I am so saddened that the medical community is trying to force people to get vaccines. All vaccines should be voluntary. I happen to know someone who got polio from a vaccine (personally)… and have heard of kids in playgroup circles that went in for vaccines in routine doctor check-ups and within hours or days, were autistic. This isn’t science fiction, folks. These were (key word: were) happy, healthy, normal kids that were turned into silent, non-social introverts by mercury-based vaccines.
I gave my kids vaccines when they were younger, yes… but after research, I felt that I would rather play it safe and just try to eat healthy, exercize, wash our hands and pray. You can lower your chances for illness more by healthy prevention than you can with drugs and vaccines. God gave you an immune system and is still in control today. Sure, we get the off-and-on sinus allergy attacks when pollen is thick enough to cut with a knife in the air outside (like today). We don’t, however, go to the doctor more than once a year on average. I haven’t been for myself because of an illness in over two or three years. My kids each went to the doctor once last year. For my daughter, it was for eczema – not illness. We even try to avoid medicine if we can manage to suffer through the snotty noses and sore throats that happen once or twice a year with seasonal allergies. After all, you aren’t feeling bad because of a lack of pharmaceuticals in your blood-stream. I don’t take flu shots, either. The last time I took one, I got the flu. It was the last time I had the flu. I figured if one of the only times I got the flu was when I took the shot… I wanted NOTHING to do with the shot.
The media every year is quick to sensationalize flu season. Each year it seems that there is a shortage of shots – causing mass panic to erupt and hordes of fear-controlled masses to bang down the doors at every local clinic in town. What most people don’t think about is WHO the PANIC benefits: the drug companies, plain and simple. What in the world would they do with all those batches of vaccine if no one bought them? It is in their best interest for the flu to continue to ravage the world. Us sick makes them rich.
Another vaccine has recently begun to make headlines in Texas and elsewhere; the HPV Vaccine. Below is information about the HPV Virus and some reasons why there is such a controversy regarding the governor making it mandatory for 11 year old girls to get treated before they are allowed in Texas schools.
From the HSLDA Website (italics and bolding are all my additions):
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a group of viruses that have about 100 different strains or types. Over 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted. While most HPV infections are dealt with by the body’s immune system and no symptoms occur, there are several types that can cause cervical cancer or genital warts. For more information about HPV see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s online information.
Those who are most likely to get HPV are those who have sex at an early age, have many sex partners, or have a sex partner who has had many partners.
However, the only FDA approved HPV vaccine, Gardasil, is not a cure for HPV or cervical cancer. Instead the vaccine seeks to prevent the four specific types of HPV (6, 11, 16, and 18) which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. There is currently no cure for these sexually transmitted viruses. Even the FDA and the CDE admit the only “cure” is abstinence before marriage and a monogamous relationship during marriage.
There have been no long-term studies of the HPV vaccine. Children in the 9-year-old age group have been monitored for only 18 months and there have been no studies on the carcinogenic risk or the general toxicity of the vaccine itself. From July 2006 to the end of 2006, there were 385 unique reports of adverse events filed with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) following the receipt of the vaccine. Visit the National Vaccine Information Center for a full review of these reports.
I am a homeschool mom, so my daughter won’t have to take this shot to be educated in my home. However, I feel really sorry for the other kids who are going to be harassed into getting vaccinated soon if nothing is done to help get this mandate vetoed. Texas parents are up in arms about the vaccinations for an array of different reasons (medical, ethical, privacy and parental rights are a few). Just click over and take a look at these informational posts by Keel the Pot, Home Where They Belong, and Mama Says.
Here are just two of the cases in which adverse reactions to the vaccine were reported. They are unspeakably scary to read. Imagine if this were your child!
