Rebuttal to Pediatricians anti-alternative vaccination stance
Shortly after my second son was born, my first son was diagnosed with Autism. Son #2, Sam, had a heart condition requiring open heart surgery at 6 months, and so his regularly scheduled immunizations were postponed. After researching potential links between immunizations and onset of autism, I decided to hold off on any further immunizations.
At about 20 months, Sam suffered a head injury requiring stitches we found ourselves standing in our new pediatrician’s office, faced not only with stitches, but the realization that he was susceptible to tetnus. After agonizing, I decided not to immunize that day. The Pediatrician clearly expressed their stance as a “medical group” and handed me a paper on why Dr. Sears’ alternative schedule is not backed by scientific research and could be opening us up to world-wide epidemics, etc. After reading and considering it carefully, I wrote my own rebuttal to this paper:
I have actually never read Dr. Sears’ vaccine book nor have I Looked at his alternative schedule for administering vaccines. I understand the global perspective on the importance of continueing to vaccinate to prevent diseases that are still alive in parts of the world and easily spread especially considering the frequency of world wide travel.
I had my first two children fully vacinated and my third up until he developed symptoms of autism. My fourth was vaccinated up to four months and not after because of heart surgery and the discovery of our other son’s autism.
My own mother was drastically affected as an adult by polio which she contracted in 1952 as an 8 year old. I’ve seen the effects of a disease that we now have eradicated in the US because of vaccines, and I understand the importance of keeping our guard up by continueing to vaccinate for diseases that are no longer present in our country.
That said, I believe this rebuttal to Dr. Bob’s suggested alternative vaccine schedule and related book fails to address the very real fact that A) Every individual body varies in its ability to tolerate and eliminate toxins. B) Children with autism often have additional gastrointestinal, digestive, and other metabolic problems that may inhibit their ability to tolerate and eliminate toxins. At the very least, many of these children have displayed greater intolerance and sensitivity to foods, drugs, and chemicals that typical children tolerate easily. Is it unreasonable to question whether their bodies might also be incapable of handling a typical vaccine schedule?
I am so for evidence-based medical and educational intervention, but would anyone deny that research in the field of autism is still lacking clear explanations and definable results, that even a basic understanding of why it is occuring in such rapidly increasing numbers is not yet fully agreed-upon by the medical and scientific communities, not to mention a definable cause or causes is not yet apparent or universally accepted. The most logical argument I have read so far indicates that there may be a variety of causes (not just immunizations) in individuals who are already genetically susceptible and/or neurologically impaired.
The possibility of a variety of causes or a combination of “triggers” only vague genetic indicators that precede the onset (particularly later-onset) of autism also makes repeatable trials and reliable research an overwhelmingly complex task and well nigh impossible.
My personal arguement against immunizing my second son is based on the research that indicates the increased risk of having a second child with autism. If my second son’s systems are somehow compromised, if there is a possibility that he is unable to tolerate and eliminate toxins that typical children are, I cannot in good conscience take what I see as a gamble on his health by pumping his body with immunizations. I say the same thing about everything and excesses of thisngs that may be harmful or difficult to eliminate to the extent that I am aware: pesticides, artificial coloring and sweeteners, harsh chemicals, soaps, and processed foods, etc.
I recognize that he is at this moment at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, so I am torn. I would like to give the most urgent vaccines first and spaced apart.
If you had a child with autism and were faced with my decisions to immunize my second son, what would you do if you were in my shoes?
At Sam’s follow-up appointment, I finally expressed my conflicts, and asked for a prioritized list of immunizations, which he reluctantly gave me. I was determined to give him one vaccination per visit. Many of the vaccinations come only in a combined form. It’s difficult if not impossible to obtain single-vaccines anymore. We are currently getting his vaccinations in the one-per-visit form in the order he deemed most vital, and not worrying about the ones considered “less vital.”
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