay state and federal taxes!! why, now instead of making weekly payroll withholding taxes deposits, and paying taxes myself,I was able to quit working altogether and go on welfare and stay home to try to snap my son out of it. I was also able to secure SSI from the Social Security dept and we even get In Home Pay (protective supervision) to keep my son from hurting himself and others. I no longer have to worry about home repairs, since my Landlord has to fix things, oh, and HUD pays most of my Section 8 subsidy (2/3 of my rent). I have learned so much about living off social services instead of working my buns off and putting up with those rascal employees for a living! I got to lay them all off and close the stores. No more paying store rent or running to the bank daily to deposit thousands of dollars in cash and checks (too risky these days!) I no longer have to pay for bus service to school, since the short bus is provided free as part of the IEP. I don't have to pay for summer camp, (regional center pays for that), Boy Scouts, Little League or other sports, since my son prefers to be alone climbing trees or chasing bugs. Wow, he is almost high school age, I won't have to pay for that dreaded Limo, or tuxedo and all the other expense of dances, prom night and homecoming and dates! Or I-pods or cell phone for him! or expensive toys, or designer clothes. He could care less about that stuff. And he can live with me forever, he's been my best "meal ticket" yet, better than any husband, which by the way is also "gone". His dad, the coward, killed himself over it. Oh well never mind. More for us, huh? Thanks again for the Autism Award, and finally, thank you US Government for my annual Earned Income Credit check from the IRS, it is so wonderful to have us receiving government checks instead of paying it out in taxes.
Posted by: Marlene Rockefeller (cousin) | February 17, 2008 at 10:46 PM
let me add... and let me state what I hope is obvious...
How come parents stories are crap, until it's parent stories that advance their adgenda?
I am super naive and stupid, so can someone explain it to me? ;)
Posted by: Jenny Webster | February 17, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Oh how clever of us parents to have "emotional" stories on our side!!
Personally, I planned it that way... I said to Gavin, "Be sure to do something really dramatic before you slip deeply into autism with this MMR shot". And oh JB, Gavin is such a good actor, he took his cue well... Walked up to the fish tank in the doctors office, touched the tank and said, "ishies"!
And then got his shot and lost all language and didn't regain speech until he was 6 --he still really hasn't regained "language".
I nominate him for Best-Actor in a scheme to screw over the Academy of Pediatrics!!
Thank you for you consideration.
Posted by: Jenny Webster | February 17, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Cobbler -
Biological terrorism is what happens when our innocent babies are injected with substances that cause harm, and then all those responsible refuse to investigate that harm. Biological terrorism occurs when
innocent babies are injected with:
- Mercury and aluminum, the safety of which has never been proven.
- Multiple live viruses, which the CDC acknowledges can cause febrile seizures, but the CDC ignores the many reports of babies having post-vaccine seizures followed by autism, IBD, and more seizures.
- So many vaccines in such a short time at such a young age when the immune, digestive, detoxification, and nervous systems are developing -- and there is no study done to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated children, to help determine the cumulative effects of these vaccines.
- Many other questionable ingredients.
When parents stop having their babies vaccinated that is not biological terrorism. That decision is based on legitimate, conscientious concern that the vaccines may be worse than the diseases, and that we cannot rely on the CDC, the FDA, the pharmaceutical companies, and the doctors to make sure that these vaccines are truly safe. We see organizations that are refusing to look at problems because their primary fear is of admitting to mistakes. We see pharmaceutical companies who care only about profits. We see short term, inadequate studies of vaccine safety that do not look at longterm cumulative effects. We see more and more vaccines being added willy-nilly without adequate weighing of risks vs. benefits, such as the crazy decision to inject all newborns for hepititis B on the day of birth. Our confidence in the vaccine program is gone.
We remember a time when children received far fewer vaccines, and were generally healthy. Polio and smallpox are terrible diseases which have for the most part been eradicated because of vaccines. We understand the value of vaccines. But we and all our friends and neighbors came down with measles, mumps, whooping cough, German measles, chicken pox, and the flu without any lasting harm. Yes, there is a small chance of complications from these diseases, but the complication rates are much lower than the current rates of autism, asthma, ADHD, allergies, and auto-immune disorders which we believe are in large part due to our unnatural assault on a generation's immune systems at such a young age.
