The Center Will Not Hold As Parents & Doctors Question Vaccine Policy, by Barbara Lowe Fisher

The Center Will Not Hold As Parents & Docs Question Vaccine Policy

by Barbara Loe Fisher

It was only a matter of time. For 26 years parents of vaccine injured children and a few brave doctors have challenged the one-size-fits-all approach to mandated use of multiple vaccines in the absence of sound scientific evidence that policy is safe for all children. Now, when 1 in 6 child in America is learning disabled and 1 in 150 develops autism, more rank and file pediatricians are speaking out about the need to provide pediatric care for unvaccinated children and respect parental choices to use fewer vaccines.

Last week in a CBS-TV interview, HPV vaccine researcher Dr. Diane Harper supported more scientific research as well as the ethical principle of informed consent to vaccination when asked whether HPV vaccine should be mandated. She said "We don't know yet what's going to happen when millions of doses of the vaccine have been given and to put in process a place that says you must have this vaccine, it means you must be part of a big public experiment....... There isn't enough information to have a mandate that you can't go to school until you have this vaccine. It does not make any sense."

This week in another CBS-TV interview, former NIH Director Bernadine Healy, M.D., stood up and spoke out about the need to scientifically investigate the causal association between vaccines and autism, especially the potential for certain individuals to be genetically susceptible to being harmed by vaccines. She said "I think that the public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as irrational.... there may be this susceptible group. The fact that there is concern, that you don't want to know that susceptible group is a real disappointment to me. If you know that susceptible group, you can save those children. If you turn your back on the notion that there is a susceptible group.....what can I say?"

At the same time that enlightened pediatricians, researchers, and former health officials are calling for a re-examination of scientifically questionable vaccine policies that have failed to identify and screen out high risk children and respect parental rights to make informed, voluntary vaccine choices, some British health authorities and politicians are calling for MMR vaccine mandates for British children. The leading proponent for mandates in Britain said "The MMR vaccination rate is at 85% and the target figure is 95%, so it's about catching children who may have moved or lost contact with their health visitor but also saying to parents your child has a right to live free from vaccine preventable diseases." The head of Britain's Medical Association called the proposal "morally and ethically dubious" and added "A Stalinist approach like this would be likely to backfire on an unprecedented scale and increase opposition to vaccinations."

After 26 years, U.S. health officials are also wrestling with how to prove to parents and doctors that current vaccine policies have adequately addressed evidence that more and more children are regressing after vaccination and suffering brain and immune dysfunction. A transcript of the April 11, 2008 National Vaccine Advisory Committee workshop at which parents and doctors expressed their concerns about vaccine safety is now available at http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac/transcript_apr08.ht ml

In the meantime, 19 parent organizations are endorsing a call for Presidential candidates to pledge to issue two executive orders within 100 days of taking office which would (1) remove mercury from all vaccines by Jan 1. 2010 and (2) require a moratorium on the addition of new vaccines to the recommended list for children until the current vaccine schedule can be proven safe. Supporting organizations include A- CHAMP, Autism One, Autism Research Institute, Autism United, Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology, Environment of Harm Yahoo Group, Generation Rescue, HEAL Foundation, Moms Against Mercury, National Autism Association, National Vaccine Information Center, No Mercury, Safeminds, Schafer Autism Report, Spectrum Magazine, TACA -- Talk About Curing Autism, Treating Autism (UK), Unlocking Autism, and World Mercury Project.

On Wednesday, June 4, 2008 a "Green Our Vaccines" rally will be held in Washington, D.C. questioning the safety of vaccine components and the government's current vaccine schedule.

Also by Dr. Bernadine Healy, Fighting the Autism Vaccine War

Dr. Bernadine Healy is the former head of the National Institutes of Health, an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the current Health Editor for U.S. News and World Report.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavior/2008/04/10/fighting-the-autism-vaccine-war.html

Former Head of the NIH Explains Why the Government is Acitvely Avoiding Research that Might Prove a Link Between Vaccines and Autism

Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the National Institutes of Health and a member of the Institute of Medicine breaks with her colleagues in this exclusive CBS News interview: Dr. Healy says the government has been too quick to dismiss the possibility of a vaccine-autism link, and that it should be explored with renewed vigor.