From the National Vaccine Information Center:
Case record – 267171 – (13 y/o) – INfluenza vaccine and Human Papilloma VIrus vaccines given November 10 about 11:45 AM. Patient woke up with numbness on right side of face on November 11. Presented to Emergency Room on November 12 with Bells Palsy of right side of face. Unable to move right side of face. Unable to close right eye. Previously healthy, no symptoms on day of vaccine administration. Symptoms: Paralysis, facial paralysis, paresthesia.
Case report – 269328 – (13 y/o) – Information has been received from a physician concerning a 13 year old female who on 22-Nov-2006 was vaccinated with HPV rL1 6 11 16 18 VLP vaccine (yeast). A few days later she had cold symptoms and was prescribed azithromycin (ZITHROMAX). A few days after that the patient developed hives and was prescribed amoxicillin. A few days later the patient was hospitalized and diagnosed on 01-Dec-2006 with Guillian-Barre Syndrome. The patient sought unspecified medical attention. At the time of the report, it was [reported truncated] Symptoms: Guillain-Barre Syndrome, urticaria (hives)
From the NINDS site:
What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
Guillain-Barré (ghee-yan bah-ray) syndrome is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases, the disorder is life-threatening and is considered a medical emergency. The patient is often put on a respirator to assist with breathing. Most patients, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some continue to have some degree of weakness. Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally, surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome. The disorder can develop over the course of hours or days, or it may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. No one yet knows why Guillain-Barré strikes some people and not others or what sets the disease in motion. What scientists do know is that the body’s immune system begins to attack the body itself, causing what is known as an autoimmune disease. Guillain-Barré is called a syndrome rather than a disease because it is not clear that a specific disease-causing agent is involved. Reflexes such as knee jerks are usually lost. Because the signals traveling along the nerve are slower, a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test can give a doctor clues to aid the diagnosis. The cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the spinal cord and brain contains more protein than usual, so a physician may decide to perform a spinal tap.
Take NOTE: Between July and December (just six months), they already had nearly 400 adverse reactions to the HPV Vaccine on record. Those aren’t just reactions. Those are little girls – little girls whose lives are being toyed with.
More from the National Vaccine Information Center:
“If only 1 to 4 percent of all adverse events associated with GARDASIL vaccination are being reported to VAERS, there could have been up to 38,000 health problems after GARDASIL vaccination in 2006 which were never reported,” said Fisher. “How many girls are really having short-term health problems associated with getting this vaccine that could turn into long-term neurological or immune system disorders? And how many will go on to develop fertility problems, cancer or damage to their genes, all of which Merck admits in its product insert that it has not studied at all? We just don’t know enough to be mandating GARDASIL for anyone, much less vulnerable 11 to 12 year old girls entering puberty.”
I think the safest route would be to teach kids abstinence and not shoot them up with vaccines that could give them nasty side-effects. Of course, this is what works for our family. I don’t want my daughter to end up with Guillain-Barré or facial paralysis (or worse) just because I was afraid that one day she might catch something else. I certainly don’t want to give her pills or vaccines that speak clearly to the fact that I don’t TRUST that she can remain sex-free until she gets married, either. I’ll pass on the HPV Vaccine – no thanks! If it becomes mandatory in public schools for 11 year old girls to get this vaccine… I think you’ll see the homeschool ranks and private school attendees swell to an all-time high next school year. And they should!
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Jude says
I lead a cemetery tour each year for the 3rd graders in my town. We talk about what people died from which they no longer have to worry about. My grandfather and his brother contracted polio, for example, and although my grandfather recovered with a lifelong limp, his brother died after 3 days. I love telling the kids when there is an illness they no longer have to worry about because of vaccinations. I know the HPV vaccination is controversial, because to some people it implies an endorsement of premarital sex, but to me vaccinations, which can have deleterious side effects, are wonderful. Smallpox–gone from the world. Polio–no problem in the States. No fear of lockjaw if you step on a rusty nail. My son, who is asthmatic, and could die if he contracted the flu, is less likely to get the flu because of the vaccination. I had measles, Rubella, and mumps, but my kids will never have to experience them. Pregnant women and their babies are safer because most kids won’t get Rubella. Since my asthmatic son suffered complications from chickenpox which led to him being hospitalized, I would have been quite happy to get him a vaccination to prevent that illness as well.
