The truth of the matter is hard to figure out. While they CDC is pushing for an even-wider range of childhood vaccines and the government denies that there is a link between vaccines and autism, the US Court of Federal Appeals recently agreed that the regression into autism of child who received nine shots in a single day was a result of the vaccinations she received, and the government has paid more than 1,300 brain injury claims in vaccine court since 1988 (but is not studying those cases or tracking how many of them resulted in autism). A 2005 Rolling Stone article written by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about thimerosal and autism was found to be wildly inaccurate, but Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institutes for Health, spoke out about the government's rejection of a vaccine-autism link a few months ago, telling CBS News that "I think that the public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as irrational."
I do vaccinate my kids, but not according to the schedule set by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. I do it slowly, one shot at a time, with a few weeks or months between visits, and there are a few that I'm avoiding for as long as possible. And, as far as I'm concerned, they won't be getting a flu shot. To me, the benefits don't outweigh the risks.
Do you vaccinate your kids? Why or why not?
8 comments so far...
Flag as inappropriate Posted by InnovationMan on 7th May 2009
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Genesis on 11th August 2008
Re: Jenn1125, I do believe that vaccinations are important. A school near us was shut down this year because of so many cases of whooping cough (many of the kids were not vaccinated). It got dangerous because the big kids were bringing whooping cough home to their baby brothers and sisters. Very scary.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Rachel S. on 30th July 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 24th July 2008
According to a recent press release by the Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs (mercury-freedrugs.org), "A Prospective Study of Transsulfuration Biomarkers in Autistic Disorders," published in Neurochemical Research (July 2008), recognizes mercury susceptibility markers in patients diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
The complete study is here: http://www.usautism.org/PDF_files_newsletters/A_Prospective_Study_of_Mercury_Toxicity_Biomarkers_in_Autistic_Spectrum_Disorders1.pdf
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 24th July 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Sandra Tayler on 23rd July 2008
Kids need to be exposed to these things-how are they supposed to build up an immunity????
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Tracy Popolizio on 21st July 2008
As far as the flu vaccine being mandatory. That's crap. Do they know that are over 200 different rhinoviruses that can make you sick? Do they know that proper hand washing and infection control can prevent many illness? Do they know kids build up immunity by getting sick. I have tought my kids to wash their hands and not to share their drinks. They did not get sick at all this passed flu season? NOT ONCE! My son had allergies. That was it.
I think they are going nuts with this stuff. Seriously. They wonder why these bugs are becoming resistant. Let kids get sick. You don't have to intentionally get them sick. There's nothing wrong with it. GEEZE!
Next they'll have a vaccine against air. It's ridiculous.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by jenns1125 on 19th July 2008