Looking for Information on Infant Vaccines/options/autism Link

J. - I work in tv news so looked up some archive stories because I know we've covered this topic. I copied and pasted the most recent and a longer piece I found, but it is from late 2005. Sorry for typos and format and all that... hope it makes sense, and hope it helps!

THIS IS FROM 5/16/07

In healthwatch this morning...
Researchers say there's no evidence thimerosal ("thigh-mehr-uh-sal")... An ingredient in some older vaccines could be linked to autism.
Thimersal-- a preservative was taken out of vaccines in 2001 amid fears it might be linked to autism.
The ingredient also used to be found in treatments given to some pregnant women at risk for a disease in which the mother's immune system attacks fetal blood cells.
The theory was that fetal brains were especially susceptible to thimerosal ... Perhaps making them more at risk for autism.

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AND THIS IS FROM SOMETIME IN LATE 2005.

Does mercury used as a preservative in childhood vaccines cause Developmental disorders known as autism?
Many scientists say no.
Doctors say no.
The government says no.
But parents... Who say their children were perfectly normal before they Got their shots... Aren't convinced.

Sot - lyn redwood, safeminds (45808)
"by ignoring that this ever happens, they're not getting appropriate Treatment, therefore they don't have an opportunity to recover."

Rates of autism have tripled since the mercury-laced preservative Thimerosal was introduced in the seventies.
But a government review last year found no link.

Sot - dr. Julie gerberding, cdc director
"i can't sit here today and tell you with 100 percent certainty that There's never any association between thimerosal and autism... What we

Can say is the predominate science does not show a link."
This vaccine researcher... Whose daughter is autistic... Joined the cdc, The american medical association and pediatricians urging parents to get Their kids immunized.

Sot - peter hotez, vaccine researcher / father of autistic child
"one thing i'm totally confident about -- rachel's autism had nothing to Do with the vaccine she received."

Six years ago, the fda banned thimerosal in most childhood vaccines.
Some still contain trace amounts but, the government says, not enough to Cause harm.
But flu shots do contain thimerosal.
Congressman and physician dave weldon is sponsoring a bill to eliminate It.

Sot - rep. Dave weldon, r-florida
"it's a known toxic substance... Considered toxic... Something to be Avoided, definitely in childhood vaccines."

Doctors say if worried parents refuse to vaccinate their children -- Diseases like polio and measles could come back... With a vengeance.

The Today Show on NBC just had Dr. Nancy Sniderman(sp?) on a few weeks ago discussing this very topic. She stated that the vaccines they make today no longer have mercury in them so they are perfectly safe for children and that there is no evidence with being linked to autism. You can probably visit the website for more information.Hope this helps.

A. S.

Hi J.!
I am a mother of 3 girls and my youngest is 11 months. I can tell you that I have been researching vaccines for 10 years and have found more information AGAINST vaccines than FOR vaccines. My 11 year old had her first vaccines when she was a baby and developed a condition called alopecia. The pediatrician said unfortunately, it was a "rare side effect" of vaccines. She is now 11 and has to wear a Locks of Love wig. She is completely bald with not much hope of growing hair. It was then I started researching vaccines. All 3 of my girls have soemthing called a "religious exemption" with the Health Department. They are not required to have shots for school...just that "RE" form. I would NEVER pump the poisons in my baby now knowing the facts. Go on Google and do your research. I have a lot of websites that I have found a lot of info, if you would like, I can send them to you. I found I am not alone in this mission against vaccines. Hundreds of thousands of parents are finally researching and finding that its more the Government pumping these poisons into our children for MONEY. All around money! Ok, off my soap box...as you can see...I am very passionate about this and really want to get the word out! And by the way, YES it is completely optional, I was fortunate to find a pediatrician that supports my decision on vaccines. Most won't, as that is where a lot of their income comes from.
God Bless!

Hi J.,

I would defiantly get the vaccines. You don't want your child to get any of those illnesses.

Tallahassee Pediatrics is where I take my son. They are wonderful. I don't think I have every had to wait more than 20 min. That was even for a work in. Good luck!

You can choose to not immunize your baby. I have several friends who have opted out of this. I worked for a school and you can send them to school without immunizations. Check with your doctor when the time comes for what paper work you will need.
I personally choose to immunize because to me the benefits outweighted the risks. Check out any books from Dr. William Sears on this subjiect. I really like him. Best to you and your new baby.