Corey says
Is there any proof that the vaccine actually caused the autism?
Here, in Ontario, Canada, students have to have their medical records up-to-date or they will be suspended from school unless they have a reason.
Personally, I have not had a flu shot in a long time, but when you are around those who most at risk, such as young children, seniors and weak immune systems, you should get the shot.
As far as HPV, you still can get sexually transmitted diseases through “assumed” monogamous marriages.
Getting a shot or medicine for a medical reason is neccessary or you could end up in the hospital.
Where I am concerned about medical treatment is when doctors give pills out for psychological treatment; depression, ADD and ADHD.
I know you think that being brought up morally right will prevent your children from having sex before marriage and getting into trouble.
But Gregory Paul did a study that suggests that higher rates of belief in a creator correlate with a higher rates of homicide, juvenile and and early adult mortality, teen pregnancy and abortion compared to those living in secularism society.
Anonymous says
I won’t give my daughter the HPV vaccine. I wouldn’t have gotten my kids the chicken pox vaccine but I talked to everyone from the local nurse to the head secertary of the state health dept and I was forced to for them to receive speech therapy (they were 4 and 3 at the time of their shots!)
I think there is not enough study behind the vaccines to mandate them. What is it doing to these girls? Not just their helth but also their confidence and self-esteem.
I am not unaware. I realize no matter my intentions my daughter will probably have sex before she gets married (my son too) but I hope I give them enough self-respect and maturity for them to insist on a “raincoat.”
BTW thank you so much for your blog it has led me to Konos and I hope to inspire my DH to let me continue with it as the kids get bigger.
Mia
Judy Aron says
Great post Spiritbee..
HPV stands for
Help Pay for Vioxx….
It’s a scam to raise money to pay for their lawsuits and the daughters of this nation will be used as their guinea pigs!
They do not know if it will cause infertility
They do not know if it will cause birth defects
They do not know if it will be effective after 4 years, or if kids will need booster shots
It will cause stronger HPV viruses to mutate and develop just like the flu and other viruses
They have admitted their testing is incomplete, and they only tested it on about 200 preteens (4% of their test group).
It will make them truckloads of money.
Donna C (homeschoolblogger.com/donnac) says
Hey, there, Sprittibee! Thanks for the comments on my blog about my Friday Column! It’s nice to know that others like what I’ve written. I was so excited to find that Lindenberry juice at IKEA! (On my one & only visit, so far ~ LOL)
Great post here–totally agree with you. They OK a drug much too quickly and we don’t know what’s going to happen down the road. Not to mention giving drugs earlier and earlier to children. I don’t know why so , either–we’re all so created differently, why is this so hard to imagine that it could happen? People react differently to various things, why not to vaccines?
Anyhow, wanted to jump on over here and give you a “Hi-dey Ho, Neighborette!” ;o)
Heather (Sand Sea and School) says
From an autistic Mom- I couldnt agree more (and so do the majority of Emma’s friends!)
Thanks for sharing your heart!
Heather (Sand Sea and School) says
PS- my daughter, Emma Grace is autistic, not me! 🙂
ANTI Vaccine Blog says
If one thoroughly investigates this subject — and it deserves investigation — then they will find that vaccination has more ot do with profit and a flawed medical ideology than health.
May I suggest an excellent place to start? http://www.novaccine.com has over 4,000 scientific and media citations catalogued to learn about vaccines from a non-medical point of view. Ingredients, Conditions/Reactions, and Specific Vaccines; it’s all there.
Know exactly what chemcials vaccines are made of and read testimonials from others who share similar views.
Dan Schultz
cindy says
Great post, Heather. Girl, you sure put some thought into your posts!