Posted by: Twyla | February 17, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Why Cobbler? If your child is vaccinated, they should be fine. The only individual at “risk” would be my own child if I decided to pass on injecting them with toxins.
Do YOU not understand that vaccinating your child is tantamount to putting them at risk for a lifelong disability?
Thank goodness the last time I checked - we still live in the Land of the Free and Brave!
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis | February 17, 2008 at 12:32 PM
"Do you not understand that leaving your children unvaccinated is tantamount to biological terrorism?"
Oops cobbler, you just don't get it. Its the other way round, you have got it backwards. Its not us, its YOU guys. See my comment under Kent's piece.
Posted by: Gayatri | February 17, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Do you not understand that leaving your children unvaccinated is tantamount to biological terrorism?
Posted by: cobbler | February 17, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Hi JB - just forwarded this to Senator McCain
Posted by: Theresa Cedillo | February 16, 2008 at 07:26 PM
You are a human being.
You are not a person, you “have” a person.
A person is your agent in commerce,. A fictitious entity to which rights and duties are ascribed.
To the government and industrialists you are an indentured slave or as the media refers to us, “consumers”.
Before you enter into the world arena let alone the Austim arena you must see where, as an individual, you stand.
Here in Ontario Canada there are over 1000 citizen children on a shameful waitlist to receive funding for ABA/IBI therapies. Time is their enemy. After four years and the Senate / Eggleton paper “Pay Now or Pay Later” and the Canadian National Autism Strategy lies dormant. (Although it is a good document , worth reading)
Canada is founded upon the principles that recognize the Supremecy of God and the Rule of Law.
Both of which are being broken by the Canadian governments both Federal and Provincial.
The Magna Carta, the British North American Act, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the U.S. Constitution were all written to protect us from the Sovereign.
To all of us parents in the front lines all over the world “Hallelujah to Ya !
At the end of the day it’s just us, our little team and the clinic we run from our homes.
Why is the focus always only on thimerosal? Included on this list of chemical concerns should also be formaldehyde, M.S.G., aluminum, Butylated hydroxytoluene or B.H.T. and many others. Don’t let the mainstream media and pharma spin doctors lull you into only focusing on the thimerosal. Remember these corporations would no doubt lose everything if a connection is made between the preservatives and the world wide vaccine programs.
Our great grandparents our grandparents and our parents were all infected with toxic preservatives through the inoculation programs.
I saw my 5yr old son’s live blood analysis taking place. I saw live candida yeast in his blood. I saw the heavy metals as well. Where do you think it came from? Leaky gut syndrome comes from the M.M.R jab.
We saw the change in our child right after the second round of vaccinations.
Freedom of the person requires not only, or not even especially, the absence of legal constraints but the presence of alternative thoughts. The most successful tyranny is not the one that uses force to assure uniformity, but the one that removes awareness of other possibilities. I have come to the conclusion that those who benefit from any societal mechanism rarely wish to understand that mechanism, especially if it appears to grant them power or authority and understanding it or any alternatives would restrict, diminish or destroy that power apparently granted. They live in a vapid world of learned assumptions. Lets face it if you have acronyms after your name your whole goal is to get published and funded no matter how ridiculous your position is. Most if not all of the researchers and their research are in the pocket of Big Pharma. They have lobbied their way into the core of our societies. I feel sorry for the caregivers who actually administer the jab and wonder how they are going to live with themselves after the truth comes out.
If we put up with this our children will be next.
It’s not the vaccines it’s the toxins therein.
A child on the spectrum is born every 20 minutes. What do they all have in common?
Wake up people.
Posted by: B Campaigne | February 16, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Ms. Martin,
I know two people who will testify that they don't think vaccines had anything to do with their kids autism. The ped on the Oprah Show and my ex-ped who kicked us out of the practice for not vaccinating anymore. Oh, they are probably member of AAP. Sorry I can't think of anyone else.
Posted by: Holly | February 16, 2008 at 05:51 PM
We will look back one day (and that day cannot come soon enough for our children) at the CDC and the AAP as the tobacco companies of autism. And the people who worked for them--paid assassins.
