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Vaccines are so important! And they DON'T cause Autism.

I was pretty disappointed with the show that aired yesterday on Autism. The hosts/Doctors of the show tried to keep it positive and focus on ways for children to recover or be treated for Autism. However, the underlying and most powerful message was regarding vaccines. And unfortunately, the bias seemed to come across more negatively towards vaccines. I also feel that the Doctors could have been more aggressive in defending immunizations. By being too polite, they came off looking a bit weak in their knowledge (which I know is entirely untrue, as they are definitely qualified and intelligent physicians).

First of all, I would like to say that the American Academy of Pediatrics absence from the show was a big miss. They should have been allowed to be there to defend what has been scientifically proven time and time again: There is no link between, and Vaccines do NOT cause Autism.

Yes, I know that Jenny McCarthy, and the doctors/advocates that she brought with her, had asked that the AAP not be present. So why do you think that is? Come on, we all know that they didn't want the AAP there, because they would have discredited a lot of the stuff that they were saying. Jenny's group's credibility was compromised right from the start, by not allowing the opposing view to also be portrayed with the same emphasis (meaning physical presence).

Unfortunately, the damage is already done, and the goal for the anti-vaccine groups has been accomplished. All it takes is a bit of negative publicity and vaccines are back in the media (and for the wrong reasons again!) It is really counterproductive that bad press makes the most sensational news and I bet the show’s ratings go up too. Hmmm…that’s interesting!

I might as well give a little background on myself, so that you know where I am coming from. I live in Prince Albert, a small city, in the province of Saskatchewan, in Canada. I am a registered nurse as well as a public health nurse. In my job I deal with communicable disease follow up and I administer vaccines on a daily basis. This job gives me a comprehensive understanding of the importance of immunizations (especially being immunized on time!) This job also requires me to be up to date with the latest research and safety procedures.

I know that is very important to follow an evidence-based practice of medicine. We have been taught and also teach our clients the importance of being informed and about getting good information on health issues, especially on the internet. There can be a lot of misinformation out there. You always want to be sure that the sites that are credible and that have claims that have been scientifically proven.

Has anybody actually checked out the Generation Rescue website (in the vaccine section) It says right on the disclaimer: "Please note that we are parents, not doctors. What follows is not medical advice, it is the opinion of parents. Anything written here should be reviewed with a qualified physician. We are not giving you medical advice nor are we qualified to do so". EXACTLY!

Any medical health professional that is qualified and is up to date in their evidence-based practice would never, ever recommend that you delay vaccinating children based on what this site, generation rescue, claims. I cannot believe that the man from generation rescue had the nerve to call on Dr. Stork and Dr. Sears, and accuse them of not being fully informed.

In fact, I will go so far as to say that this Generation Rescue site has been irresponsible in its opinion (and the resulting advice) it has been giving to parents regarding vaccines.

It really scares me to think what would happen if we did not vaccinate our children until 18 months or 2 years old. And what is with this ridiculous idea to go back to the American 1983 immunization schedule? Really? Do they know what vaccines are not included in that outdated schedule? For instance the Hib, Meningitis, and the Pneumococcal vaccines. Do they know how serious and deadly these diseases are? And the old schedule contains OPV, not IPV, do they know why we switched? Good grief!

We have made all these medical advances by creating vaccines that prevent children (and adults) from experiencing excruciating illness, tragedy, and death, and they want us to go back to that? Do these Generation Rescue people realize all the outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases we would have? I don’t even want to think about it!

Bottom line: I cannot stress enough to parents the importance of keeping your child’s immunizations up to date. It will save their lives.

I challenge the producers of the Doctors TV program to do a show on vaccine preventable diseases, just to remind people exactly what we are dealing with here. Too many people of our generation have become complacent because they have no idea what some of these diseases are and what they do to you. Every year Canada has a National Immunization Awareness Week (which was April 25^th to May 2^nd) Does the United States have a National Immunization Week? If you do, why not do a show to coincide with that?

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I felt the doctors were ill prepared for the show. Instead of addressing the issue that only two out of 36 vaccines have been studied, Travis chose to take the comment as a personal attack and acted totally unprofessionally. He was the one yelling - I had to turn down the volumn. In his rant, he provided no statistics, study results, etc. Dr. Sears said more than once that he did not want to see polio come back. Well, that's one out of 36. Having a grandbaby get multiply shots at each visit has been a huge worry to me. Aside from the possible risks, this child is so tramatized that he starts crying and shaking every time they enter the exam room.

Where did Jenny McCarthy get HER medical degree. I know she is a concerned parent, however she is doing more harm than good to other children. I would have preferred to see someone from the American Academy of Pediatrics on the show than Jenny McCarthy. Please have another show on this topic WITHOUT Jenny McCarthy and her gang.

I am really exited by promoting vaccine and make as to belive that vaccine is absolutly perfect and life saver.

do you have a proof scientfically that all vaccination are tasted and side effect free. Can you prove that and post it. You didn't have the benefit of the doubt to think that vaccination could be the problem. May in sask.becouse of your population you might not noticed it, but if you come and visit ontario,canada you would understand the siverity of the problem.

My son , with no family history, become a victim of this injury. And relabled as global delay. So do you think I have no reason to think about vaccination, be in the shoe of the family with different medicl issues and I am sure you will do what it takes to work for you as accurate as possible.

Thank you for all the doctor's tv show who are helping andbringcontroversial issues about AUTISM.

Joshua.

I don't think they were being too polite at all. In fact, I think Travis took the comments too personnally and reacted very inapropriately. If they want to support giving tiny babies 36 various shots in the first year, and PROVE they don't cause a problem, then they have to calmly present that proof. The guest said only two of the 36 have been tested. You did not see any of the doctors produce evidence to the contrary.

thanks for your post, I am from Sask too and totally agree with and one of my children is autistic. I hear my friends saying i'm going to wait to imunize or not do it all, yet my neice has kidney problems that prevent her from being able to be imunized at this time, so she doesn't go places that other kids do becuase she is not imunized at all yet. Autisim isn't the end of the world and vaccines don't cause it, the signs can be so slight in infancy that no one notices until they are more prominent. And i've seen notes come home from pre school and school about whooping cough...Imunization as whole needs to be addressed and left up to the professionals like yourself to educate about..not the scarred wanting to find blame somewhere people.