The NIH is an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC reports to the NIIH. Dr. Healy gives some interesting insight as to why the government has actively avoided research that might prove a link between vaccines and autism

This is the video of the interview,
http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/former-head-of-nih-says-time-to.html"

Here is an excellent article written by David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/dr-bernadine-healy-dont-d_b_101421.html"

Vaccines: Defining the Concerns and How to Get Educated

First let me say, we are not anti vaccine. We just don't feel that the proper research exists and that the FDA guidelines on toxins in vaccines should at least meet the standard of other drugs.

Here are a few of the concerns shared by those of us who support vaccine reform.

1. The excessive amount of aluminum. I say excessive because the FDA recommends no more the 25mcg injected per day in preemies and those with impaired kidney function. However, on day one of life a newborn receives 250 mcg in the Hep B Vaccine and at each of the 2, 4 and 6 months visits and infant may receive 295 mcg to 1225 mcg , depending on the combination of brands. And guess what...there has never been a study evaluating the the tolerable amount of aluminum in infants. Want to verify? http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/vaccines/aluminum-new-thimerosal.html

2. There has never been a study evaluating vaccinated vs. non vaccinated populations. There is a bill currently in front of congress to accomplish just this. Please support it, if it makes the senate floor. Read more http://theeducatedparent.blogspot.com/2008/02/dr-boyd-haley-response-to-study.html

3.There has never been a study evaluating the long term impact of 26 to 32 vaccines by age 2.

4.The study so often referenced, as proof of no harm, is the Denmark study. That population is in no way comparable to the US because they have a much less aggressive vaccine schedule. Google this study. You will find it referenced by many experts and critisized by many more.

5. There has never been a study conducted evaluating the safety of combined shots in one visit.

To educate yourself, I would highly recommend

1. the book by Aviva Jill Romm, Vaccination; A Thoughtful Parents Guide. She talks in depth about vaccines and each disease and the risks associated with the disease vs. the possible risk of the vaccine.

2. Also, I hear Dr. Robert Sears book, The Vaccine Book is very good and he gives an alternate schedule

3. This is an excellent article by Dr. Sears, about the high content of aluminum in vaccines http://theeducatedparent.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-recognition-of-autism-awareness.html

4.Here is a superb explanation of the research concerns from Dr. Boyd Haley, the head of the Chemistry Dept at Kentucky State University. http://theeducatedparent.blogspot.com/2008/02/dr-boyd-haley-response-to-study.html.

5. The National Vaccine Information Center is another good source http://www.909shot.com/.

6.And here's information on obtaining a waivers in all 50 states http://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm . Don't believe that you MUST vaccinate to enter your child in school or daycare. All states provide a right to waiver...they just don't make that right common knowledge.

A Letter of Appreciaton and Encouragement to the AAP

Today Joe and I sent a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics in recognition of their recent decision to work with The Autism Research Institute and the Defeat Autism Now!.

We decided that we believe it is important for parents of recovering children to share our stories and let them know how excited we are that, through them, all children with ASD (sensory processing disorder, ADHD) may enjoy the same opportunity for recovery that our daughter has experienced.

We recognize that they have a lot to overcome in bringing themselves to the table with DAN!. They have disagreement within the association about this decision and they must consider the possibility of vaccines as a trigger if they are going to be successful in considering the protocol. Therefore, they need as much encouragement as possible from parents who know the biomedical approach works and that autism is treatable and recoverable.

Our letter follows;

Dear Exectutive Committee,

As parents of a child who has recovered from PDD and Sensory Processing Disorder, we would like to thank you for finally taking a strong interest in the work of the Autism Research Institute and Defeat Autism Now!.

Our child has been under the care of Dr. Jeff Bradstreet and PA Scott Smith since 2005 when she was 3 years old. She began a steep functional regression at 2 1/2, while we saw her medical health decline after each set of vaccines from 12 months on.

Thanks to biomedical treatment, she lost most of her truly autistic symptoms (stemming, mini seizures, loss of eye contact, echolalia and non responsiveness to name) within a month after going GF/CF and beginning supplements. From there we were left with sensory issues (sound sensitivity, lack of relation to space, hyperactivity, attention deficit, anxiety, and over stimulation in public places). Little by little these symptoms have disappeared as we have addressed GI issues (yeast/ c diffe), immune activation, inflammation and heavy metals.