David
Posted by: David Taylor | February 16, 2008 at 05:20 PM
I went along to a Pediatrician's visit for my then 4 month old grandson. My daughter had carefully selected this Dr. after interviewing five others. Unfortunately, the Dr. had managed to talk this young mom into giving the baby 3 shots and the rotovirus vaccine at his 2 month check-up. When my daughter asked me to accompany her at this visit, I arrived armed with useful knowledge and research. I knew her Ped would try to force further vaccines on this vulnerable infant. Sure enough, after she was told no more vaccinations, the good Doc said the baby at least needed the pertussis vax since he was going to be around another child 2 times a week. When my daughter reminded her that she was not vaccinating and regretted her decision to allow the previous shots, the Ped became a little disgruntled. I spoke up and reminded her that during the interview, she promised that she would respect the no vax policy. Immediately, she blurted out "vaccines do not cause autism!" I told her that they do, and one of my grandchildren, the baby's cousin regressed immediately following a flu shot. When my daughter saw that my sleeves were rolling up for a good fight, she tried to intervene, saying that she just didn't want to vaccinate...discussion over! The Ped kindly turned to her and said "No, I welcome such discussion. It gives me the opportunity to educate my parents". My daughter sat back and smiled because she knew what was next. I then explained to her that I was actually there to educate her! I told her that the AAP was wrongly advising Physicians to continue injecting children with dangerous toxins for the love of money, not for the love of children. I also told her about my ASD grandchild's biomedical journey, the ongoing lab tests showing mercury and other toxic chemicals, his chelation progress and how he IS recovering! She looked at my daughter and said "Wouldn't you rather your child be autistic than dead????????" OMG!!!! I couldn't believe she said that. My daughter was so taken back that she was speechless so I answered for her. I said that we want this child to be alive, healthy and free of autism, ADD, and all other neurological disorders. We also were going to do our best to keep him free of asthma, juvenile arthritis, diabetes, allergies, etc. The plan was to start with no further vaccinations, a healthy, organic diet and a toxic free home. The good Doc tried one more desparate attempt by saying that vaccines are now thimerosal free. I challenged her to bring me the insert of the shot she intended to give my grandson. She gladly obliged and was quite taken back when I pointed out that there was indeed mercury in that shot, and trace though it may be, it was still present, accummulating with each and every injection given to her tiny patients!
The Dr. backed off, so my daughter has decided to retain her services. This Ped is a strong proponent of natural foods and she is against using medications to treat children who are ADD, etc. Hopfully, she will be open enough to understand that vacines are a cause of these maladies in the first place. She is a good person who trully loves children. But obviously, the AAP has inundated her with misinformation and dangerous scare tactics.
The AAP is a misguided bunch who have succumbed to the lies of Big Pharma, backed by the CDC! They are allowing their evil to infiltrate the good intentions of the people who they so cleverly manipulate. The losers are our children...
BTW, my grandson did have a slight fever after his 2 month shots, which my daughter made sure was put into his files. She also told the Dr. to report it to the VAERS. He will be a year old next month, and the Ped has not tried to talk her into further vaccinations. The baby has had a few colds, an ear infection (which was treated with garlic and mullien oil with the Doc's blessing) and even a bout of the intestinal flu. His immune system is working fine and he is a healthy, happy and very alert baby! Given the genetic susceptability in our family (ASD, asthma, allergies, arthritis) I truly believe this child could have suffered serious injury if he was fully vaccinated!
Thank You JB for you well written letter to the AAP. I would love to know how many of the folks up there in AAP-land actually vaccinate their own????
Posted by: Trish | February 16, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Like the Simpsonwood transcript says...
The CDC was asleep at the switch and crashed the train.
And now the AAP is blocking the ambulances.
Posted by: nhokkanen | February 15, 2008 at 11:41 PM
I find it very hard to believe that Ms. Susan Stevens Martin - Director, Division of Media Relations - would be naive enough to put out such drivel knowing very well the reaction it would get from us parents. Is she? Someone must be giving orders to a Director. Such a big position it seems to be, you would think they would be able to *think* for themselves. After all, they are Directors are they not?