Hot topic, that is for sure. They don't use thermisol in most vaccines anymore. There is still some in the flu shot, but there are flu shots you can ask for without it. It is such a small amount, you get more toxins in you body when you use chemicals to clean you house! My personal opinion is this: Why do we have the choice nowadays??
We have a choice because of the vaccines. We are so lucky that we don't have to watch our children die of these diseases because these amazing vaccines are around. We can now pick about what is in them and are they holistic? Look at the death rate of children before them and be so thankful! If too many people start going this route, we are going to see these diseases come back.
No one truely knows what causes autism no mater what they say. I would say to read information on each vaccine and make your choice. Don't do an across the board decission. If you want to skip chicken pox and ear infections, fine. If it is something that would have saved a child's life years ago, I would get it. Good luck with whatever you choose!

The other poster is right..thermisol is not in vaccines any longer. As a parent with an Autistic child, I feel that the link is not in the vaccines, but in the timing of discovering autism. This happens to be right around the time we all get our children vaccinated. I would do the safe route...get one shot at a time...there is no set way to vaccinate, and only a recommended schedule, so do them slowly, and in your own time.
These diseases still exist, and we let people from all over the world in every day. It just takes one to start an epidemic again. Pay attention to which ones your child is given. Do not let them talk you into more than one at once, and be sure to keep good records, so you do not over vaccinate. But I have vaccinated all of my children, and only one is on the spectrum. I do not attribute it to vaccines.
This is a hot topic in many forums between parents. Some will say go for it, some say not. Some say there is a connection, some say there is none. This has been debated in the scientific community for over 10 years. *I* feel that its safer to vaccinate my kids, than have them get the disease. Remember--*WE* were the one who got all the vaccines with thermisol in it...and how many adults do you know with Autism??? *WE* were the ones who got the most "crap" in our shots...A lot has been taken out of the ones we give our children now.
If you are in the Jacksonville area, you may want to go with a holistic pediatrician like Caroline Ceron or Valerie Miles..they are great and both hold an M.D. as well..

The following FDA webpage has information on the lack of a causal relationship between thimerasol and autism (and other developmental disorders) as well as a table of vaccines, their manufacturers and the amount if any of thimerasol contained in them: http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

That said, sure it's possible to refuse to immunize your child. You can always refuse medical treatment. However, your child may not be admitted to schools, preschools or playgroups that require up-to-date immunizations for the safety of all the children.

This is just one of the many possible (though not sceintifically proven) "causes" of Autism out there.

It is absolutely optional to vaccinate or not with any and all vaccines. You are so smart to do your research before your baby comes. The links to autism and other problems are crazy. Check out Mothering.com, they are full of useful info on the topic and there are great, knowledgable moms in the vaccine forum to ask specific questions.

Most vaccines do not have thermisol or mercury in them, you can check with your pediatrician to make sure he/she uses the mercury free ones, mine did. I evaluated the same issues when I had my first daughter. I came to the conclusion that she was getting a mercury free vaccine and that was better then the risks of her getting some serious illness that could have been prevented by being vaccinated and dying from it. You need to do your own evaluation of pros and cons and make a pediatrican apart of your conversations. You need to think about the possibility of your son catching something that he should have been vaccined for and how that will affect him as well. There are some serious and life threating diseases out there that our children are vaccinated for. There were epidemics before and a lot of people died from them before these vaccines were around. I wasn't willing to take that chance with my daughters. i don't know how I could have lived with myself if something life threatening happened to them and could have been prevented with a simple vaccine. It is optional to immunize your child but your child will not be able to go to daycare or public school when he is old enough. If you are going to home school then I think you are fine.

They other women have given great advice. I just wanted to add one thing. Flu shots. That is the only thing I opted out of and it worked until my daughter started preschool. She got sick twice this year during the spring and so did I. Worst flu I've ever had. I should have gotten a flu shot. Despite that she's a very health child and rarely gets sick. As a matter-a-fact she got through it faster than I did. If you live in Tallahassee, Dr. Bunnell with Professional Park Pediatrics is a great doctor. The whole office is great. Good luck!

J.

They stopped using the perservative back in 2000. They are now all perserve free. There's no need to worry with immunization. Your child could be worse off without their shots. The only one that carried that perserve was the MMR 1 and 2 shot. I know this because I have two cousins now both 11 and 12 with autism. I researched before having my sons get their shots. Hope this helps.