Today, at 5, she has been released from occupational therapy, is excelling in pre-k (both academically and behaviorally) and can attend church, go the grocery and play on the beach and at the park as if there were never an issue. When we tell people where she has come from they look at us as if we were crazy to say that she ever had such problems. Frankly, that look is one of the many great rewards for opening our minds to biomedical treatment for her issues and speaks volumes for her recovery. Without medical treatment, it scares us beyond words to think how far her regression may have gone and what her future might have been.

The evening of April 1 when I, as her mother, saw the press release that you are working with DAN!, I cried tears of joy and hope for all the other children who will enjoy the recovery that our daughter and so many other children have experienced.

We applaud your efforts with DAN! and hope the relationship continues and flourishes.

Regards,
Pamela and Joe Felice

National Vaccine Advisory Comittee Shutting Out Parent Organizations Concerned with Vaccines

On April 11, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) will hold their first Safety Group Meeting in Washington.

Their own charter calls for participation by representatives from "parent organizations concerned with immunization." This representation has not been granted. SafeMinds has submitted several requests for participation in the meeting with no response.

The deadline to request attendance was up at 4:00 p.m. today, April 9. I sent a request on behalf of SafeMinds this evening any way. I also sent a copy to my congressman and senators. They should be aware that the government is shutting us out once again.

I ask any one with any level of concern over vaccine safety to do the same. SafeMinds goals are defined below and they are very reasonable.
The following is a copy of my letter to my congressman and senators. It also contains a copy of the email that I sent to NVAC.

Consumer Representation Squashed at Upcoming National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Safety Group Meeting

Senator Chambliss,
The National Vaccine Advisory Committee has violated their own charter by denying parent advocacy groups a seat at the table for their first meeting in Washington on April 11.

Following you will find a copy of the email that I have sent to them, requesting that SafeMinds be given a seat at this meeting. I thought you should be aware of this situation and the very reasonable and direct goals of SafeMinds.
Copy of email to NVAC
The charter for NVAC calls for participation by representatives from "parent organizations concerned with immunization." In light of this parents and advocacy groups with autism/vaccine safety concerns should have a seat at the table.

SafeMinds has requested of NVAC, without response, an expansion of the current consumer representation of this group to include one of SafeMinds Directors (Dr. Vicky Debold, or Mr. Mark Blaxill) to more accurately balance and diversify views essential to the task of this workgroup.

Currently, adequate consumer representation with regard to vaccines and their safety is trumped by the over-representation by those with a financial stake in increased vaccination (industry and providers) and with a bias in favor of traditional population-based immunization policy.

SafeMinds continues to advocate for the following in order to protect our children from harm.
* A comprehensive study of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated populations, or alternatively vaccinated populations is needed to accurately determine harm from mercury in vaccines and other toxicants. The Amish are one such group and there are others.
* • Vaccine studies must be conducted by individuals free from conflicts of interest with the vaccine industry and public health officials whose livelihood depends on vaccine promotion.
* The vaccine schedule must be tested for safety in terms of multiple vaccines being given during one visit and the overall number of vaccines in use for long-term adverse effects - it has never been done and should be integral to vaccine safety monitoring.
* Greater consumer representation within the work group and specific consumer representation of the autism vaccine concerns by SafeMinds Directors Dr. Vicky Debold and Mr. Mark Blaxill.

I have forwarded a copy of this letter to Congressman Tom Price and Senators Saxby Chambliss and John Isakson.

Regards,
Pamela Felice
concerned parent

Update

Yesterday the NVAC did agree to give Barbara Lowe Fisher from the National Vaccine Information Center and Peter Bell of Autism Speaks a seat on the Panel. However, a seat has also been given to Lisa Randall from Voices 4 Vaccines. As stated by Andventures in Autism, "Lisa Randall is a an attorney and "policy consultant" for Immunization Action Coalition, or Immunize.org, a group that is funded in part by the CDC and by pharmaceutical companies Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth, Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis, CSL iotherapies, MedImmune, and Baxter Healthcare Corp."

Voices 4 Vaccines has refused to disclose who sits on their board or where they get thier funding. So the question is, who does Lisa Randall really represent? There is certainly a transparency issue here. For the full story see the post titled "Lisa Randall, Vaccine Safety Working Group , Voices 4 Vaccines, The Task Force for Child Survival, Pharma Dollars and The World Bank"
on Adventures in Autism blog.

Jenny McCarthy and the Autism Dilemma

Excellent article. Allison Rose Levy well understands where many parents are coming from.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alison-rose-levy/jenny-mccarthy-and-the-au_b_95366.html