I’m not anti-vaccination. I’ve had them and my kids have had theirs. However, this HPV stunt is blantantly politically driven.
This is no conspiracy, though, it’s simply business and politics strolling hand-in-hand as usual.
This time they’re running a little too fast and methinks have tripped over themselves.
Peace,
Cindy.
Sheri says
Great post!!
As you probably know my son entered his own little world the same day he had his 6 month shots. He’s doing awesome now, but I never know what his next breath is going to bring.
I find it interesting that in the 50’s there were 4 vaccinations routinely given (diptheria, tetanus, pertussis and smallpox), now a child may receive as many as 15 vaccinations (the previous 4, Measles, mumps, rubella, DTP, HPV, Hib, Hep B, Chicken Pox, IPV, PCV, and in some cases Hep A.)
I do admit, I don’t think vaccines are 100% to blame. I think these boys (and girls) who wind up on the austism spectrum had something in them that the shots brought out…but maybe it we had just delayed the shots a year or two, they would have had time to build up the proper immunities.
Sprittibee says
Jude – I certainly am glad that many childhood illnesses are mainly a thing of the past. I do know that vaccines have helped mankind. However, I believe that like much of society and even some of our own government, the medical community is corrupt in some branches. Pharmaceutical Companies and Bioengineering (pharming) are two of my biggest pet peeves of late.
I believe that it is WAY too early to start pumping kids full of this particular vaccine… and while I don’t think anyone should be denied the right to vaccinate, I also believe that whoever chooses to should be able to opt out. It is your life – and the government shouldn’t be telling you how to use it/ spend it/ live it. I am big on small government.
My kids had the vaccine for chicken pox. My son caught it anyway. Who knows, maybe it was a milder case? I had chicken pox pretty bad and am OK today. I bet if you asked my friend who caught Polio and walks crumpled over with a walker or cane if she is glad her mom chose to vaccinate her – she would say NO. That is all I ask of the medical community… the right to say NO, well-tested vaccines (not just vaccines that are being thrown at the public without enough studies), and HONESTY.
Corey – Yes, there is much interesting information out there on autism and mercury. Check out Google and see what you find. Here in the USA, kids are also forced to take shots before they can go to school. HPV Vaccine is just not one of those requirements – YET. Neither is the flu shot, although many DO get it.
I agree that cheating (adultery) can give you undesirable party-favors to take home to your wife/husband. I have a friend who has HPV that has two little boys, so I know about this rather well. Most all of my cousins, step-sisters and many friends have had to go through the perils of divorce. My husband and I both come from divorced families as well. Knowing that divorce is at an all-time high, I still wouldn’t give the vaccine to my kid.
We are not shot-squeamish in our family, either; well, at least I’m not. I took allergy shots for 7 straight years and my mom had to take diabetic shots in front of me all my life. I don’t care one iota about being stuck (with a shot needle that is). We do get medical care when we need it – believe me. I LOVE me some anesthesiologist. The one that took care of me while I was in labor was my hero of the moment.
I agree with you that ADD and ADHD is grossly over-diagnosed and over-medicated. I’m reading a great book about it right now – “The Mislabeled Child”. I am probably a mild-to medium case of ADD myself. My son probably is, too. We don’t medicate. Well… unless you consider chocolate and coke drugs?! We pray and try to do the best we can to avoid common pitfalls and distractions. This is another reason why I feel my kids are better off homeschooled. I might HAVE to medicate them if they were in a “normal” school setting.
I would completely disagree with you on the “higher rates of belief in a creator” creating violent tendencies and such (at least where Christianity is concerned). Christianity really is the religion of peace. I know that Christians are sinners like the rest of the world… so there’s no argument that we all need grace. I would also hesitate to believe that many of the people polled were “truly Christians” in the study you mentioned – even if they claimed it. There are lots of people who claim to be Christians but do not live by the Word. Shoot… the people of Sweden are listed as Lutherans, but they only do so because their family lineage is kept by the church. Many of them don’t even believe in God. What a person says and does must be tested against the Bible and what it says we SHOULD say and do – as Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruits“.
