May 1, 2008 9:45 AM
Vaccines - make an informed decision - Part 2
In Vaccines - Part 1, I provided some personal historical perspective to show why parents should not blindly follow the medical establishment's current vaccination protocol. In previous posts I've shared the history of xray machines being used in children's shoe stores before the longterm effects of radiation were understood.
Through all the discussion we've had here about vaccination pros and cons, one thing seems clear: Parents need to take control and make informed decisions, to just say no - or maybe later - to doctors who are following the vaccination status quo.
Here's help from a doctor we can trust: The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, by Dr. Robert Sears, son of Dr. William and Martha Sears.
From Publishers WeeklySears, coauthor of several books in the Sears Parenting series, addresses one of today's most controversial and worrisome questions. Sears' goal is "to give you a balanced look at pros and cons of vaccination so that you can make an educated decision." Sears does not advocate for or rail against vaccination, stating it doesn't have to be an all or nothing decision-there are choices. The first 12 chapters discuss each vaccination in the childhood series, providing explanation of the relative disease, how the vaccine is made and points to assess a child's at-risk level when considering if the vaccine is necessary. Sears does offer guidance for those who are indecisive, offering his opinion based on clinical experience and 13 years of research taken from product inserts, pediatric reference books, articles and databases. Additional chapters illuminate more controversial aspects of the debate, such as how vaccine safety is researched and what the findings are, side effects and how to minimize them, common myths and questions. As always, Sears' tone puts readers at ease as he clearly explains medical terms and elucidates debates.
Other possibilities:
There are others, but if you're browsing around check the publication dates - this is one area where you want current information.
And if you're ready for a radical approach, you might want to read:
Note to believers: be sure to add prayer to the mix of how you approach this issue. We answer to a higher authority than doctors and drug companies.
Posted in Health, Mothering, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers, Vaccines | Permalink
Comments
Another book written by a doctor, which explains in very plain English the pros and cons of many medical routine procedures, including but not limited to, vaccinations, breastfeeding, solid food AND circumcision, is a book called "HOW TO RAISE A HEALTHY CHILD" by Lendon Smith.
This book was very instrumental to me when I realized my children's health, nutrition and medical treatment was MY responsibility, not the pediatrician's.
Posted by: LadyLovas | May 1, 2008 10:59 AM
I gave Dr. Bob Sears' entire book to my family doctor who was great about the whole thing and agrees with my philosophy - I am responsible for my daughters health - NOT the doctor. I make the decisions about what gets done ultimately.
Alternatively, you could give a few pages of copies from the most important parts of the book. I also copied out Dr. Bob's article from Mothering magazine Jan/Feb 2008 and gave it to a doctor we saw when ours wasn't available.
In his book, Dr. Bob has a note to doctors about his work on the book and how he handles patients who want their own vaccination schedule and the risks involved in not vaccinating. He has some great recommendations and I heartily recommend it!
The doctor I talked to at my daughter's 18 month check-up asked me very skeptically, "And what are his qualifications ...?" (Refering to Dr. Robert Sears.) I couldn't believe he had never heard of the Sears. He thought I was nuts with my alternative schedule or at least made me feel very rebellious! I only wanted two shots at a time with low levels of aluminum in those shots, which is laid out in the book.
Posted by: Meg | May 1, 2008 12:11 PM
LadyLovas, I am not sure if it's the book you meant, but the book you linked to is http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345342763/smallbeginningsHow To Raise A Healthy Child In Spite Of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, and I can vouch for it being a WONDERFUL book! I read it after the birth of my first son and wished so hard I'd read it before! I feel certain that if I'd known to avoid induction I could have prevented my c-section and years of trying to convince doctors that I am capable of giving birth! (I have now given birth without induction or c-section three times!)
Posted by: Michelle Potter | May 1, 2008 5:32 PM
Thanks so much for revisiting this and giving us some solid sources of information.
For those of us that have children who have been adversely affected by vaccines, this is a very important conversation. There is no reason to go off either side of the road, as long as there is information and support from viable sources to be shared with our doctors. I think my pediatrician will welcome the information from Dr Sears!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 1, 2008 5:59 PM
Barbara: I read your post on the pros and cons of vaccinating children. I had my children vaccinated before I learned about the use of aborted fetal cell lines in the production of most childhood vaccinations (any vaccination product information sheet containing WI-38, MRC-5, RA273, WI-26, VA4, HEK-293 or PER C6 were developed from fetal cell lines obtained through abortion.) I wanted to let you know about a new company in Seattle that will be offering ethical alternatives. Here is the press release:
For Immediate Release: Feb 29, 2008
Biotech Firm To Provide Ethical Alternatives to Aborted Fetal Vaccines
(Seattle) In a victory for pro-life families around the world, AVM Biotechnology LLC (AVM Biotech) today announced their decision to provide ethical alternatives in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine development.
Dr Theresa Deisher, AVM Biotech Research and Development Director and founder stated, "We will be working to bring commercially available, morally acceptable, vaccines to the US market and to use existing technology to produce new morally certified vaccines. Revenues from the vaccine business will also further the research, development and commercialization of morally certified therapeutics in other areas of medicine as well."
The announcement was an answer to years of hard work and prayers for Children of God for Life, a pro-life organization that has battled to bring moral alternatives to aborted fetal vaccines to the US market for nearly a decade.
"There are no words sufficient to express our deepest gratitude to Dr Deisher and AVM Biotech", noted the group's Executive Director, Debi Vinnedge, who was also named to AVM Biotech's Advisory Board for vaccine development.
While most vaccines and medicines are produced in an ethical manner, several are manufactured using cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue with no competing ethical products available. Vinnedge noted this has left concerned pro-life families in both a difficult and unjust position.
"For too long parents who want to protect their children without compromising their deeply held pro-life and religious beliefs have been coerced into an unnecessary and unjust moral dilemma," she stated. "No one should be forced to choose between these two fundamental human rights."
Both organizations hope that the news will spark members of Congress to move forward with their Fair Labeling and Informed Consent legislation, a bill that would require full disclosure from the pharmaceutical industry whenever aborted fetal or embryonic cell lines are used in medical products.
"Every consumer, whether pro-life in philosophy or not, has the right to know if human fetal cell contaminants are present in the drugs they receive", noted Dr Deisher. "Consumers should be informed and empowered to make the best health care choices for themselves and their families. Surely, if we have the right to know what is in our fast food, we should also have the right to know what is in our medicine."
AVM Biotech intends to further assist in this effort by certifying that its therapeutic products are not discovered, screened, evaluated, produced, or tainted in any way by the use of electively aborted human fetal material, human embryonic material, or any other unethically obtained materials.
Posted by: anne | May 7, 2008 7:55 PM
