The Other Cost of the Vaccine-Autism Debate
Author: Empower Autism31 Jan
Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who first concluded that autism and the MMR vaccine were linked, was found guilty of over 30 charges by the General Medical Council last week. He has been on trial for more than two years. You can read the Fitness to Practice Panel documents here:
All over the internet, people are spouting reactions. Clearly, I’m a fan of the internet, and opinion spouting, but tonight I am concerned about the larger effects of this extended controversy.
What has the Vaccine Controversy Cost Us?
The vaccine debate is possibly the most divisive quarrel in the greater autism community (meaning people with autism, and their parents, doctors, and general entourage), and it has sapped a lot of our potential strength. I can’t even imagine the total amount of time and money we have spent researching, writing, analyzing, griping, gossiping arguing, blaming, defending, and promoting different sides of this issue. The fact that most of us who participate in this debate are immensely unqualified to speak scientifically about it does not seem to faze us, and, accordingly, the internet is littered with impassioned statements with little to no academic references.
Meanwhile, while we furiously type un-referenced diatribes, our growing community, which most of us agree is under-supported and poorly understood, has to make do without us. When we spend our energy pointing fingers at each other and howling about the idiocy and fraudulent nature of each other’s arguments, we lessen our potential as a united force for good.
I understand that many people feel THEIR vaccine argument just MIGHT be saving incoming children either by keeping them from being vaccinated, or by maintain herd-immunity, and I acknowledge the possibility of this kind of contribution. However, I want to point out that when we non-researchers put our energy towards creating empowered, positive attitudes and programs in our communities (see a list below for ideas), we aren’t gambling with our efforts. We can be reasonably assured that we are contributing positively in a community which can’t afford to waste any energy.
5 Responses for "The Other Cost of the Vaccine-Autism Debate"
I’ve recently been learning more about Autism and ASDs. Generally, I’ve found it confusing to learn about the Wakefield debate because there are so many strong opinions regarding the vaccination issue. I still don’t understand it, but your post makes a great deal of sense. A great deal could be accomplished if people spent their energies toward a common, productive goal as apposed to arguing about something which we may never truly find an answer.
I wish everyone connected to the autism community could read this this entry and take your important message to heart. If 1 in 150 children are on the spectrum that is at least 1 adult in 150 families, in reality perhaps several, advocating for that child. Imagine the power of that vast group of advocates if we all worked together!
Two videos on You Tube called “autism spectrum seems out of control” and “autism epidemic out of control.” Quite interesting. Good sources regarding why there is such debate surrounding autism..now the debate is over the proposed dsm 5 which wants to put aspergers and pdd nos, etc…all in the same catagory as some spectrum disorder
I have a child with autism who is now very high functioning and it is because we spent alot of time giving him a mix of ABA and floortime model therapies, tomatis, speech, and occupational therapy but none of that therapy would have brought him to where he was if we had not followed the careful guidance of a doctor in asheville who helped us cleanse and repair the damage done to our son’s brain. When we approached his treatment with the theory that his condition was a brain response to a toxified body we got results almost instantly. This doctor, through careful study determined that vaccines are among the many harmful things in our modern environment that can seriously compromise a developing brain. There is no real debate as to whether or not vaccines contain harmful toxins and heavy metals[aluminium specifically] just as the chemicals in your carpet and the paint on your walls and the chlorine in your water. I understand and appreciate your desire for a positive movement, I strive for that as well in my everyday existence as a parent with autism, but I have also taken control of my child’s and my own health by employing a little research and a lot of common sense, observations, and critical thinking. We are in the midst of a new industrial revolution and the biproducts of our technology, energy consumption, and our created in a lab food supply are ignored at you and your child’s peril. I contribute a positive energy to the autism community by trying to encourage and empower other parents and people to take control over their health by examining their diet and environment. My doctor, who has helped us turn our son from being a nonverbal, sit in the corner staring at spinning things low functioning autistic into a reading by 2 and a half, musical, charming, loving, connected, highly intelligent boy, is also struggling with the medical board. It is just flat wrong, he gave us vitamin supplements, advised us to remove gluten, casein, and soy from his diet(which we actually did, not just half assed it for a couple weeks; in fact i did it too and I lost extra weight and have never felt better)and gave us gentle heavy metal chelators. The bottom line is that it worked. There is a reason why people are so fired up and it is because we are getting results without turning to pharmaceuticals. The problem is the way the debate is framed. It should not be for or against vaccines anymore that we should argue for or against paint. They just made no VOC paint. We should be arguing for a way to innoculate without simultaneously poisoning millions of babies as if that is some sort of acceptable collateral damage in the war against disease; that is a positive movement. Ignoring a valid debate because of conflict fatigue is in the long run irresponsible. I saved my child, and I just want to share the RESULTS I got, not some opinion I have about a scientific debate.
Julian,
Thanks for your response. I think you are correct that ignoring the debate is irresponsible. You are a rarity in that you have done your own research, and you aren’t inclined in vilify the entire idea of inoculation. I’m really glad to hear that your combination of interventions with your son has turned out so well, and I really appreciate you taking the time to write about your experience. I am also so relieved to hold a reasonable conversation about this topic, and not one of the idiotic shouting matches that so often characterizes this particular debate. Thank you.
–Sylvia
Leave a reply