Mia – If you love your daughter and entrust her in prayer to the Lord, you will be amazed at what she can accomplish through His power. There is a whole abstinence movement that is sweeping the nation. Don’t write her off just yet. Welcome to KONOS. I know you’ll love it! Tell Wade and Jessica I sent you.
Judy – HA! Help Pay for Vioxx. I hadn’t heard that one yet. Yes, I agree with you that they are really using the young girls in this nation. And I agree that the truckloads of money are what they are thinking of first.
Hey Donna! Your homeschool advice is amazing. I just love your stuff on the Front Porch. I couldn’t believe they gave this HPV to a one year old already. How sick is that?! Hi-dey Ho back atcha!!! Enjoy your lingonberry juice!
Heather – Thanks for sharing your story about Emma with me! I tried to add a link and photo to my sidebar and haven’t had much luck yet… give me time, I’ll get it up there!
Anti-Vaccine Blog – Thanks for the link!
Cindy – I’m not hard-core anti-vaccination, either. I just like the freedom to be if I want to be… and don’t want that taken away by “Big Brother”. Amen to politically driven… that is exactly what Gov. Goodhair is up to with this one… I’m thinking there was a Hummer and a nice little vacation home in it for him. Too bad since he’s really been a friend to homeschoolers.
Sheri – Wow, I didn’t know that Gavin (is it?) had vaccine reactions!!! I’m so glad he has been able to come out of it for the most part. Thanks for your comment. 🙂 How is the new blog-space coming along? Do you like it? I have toyed with the idea of starting up a mirror site and then switching over… I just hate to mess with a good thing that ‘ain’t broke.
Anonymous says
I am so glad that you posted an article about your personal views on vaccination. I am dealing with people pressuring me to have my son vaccinated- when 1 in 166 children have autism, and I find that amazing when that number has jumped from thirty years ago- here are some interesting links for those who challenge your decision.
http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/vaccine.htm
and
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_10110.asp
And every mother in the world would INSTANTLY vaccinate their children if they knew it was an absolute cure all.
Ed Darrell says
1. There is no such thing as a “mercury-based” vaccine. Mercury used to appear in some vaccines in trace concentrations, as a preservative. Gardasil has no mercury.
2. HPV is a skin contact-spread virus. No sex necessary. Virgins can get it. Not even necessary to have contact in “private parts.”
3. The HPV vaccine has been tested 8 ways from heaven. There are risks — but frankly, the risks are less than going without the vaccine for most people. Ladies? 80% of you will get one of the HPV viruses that cause cervical cancer by the time you’re 50. Don’t take my word for it; follow the links from my earlier post on Gardasil at my blog (the post is also linked at my tribute to Heather Burcham, posted today).
3. While you’re looking at bias, note that none of the sites mentioned against the vaccine are unbiased.
4. Cervical cancer kills.
Ed Darrell says
By the way, you’ve been following the stories on the genes isolated as probable causes of autism, yes?
Anonymous says
I agree with you 100%. I started vaccinating my older child… but after her 6 month dose, she developed a hard lump in her leg at the site of the vaccine. It remained for a couple of weeks. I then did some research and deicided the same things you have. It seems to me that the dr’s would lose a lot of “business” if they really admitted the risks of vaccines. I think it’s their “bread and butter”. Just think… every time a baby is born, it’s a guaranteed office visit, every so often, until the child reaches a certain age. $$$$
It’s a guaranteed clientele. And, if they admitted now that there are bad risks with vaccines.. the world would slip into a panic… lawsuits galore!! They will NEVER admit it in my opinion. Parents have to do their own research and decide for themselves.