Posted by: Madam Director | February 15, 2008 at 11:36 PM
And the AAP calls US desperate? Wow. Could this have anything to do with the rally that's going on next week at their headquarters?
Posted by: Christina Blakey | February 15, 2008 at 10:31 PM
thanks, JB! You continue to speak as a true champion for our kids.
Erik Nanstiel, FAIR Autism Media
Posted by: erik nanstiel | February 15, 2008 at 10:19 PM
OK, it is offical.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has no shame.
They would rather hire media consultants paid to pit parents against each other than actually DO anything to help autistic kids.
For 20 years that AAP has been missing in action in the autism epidemic. The AAP even REFUSED to support the Combatting Autism Bill until the final hours! The AAP cares primarily about protecting the AAP, its policies and practices, not about my autistic child or yours.
Thank you to the NAA for their swift and courageous response this cowardly and pathetic AAP memo. I wish Autism Speaks would join the NAA and stand with ASD children against AAP efforts to denigrate and demean our families and the suffering of our children.
Posted by: Katie Wright | February 15, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Hi JB,
As you know, the CDC has been suggesting using the families of children who tragically became ill or died to help scare other families into vaccinating their children since at least 2004.
Glen Nowak, then CDC associate director of communications, in a Powerpoint presentation "Planning for the 2004-05 Influenza Vaccination Season: A Communication Situation Analysis", advises as a method to increase demand for the flu shot:
"6. Visible/tangible examples of the seriousness of the illness (e.g. pictures of children, families of those affected coming forward) AND people getting vaccinated (the first to motivate, the latter to reinforce)."
You would almost think that CDC and AAP were more concerned with helping increase the sales of influenza vaccines than they are about making sure vaccines are as safe as possible.
The entire highly disturbing powerpoint is available here. http://www.newswithviews.com/Tenpenny/sherri.htm
Posted by: Kevin Barry | February 15, 2008 at 06:56 PM
These desperate times. Doctors are finding more and more parents who simply refuse to vaccinate and they come with lots of research to back up their decision.
We were only supposed to listen to the studies done by the experts with impressive credentials telling us there was no link. Doctors have long waved these official findings endorsed by the AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When individuals challenged the science, no one paid attention.
How dare mere parents make the unfounded claim that vaccines cause autism.
What's really funny here is that the AAP continually trashes parents as having no credibility. They don't have a chance with all the experts lined up against them.
So why are parents suddenly going to be used to back the medical community?
Maybe physicians are telling their organization that the rebellion is growing and they need more
to fight back with. The "studies show no link" mantra isn't working anymore. There are just too many kids with autism out there.
More and more news stories are showing us parents who claim that their child was progressing normally but after
vaccinations, they regressed into autism. I'm sure these reports get lots of notice by parents faced with the decision to
vaccinate.
Good luck to the AAP looking for parents with an affected child who still support the immunization program. We could plaster
billboards from coast to coast with pictures of our damaged kids.
Anne Dachel
Posted by: Anne Dachel | February 15, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Sophia, I'm with you. Awhile ago I called the whole public health stand on vaccines, their Ostrich Policy (what you don't know can't hurt you).
Hard to believe, but more and more it seems to be true.
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 15, 2008 at 06:25 PM
I've got it! The AAP should title it's propaganda "How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Vaccines". (For those of you who don't know, the movie "Dr. Stranglove" was subtitled, "how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb".
AAP, you're the bomb!
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 15, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Like an ostrich. That's what I compare them to. An ostrich. Head in the sand, while a load of evidence is standing clearly for everyone to see.
Disgusting. Disgraceful. Shameful. They probably retire from the AAP and go work for local school districts as "expert witnesses" so they can screw our kids one more time, this time out of an education after they have damaged them with live virus. 41 times.
DISGUSTING doesn't even come close.
You rock, JB.
Posted by: Sophia | February 15, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Let me get this straight--
AAP is preparing for more Jenny McCarthys and Eli Stones. But AAP doesn't care to wonder WHY there will be more and more of them to prepare for.
Hmmm . . . something's missing here and it ain't just a soul.
David
Posted by: David Taylor | February 15, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Wow JB - you make me want to stand up and cheer! Well, does running to the other room saying "Look what JB did!" count?
