My Child Has Autism and I Vaccinate | BlogHer

My Child Has Autism and I Vaccinate | BlogHer.

We live in a culture where some people make critical health decisions for their children based on the opinions of self-proclaimed celebrity graduates from "The University of Google." I'm asking you to help right the balance, to ensure that science-based viewpoints counter earnest but misinformed sensationalism in the autism -- and parenting -- communities' information flows.

I know that some people will never vaccinate their kids, no matter the argument or evidence. Herd immunity will compensate and keep the rest of our kids healthy *if* enough other children get vaccinated. That is why it is so important to reach and talk to parents who are still formulating their immunization opinions, to educate ourselves with facts rather than furor, to have the confidence to spread the word about what we know and believe, to tear down the wall of harm that Jenny and co. have erected, and to shout it loud:

There is no proven link between autism and vaccinations! I believe it is my social responsibility to vaccinate my children!

Update March 8, 2010. Following a vile attack on Shannon, her son, and the rest of her family at a blog I will not name or link to, Shannon has given me permission to post this. It is hardly a secret that Squid is Shannon Rosa.  Shannon Rosa is an autism advocate not only for her son and her family, but for all parents of children with autism and all people with autism.  Read her blog at  BlogHer: Shannon Rosa's Blog

Comments

[bensmyson]

My personal responsibility to the health and well-being on my children trump your "social responsibility" hands down. And by the way, there are proven links that vaccines cause severe brain injuries and even death. Recently Merck's Gardasil was found to cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Just in case you aren't familiar with Guillain-Barre, Guillain-Barre syndrome usually begins with weakness, tingling or loss of sensation starting in your feet and legs and spreading to your upper body and arms. In some people, these symptoms begin in the arms or even the face. As the disorder progresses, muscle weakness can evolve into paralysis. Other signs and symptoms may include:

* Difficulty with eye movement, facial movement, speaking, chewing or swallowing
* Severe pain in the lower back
* Difficulty with bladder control or intestinal functions
* Very slow heart rate or low blood pressure
* Difficulty breathing

Most people with Guillain-Barre syndrome experience their most significant weakness within three weeks after symptoms begin. In some cases, signs and symptoms may progress very rapidly with complete paralysis of legs, arms and breathing muscles over the course of a few hours. A potentially deadly complication of Guillain-Barre syndrome is that the weakness or paralysis can spread to the muscles that control your breathing. About 30 percent of the people who have the disorder will require temporary help from a machine to breathe. About 5 percent will die, despite intensive care.

If vaccines are NEVER linked to autism, they still cripple and kill a lot of kids.

Let's see if we can't get some better vaccines.

[Paul Johnson]

I do not believe that because there are way too many stories of children having Autism directly after vaccination. The studies are not balanced. I am an Autism leader and there is definitely a link and why should we wait for "proof" before we are waiting toi save our kids ?

[RtPt]

Guillain-Barré syndrome affects 1 to 2 out of 100,000 people. It can be set off by surgery or vaccinations. The cause of Guillain-Barré is unclear. It usually occurs after the age of twenty. The CDC in 2007 stated they have seen around 2500 reports and 95% of them are "non-serious" out of over 7 million vaccinations. A pre-existing GBS might be “triggered” by the vaccine and very unsubstantial number has been allegedly affected.

The media loves to scare us, it sells. This is not the first time the media has talked about vaccinations causing issues. Autism is another myth by faulty causation. The problem is that many women might suffer because of the misleading reporting.
It might be an interesting topic to see if there was some social engineering behind the scenes by “concerned parties” like religious, political or business groups.

[Madima]

So your children who are not vacinated can spread deadly diseases to our children yet too young for the immunizations. What carries the higher risk?

[Angela]

We don't need people hating us because our children are autistic. We have enough guilt & sadness. We need support. I followed the CDC's vaccine guildlines. I have picture of my son after his 18 month DTAP shot. He lost nearly everything (speech, ability to move his muscles, eye contact) within a week. My boy progressively got worse over the summer of 2007. I had to re-teach him how to walk down the stairs. I must have changed a million diapers. He's still sick & just lost our house. God only knows how we make it through each day! I hope one day he will remember his baby pictures & talk. Pray for us don't hate us.