Shirley says
I know that mothers like you think that they are doing the right thing by not vaccinating your children, but what about all the cases of whooping cough now? Have you ever had to tell the mother of a new born baby, that is too young for a vaccination, that you are sure she will get over the death of her child because it caught whooping cough from an unvaccinated child and is now dead? How can you justify that? And now all the cases of meningitis that are popping up all over the country, how do you justify that? If simple vaccines had been administered, this would not be happening. How do you tell yourself that you are doing the right thing when babies that are too young for vaccines catch these dreaded diseases and die? Most of these diseases were about wiped out in this country before one idiot doctor in England got published in a medical journal and this hoopla with autism started. Do you know that that doctor has been barred from ever practicing medicine again, his license has been revoked, for years now, and he almost did jail time because of his dishonesty with people like you? His “studies” were conducted on a select few clients that already had autism and he lied and faked the results to arrive at his conclusions. How many babies have to die? If you not vaccinating your children only hurt your children, I would not say a word, kill your own children. But you are taking other children to their death because of your decisions. Think that over the next time you brag about not vaccinating your children. Do the research you talk about, look up that doctor and read how he faked things and now all of you people thing he is somewhat of a holy grail. He lied to every one of you. No child has ever just gotten the shots and immediately been declared autistic. Those genes were already in that child. Think this through before you get back on your soapbox. Do your research.
Heather says
Actually, you are wrong. It has happened that a child never recovered from a vaccine and his parents won a court case about it in Italy. Link: http://www.autisable.com/763156566/court-declares-a-vaccine-caused-autism-in-1-case/
AND… that was just on the first page of Google. I’m sure that there are others. I have talked personally with mothers who have told me that they believe the MMR vaccine was what caused their child to have Aspergers or Autism. These mothers know their kids. They aren’t all making things up.
My FOUR kids have had some vaccines. They ALL have gotten whooping cough vaccine (Pertussis). Even my younger kids (who are now 1 and 3). I am on a very SLOW vaccine schedule. I do not vaccinate in the timeframe that the western medical charts suggest. I do a shot here, a shot there, in a slow and easy spread-out fashion to allow my children’s immune system to have extra time to adapt. I also wait until AFTER their speech, motor skills, and personality develops when they are babies (3-4) before they get the vaccine that is suspected of causing Autism (the MMR). I do my best to feed them vitamins and am pretty careful about their germ contact. We homeschool, so they don’t go to daycare. Thankfully, they have been pretty healthy kids – the worst thing either of them have had is salmonella – which was attributed to a Mexican Restaurant we ate at according to the Health & Human Services worker that talked with us after our hospital stay.
The HPV vaccine was what this post was about. It’s a sexually transmitted disease. Did you even read the research cited on the post? I do my research. I already know about the doctor that caused the Autism scare. I read about his being barred from practice. There’s more evidence for problems with shots than just him. Just recently, a mixture of medicines – steroids – given for back pain and joint issues was spreading a live fungal meningitis and has killed 21 people to date. There are real reasons to be on guard against modern medicine. Look at how corporations are wanting to prevent us from knowing what is in our food by allowing labels to not list if a food is genetically altered.
We try to live as health as we can. We try to eat right, get enough sleep, drink water, exercise, and use the least invasive or chemical remedies as we can… but we also make wise choices about when and if medical intervention is necessary. I’m not opposed to doing the best thing for my kids if it means turning to western medicine and going with a doctor’s recommendations. My doctor understands and upholds my decision to slow down our vaccine schedule.
You should question everything – do your own research – and do the very best thing you believe is right for your family. As a parent, you love your kids more than the medical or pharmaceutical professionals do. Of course, the more advice you get, the better. But you should be able to take it all with a grain of salt – and figure out what applies for your own family.
Mark Twain once said, “Beware of everything you read in health books; you might die of a misprint.”
sprittibee says
And another young girl damaged by the Gardasil vaccine: http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-10-18/gardasil-destroys-girls-ovaries-it-should-have-been-predicted/