Great job!
Posted by: Theresa Cedillo | February 15, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Just sent the email to Hillary and Obama...
Whoever responds best to this... Will be our next President!
With a copy of my situation and the crazy email from the AAP
Thanks everyday for all you do at Age of Autism... You will make the world a better place for our children!
Posted by: Tanner's Dad | February 15, 2008 at 05:18 PM
As much as I despised the AAP letter I see it as document of proof that we can use to show that the true heart of the AAP,which is to spin and protect mass vaccinations instead of looking to improve vaccine safety.
Posted by: Richard | February 15, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Arggggh! I did the link to my column wrong again so here it is once more:
http://www.vaccinationnews.com/scandals/2003/Feb_14/Scandal55.htm
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 15, 2008 at 04:19 PM
After being a member of the AAP for almost two decades, I left the organization last year and will never be coming back. Those who care about protecting corporations have allowed pediatricians to become blind vaccine pushers who sheepishly repeat what they are told.
Posted by: Kenneth Stoller, MD (former FAAP) | February 15, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Just called Susan Martin. Told her I was the mother of a 6 year old boy with autism. Told her I believe, as does his entire family and everyone who knows him, that his vaccines contributed to his autism. Told her I thought she should rewrite her email - specifically the part that states she is looking for "Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders who support immunization and who do not believe there is any link between their child’s vaccines and his or her autism" - I suggested she simplify that with, "Looking for parents of children with autism who live under a rock." I told her I was ashamed of the AAP and that she should be ashamed of herself. I left her my number. Hopefully she'll call back... what do you think are the odds of that happening?
Posted by: jeanne | February 15, 2008 at 02:53 PM
JB,
You're good. Real good.
"The truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, malice may distort it, but there it is." Churchill
Posted by: jeanne | February 15, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Instead of seeking parents that support vaccinations, I would suggest the AAP begin an immediate investigation to determine if the Tom's River pediatrician who was caught administering "expired" vaccines is an abberation or are there hundreds of others just like him? Indeed, his "record keeping" became illegible in 1999....when removing thimerosal from childhood vaccines was first recommended.
In any event, the AAP has a responsibility to apologize to those couple of hundred parents who now fear a careless, reckless member of their organization has put them at risk of having to "re-vaccinate" their children again.
At the same time, the AAP should begin investigation of this pediatrician for deliberately failing to comply with federal regulations that required him to list lot number and expiration dates of every vaccine he administered.
I would suggest the AAP urge this pediatrician be prosecuted for ciminal assaulting those children.
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | February 15, 2008 at 02:40 PM
I really don't even know what to say when I read something like that.
I did send this letter to them though:
Instead of wasting your time searching the countryside for a parent of an autistic child willing to go in front of the cameras and say they are glad their kids were vaccinated, perhaps you should track down every one of the thousands of recovered children and find out the secret to their sucess. Then perhaps, instead of attacking the people out there tyring to find the answer to this tragic epidemic you could actually do something about it. Perhaps then when a parent like me walks into your office you could say something more than, "Well, wait and see." or "Well, you should love him just the same, but you should change you expectations about what his life will be. He probably won't go to college, won't get married, and oh, by the way, it's flu shot time again and let me give you an antibiotic for that fourth infection this year."
I'd be happy to help. When your doctors told us to "wait and see" we acted. When your doctors told us to "lower our expectations" we raised them. We'd still be waiting if it weren't for the message of hope from the people you seek to silence. We'd still be waiting to see our boys look into our eyes. We'd still be waiting to hear them say, "Mommy, watch me." We'd still be waiting to hear a teacher say that instead of being in a confinded special Ed class, they may in fact need to skip a grade.
Every time I hear you fight the message of hope, or criticize our organizations for daring to suggest that vaccine safety should be investigated I vow to carry the message as far and as wide as possible.
Posted by: Jack Russell | February 15, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Perhaps we should thank the AAP for making it abundantly clear that their mission is to deliver propaganda. It clearly is not to promote health. And it most certainly is not to increase understanding or to promote scientific investigation.
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 15, 2008 at 02:27 PM
What is most disgusting is they are trying to pit heartbroken parent against heartbroken parent in the media. They are USING the parent for their own agenda, seeking them out like this.
