Vaccines are a hot topic of debate, especially in the Autism community.   I have encountered many families over the years that revealed to me that their child lost skills after vaccinations. Some of these children have diagnoses of Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech/Congenital Motor and Speech Apraxia, Epilepsy, and Sensory Processing Disorder.  This is part 6 in a series detailing what is happening to our children when 1 in 6 has a developmental disability.  

After listening to these parents over the years, and having experienced medical and health issues with my own daughter, I set out to learn more about vaccines. Let me first state that my daughter has had most of her immunizations. I did not start researching vaccines until about 4 years ago when it was recommended she receive the HPV vaccine. I, like many other parents, just assumed vaccines were safe and that doctors knew best. Now that I have the information, I’m not so sure anymore.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services list all the reasons why vaccines are important. They also provide an Ingredients of Vaccines – Fact Sheet. Some of the ingredients listed in those vaccines are alarming. For a complete list of ingredients, click here.  For instance, many of the chemicals used to produce vaccines include:

Suspending fluid – sterile water, saline, or fluids containing protein

Preservatives and stabilizers – albumin, phenols, glycine

Adjuvants or enhancers that improve the effectiveness of the vaccines. These include aluminum, antibiotics, formaledyde, monosodium glutamate, and thimerosal (mercury-containing preservative that is added to vaccines that contain more than one dose to prevent contamination and growth of potentially harmful bacteria)

Culture material – used to grow the virus or bacteria (i.e chicken egg protein)

Here are some questions (I have read on various blogs ) and Answers about vaccines:

Are they safe?

Unfortunately, that's up to you to decide.  You really do have to research this on your own and make an informed decision. As consumers we will research the latest technology options, but we don’t take the time to research what’s being injected into our bodies, or the effects various medications have on our body. It really is something to think about.  Here is a list of the vaccine manufacturers inserts.

I had vaccines as a child and I didn't have any problems.  Why all this talk about vaccine safety?

If you know someone from the Autism community, you have heard about the Autism vaccine connection.  From what I have learned, most parents whose child was vaccine injured, felt it was the perfect storm.  The perfect storm in that their child was sick at the time of vaccination, they (or someone in their immediate family) had a history of vaccine reaction, a family history of autoimmune disease, and/or gut issues (reflux, jaundice, colic, etc.)  There are some things to consider before vaccinating your child.  According to the National Vaccine Information Center, they have a list of "What You Need to Know Before You Vaccinate".  Here are the questions from, "If You Vaccinate, Ask 8":

1.  Am I or my child sick right now?
2.  Have I or my child had a bad reaction to a vaccination before?
3.  Do I or my child have a personal or family history of vaccine reactions, neurological disorders, severe allergies, or immune system problems?
4.  Do I know the disease and vaccine risks for myself or my child?
5.  Do I have full information about the vaccine's side effects?
6.  Do I know how to identify and report a vaccine reaction?
7.  Do I know that I need to keep a written record, including the vaccine manufacturers name and lot number, for all vaccinations?
8.  Do I know I have the right to make an informed choice?

The reality of it is, our children are given so many more vaccines now than ever before.  With the injection of these chemicals into our children, who may already have compromised immune systems, how can we not consider the possibility that this is contributing to an increase in childhood diseases and illnesses?

It's the law that my child needs his/her vaccines, right?

No. Most states have religious, philosophical, and/or medical exemptions. The one most widely used is religious exemption. No, you don’t have to be of a specific denomination or attend church on a regular basis. You may just feel that God created human beings with a perfect immune system and that the human body is meant to fight infections and heal itself. Simple as that.  Click here for a list of exemptions offered by each state.

How do I know if my child has a reaction to a vaccine?

According to the National Vaccine Information Center, the following symptoms may occur within hours, days or weeks following vaccination:

Pronounced swelling, redness, heat or hardness at the site of the injection;
Body rash or hives;
Shock/collapse;
High pitched screaming or persistent crying for hours;
Extreme sleepiness or long periods of unresponsiveness;
Twitching or jerking of the body, arm, leg or head;
Crossing of eyes;
Weakness or paralysis of any part of the body;
Loss of ability to roll over, sit up or stand up;
Loss of eye contact, or awareness or social withdrawal;
Head banging or onset of repetitive movements (flapping, rubbing, rocking, spinning);
High fever (over 103 F)
Vision or hearing loss;
Restlessness, hyperactivity or inability to concentrate;
Sleep disturbances that change wake/sleep pattern;
Joint pain or muscle weakness;
Disabling fatigue;
Loss of memory;
Onset of chronic ear or respiratory infections;
Violent or persistent diarrhea or chronic constipation;
Breathing problems (asthma);
Excessive bleeding (thrombocytopenia) or anemia.

The National Vaccine Information Center goes on to say that not all symptoms following vaccination are necessarily caused by the vaccine.  But, it cannot be automatically ruled out that the symptoms are not related to the vaccine.  It is important to report any and all reactions to your doctor so it can be recorded in your permanent record.   Any changes in physical, mental, or emotional behavior that occurs following a vaccination, should be reported to VAERS.  It is also important to stop all vaccinations until it has been determined that the reactions that occurred were not the result of the vaccine.

What should I do if I feel my child had a reaction to a vaccine?

Contact your doctor and provide a detailed description of the reaction (changes in physical, mental, or emotional behavior).
Report your experience to NVIC's Vaccine Reaction Registry.  They will provide you with resources to get you the answers you need.  They also act as a watchdog to ensure that your doctor reported the vaccine reaction to VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System).

Do I have to have all the recommended vaccines at the same time?

No.  There are alternative schedules for vaccines.  Dr. Sears alternative vaccine schedule is the most well known.  For additional information on alternative vaccine schedules, and how to switch from a traditional to an alternative schedule, click here.  

How do I file a claim if my child has been injured by a vaccine?

Contact the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) which was created under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.  Click here for a list of vaccines covered under this program, time table for reporting, etc.  

Has anyone ever been compensated for a vaccine injury?  Who pays for it?

By 2010, the U.S. Court of Claims had awarded nearly $2 billion dollars to vaccine victims.  For every vaccination given, $0.75 is put into a fund which provides compensation for vaccine injuries.  

I hope you find this information informative.  Although controversial, I feel it may be a piece of the puzzle that is contributing to the massive increase in childhood diseases and disabilities.  Please take the time to research this information so you can make informed decisions about your child's health.