The families to listen to are those who have been harmed by vaccines, not those who have been lucky enough not to have suffered any obvious harm.  Of course it seems worth it to them.  And the truth is, we don't know if more people are harmed by vaccines than "benefit", because no one in a position of power is even looking at the question in an honest way. - SM

 

http://www.clickonsa.com/ant/health/stories/health-104499920011105-141103.html

 

Parents Spur Immunization Debates

Organization Wants Vaccine Reform

Posted: 2:47 p.m. CST November 5, 2001
Updated: 5:45 p.m. CST November 5, 2001

SAN ANTONIO -- Children receive as many as 16 shots by age 2, and all Texas students must be vaccinated before they start school, but some people believe immunizations are doing more harm than good.

Hannah Robinson, 2 months old, got her first round of shots Monday. Her mother said she believes the shots are necessary.

"I'm not afraid of getting her shots; they're good for her. She needs them," mother Misty Robinson said.

But the parents of Javi Perales, an 8-year-old autistic child, have a different view on vaccinations.

Amparo Perales said Javi's problems began after the boy's second set of baby shots.

"He was having seizures nonstop. He would have 40 seizures in a row," Perales said.

She said that problems escalated with the third round of shots.

Javi's parents blame the vaccines he received.

University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center Dr. Timothy Johns said

"Unfortunately, there's a small group that has been harmed in the process, but we feel it's much smaller than the number who have benefited from the vaccine."

Doctors say there are always risks with vaccinations, but some families like the Robinsons believe immunizations are worth it.

National Vaccine Information Center spokeswoman Barbara Loe Fisher said doctors should not be nonchalant about vaccines.

Javi Perales' Parents Aren't Sure About Vaccinations

The National Vaccine Information Center is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes immunization reform.

"(It) should be about preventing both the disease as well as vaccine reactions, not saying that one is more important than the other," Fisher said.

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged parents not to overreact.

Federal health officials said in most cases, vaccinations benefit infants not harm them.

 

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.