One of my best friends lost her 2 year old child from complications of the flu 3 years ago. 1 in a million said the specialist that treated him. A fluke. Heartbreaking to say the least. My son has autism, we have both taken different approaches in vaccinating our subsequent babies. Our perspectives are different, our experiences are different.
AAP would better SERVE their members and their patients advocating for safety and common sense vaccine policy. Instead they continue to bury their heads and cover their asses.
Posted by: Becky | February 15, 2008 at 02:13 PM
JB, thanks for asking the important questions of the AAP - what the heck are they doing to help our children besides condemning us in the press? Most pediatricians are not aware of the underlying biomedical issues in many of our kids. I see why now, their largest professional organization is more worried about fictional dramas and celebrity interviews than why we have over 1.5 million children with a disorder that was considered rare only 15 years ago. The AAP is obviously better at PR than they are getting to the heart of a serious medical disorder.
Posted by: Laura | February 15, 2008 at 01:55 PM
Wow. The AAP really does hate our children and us. After what they have done and continue to do. They have NO SHAME.
Posted by: astonished | February 15, 2008 at 01:30 PM
JB, I am so proud of you for speaking up for our beautiful children that have been so unfairly damaged and so far those who are responsible for this tragedy and horrid crimes will do everything to manipulate, lie,bribe,hide and if they could ,put us six feet under so our voices are never heard and meanwhile let all this tragedy and brutality continue to spread like a virus ......we have suffered enough, our children have suffered greatly paying a high price .......i believe in justice, i believe that all of us fighting together will make a difference that will somehow, someway make it right for our children!!!!!......thank you for being brave and rightous and know that you have my family and my little boys support.
Posted by: basiu | February 15, 2008 at 01:15 PM
I notice they did not ask for Parents of VACCINATED children who suffered a vaccine-preventable illness.
Of course that is the last thing the AAP would want the media to report on in this campaign of misinformation and misdirection.
Posted by: Tim Kasemodel | February 15, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Yay JB! Shell the AAP bunker! The email begs the question, what in the H-E-double-hockey-sticks is it going to take for the AAP members to start pushing back from their end? Don't they realize that the worm has turned and they're all going to look like idiots if they don't get with the program? Surely they can't all be lemmings on the edge of the autism abyss. Can they?
Posted by: Garbo | February 15, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Pick on the parents of special needs/ injured children.
Good strategy AAP.
Posted by: Lisa | February 15, 2008 at 01:05 PM
The fact that the AAP has to write this email illustrates how hard it is to find parents of ASD kids who support vaccines.
I like how Susan Martin groups the "Jenny McCarthy STORY" and the "Eli Stone STORY" together. One is fiction and the other is real life- a REAL boy who almost died. Just because Jenny is an actress doesn't make her life fictional. That is very insulting to Jenny, as a mother above all, and the rest of us mothers who are trying to recover our children with biomedical treatments.
Good luck finding a spokesperson AAP! No way I would do it and I'm sure the 3 other families on my block who have children with autism would not sell their souls either.
Posted by: Christine Heeren | February 15, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Email sent today to:
Susan Martin,
My goal as a parent of a recovered child was to speak privately to individuals about my child's recovery from vaccine damage. I will now conduct a public campaign to counter anything the AAP provides as public comment in support of vaccines.
I will email all my friends with my daughter's details of how she recovered from vaccine injury including lab data.
I will write my local newspaper describing the details of our three year recovery from immune dysfunction due to vaccine injury.
I will continue to be vigilant (until my dying breath!) to counter any false propaganda from the AAP in regards to vaccines.
Sincerely,
Susan Willoughby
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Posted by: Susan | February 15, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Whew! I was speechless for about 2 seconds. Looks like I'll be sending another letter to the AAP! And again I'll be sending it out to everyone in my address book as well. The noose they purchased is tightening and they know it. I am in such disbelief and so disgusted that I am literally shaking. These ignorant, self-serving, heartless, (insert your own word - I'll refrain from using foul language) "drones" have got to be stopped! And they will be! This is unbelievable!
Thank you JB for sharing this incredibly important information! You ROCK!
Ang
Posted by: Angela Warner | February 15, 2008 at 12:08 PM
It might be time to head over to alternative treatment options out there that recognize the dangers of vaccines and actually do a job of treating/ curing and not merely recovering children from autism. The road is hard, its tough, its fairly non-stop BUT it can be done!!! THAT cannot be emphasized enough, it CAN be done.
I am reproducing below a question and answer from Dr. Luc Schepper's blog. Sr. Luc Schepper is a classical homeopath who practises out of the LA area (www.drluc.com). His question and answer blog is available at www.homeopathysnc.org/blog.htm
"Question: Can homeopathy be used instead of the vaccines? Hello Dr. Luc. My
son is 18 months old and has had his vaccinations on a delayed schedule and
single vaccines instead of multiple ones at a time. My son's doctor is very
much in favor of delaying vaccines and even said we could wait much later
for the MMR vaccine, but I was wondering what is the homeopathy position on
vaccines?
The more research I do, the more I get concerned about the ill effects of
vaccines, but at the same time what is one to do to protect their children?
What is the homeopathy position on vaccines? Is the position to delay
vaccines or not do them? Are there remedies that can be used instead of the
vaccines and are there remedies that address the disease if the person
becomes ill with it? Thank you.
Answer: There is much info out there regarding dangers of vaccinations but
from strict homeopathic view it will fuel the sycotic miasm (we even called
it earlier before many vaccinations "vaccinosis") and with mercury
preservative syphilitic miasm. Never replace vaccinations neither with
homeopathic nosodes...rather use these wonderful remedies for other issues
and it is your homeopath that needs to decide about this...but don't follow
those in sequential therapy who innundate patients with nosodes.
Certainly vaccinations (trigger) on the fertile ground (sycosis or
syphilis) can increase the expressions of these miasms. We give many
vaccinations against childhood diseases, robbing the natural immune system
of excellent exercise. Having had no childhood diseases in your history is
rather a bad than good thing and was already noted by our old homeopaths to
create severe diseases at younger age. When something does not practice
(Immune System) it gets overwhelmed when it suddenly has to.
Warm regards
Dr luc"
I wanted to add - along the way you might be surprised by all that you turn up! Do it and prepare to be surprised.
Posted by: Homeopathy Buff | February 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Although I was writing about the CDC and IOM when I wrote this Scandals column (http://www.vaccinationnews.com/scandals/2003/Feb_14/Scandal55.htm), I would say the AAP is definitely "knee deep in the Big Muddy and the damn fools keep yelling to push on".
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 15, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Oh my goodness... I'm speechless.
This is so pathetic and sad.
What are we going to do about the fact that they are KNOWINGLY and WILLINGLY injuring children?
Seriously. I'm done giving these people the benefit of the doubt.
Posted by: Sue M | February 15, 2008 at 11:48 AM
This is yet another driving reason why parents need to show up at the AAP in Chicago next week to publicly rally against this nonsense.
Posted by: Alison Davis | February 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Great Job JB! The AAP letter makes me sick. I cannot fathom why there energies continue to lie in finding ways to attack or counteract our claims instead of using there resources to look at treatments. I went to my pediatrician telling him that my son was in pain last week and he continued to try and tell me it's behavior only. This is what medical help means. Everything is in your head, everything is in your child's head, including pain?? Criminal. This just shows that they are loosing their grip on the lies. Thank you for bring this out JB.
Posted by: Allison | February 15, 2008 at 11:34 AM
WOW, JB.
All I can say is the devil is in the AAP's details.
All the best,
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | February 15, 2008 at 11:33 AM
So the *anecdotal* evidence of parents who don't think vaccines caused their children's autism is worth reporting on, but the stories of the thousands of us who know differently is just us being "desperate".
You're right J.B. Disgusting!
Posted by: SAM | February 15, 2008 at 11:30 AM
DUD.. that was MY chin hitting the floor.
I am speechless, just speechless.. (and that doesn't happen to me easily)....
OK, until now I have still been willing to cut the AAP 'some slack'. But if THIS is the way the organization at large really feels about our sick kids, well, then MY gloves are coming off too...
Posted by: Petra | February 15, 2008 at 11:11 AM