by Barbara Loe Fisher
In what can only be described as a brilliant turn last night on Larry King Live, young celebrity Mom Jenny McCarthy stood her ground with a defiant "anecdotal evidence IS scientific evidence" in calling on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to back away from one- size-fits-all vaccine policies that recommend all babies get dozens of doses of vaccines. Describing what happened to her son, who suffered convulsions and nearly died after a round of vaccinations and then regressed into autism, Jenny was accompanied by her pediatrician, Jay Gordon, M.D., and journalist David Kirby in a face-off with AAP pediatricians Harvey Karp, M.D. and David Tayloe, Jr. M.D.. It was a ground- breaking television debate about vaccine risks that highlighted the soft underbelly of a medical community unwilling to deal with the reality that regressive autism is part of the vaccine injury spectrum.
Watching Jenny talk about how she recovered her son from autism using diet and alternative healing therapies while resolutely rejecting the tired old platitudes offered up by the two pediatricians trying to defend the indefensible vaccine schedule promoted by the AAP, I smiled as I remembered how it was when I was a young Mom in the 1980's and 1990's and debated doctors on TV. Those were the days when the vast majority of Americans had no idea vaccines could brain injure children and the U.S. media was often bullied by AAP and CDC officials into downplaying reports by mothers that their children died or were brain damaged after vaccination.
The AAP and CDC leadership have essentially joined with the pharmaceutical industry and stuck their heads in the sand for three decades, refusing to take action even though parents and a few courageous doctors have repeatedly come to the table at the CDC, FDA, NIH and Institute of Medicine and pleaded with them to responsibly investigate the clear pattern of regression into poor health after vaccination that so many children are suffering. Pediatricians and vaccine manufacturers have hidden behind the protection offered by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which Congress gave to them as a gift in an exchange that was supposed to make the vaccine system safer and more trustworthy.
The sad truth is that the public trust has been betrayed by those operating a mass vaccination system now crumbling precisely because there was a refusal to listen to the calls by mothers of vaccine injured children to take constructive action in the 1980's and 1990's.
Today, those responsible for the betrayal of the public trust will be forced to deal with a new generation of Moms, exemplified by Jenny McCarthy, who are not starting from ground zero like we did. These Moms are holding their broken children in their arms and looking back in anger and disgust at the long, tragic history of denials by those operating the mass vaccination system. This generation of mothers and fathers, many of whom will spend a lifetime trying to heal their vaccine injured children, are standing on a platform of knowledge built brick by brick by those who have gone before and shouting: "It ends here and now with me."
During the Larry King show, Jenny announced that she and Jim Carrey will be leading a march for autism awareness in Washington, D.C. on June 4.
For more information, go to Jenny's page on the Generation Rescue website at
http://generationrescue.org/vaccines.html
"In light of the recent Hannah Poling decision, in which the federal court conceded that vaccines could have contributed to her autism, we think the tide is finally turning in the direction of parents like us who have been shouting concerns from our rooftops for years. Autism is a debilitating disorder, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is suffered by 1 in 150 kids, making it more common than childhood cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Recently, England and Ireland reported that autism is affecting one in 58 individuals. Is it any wonder that autism has become many new parents' No. 1 fear? We've met some of the most amazing moms and dads who are forging their own path to prevention and recovery. When our son, Evan, was diagnosed with autism we were lucky enough to benefit from their knowledge and experience. Evan has been healed to a great extent by many breakthroughs that, while perhaps not scientifically proven, have definitely helped Evan and many other children who are recovering from autism." - Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey, CNN - Larry King (April 2, 2008)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/02/mccarthy.autsimtreatment/index. html#cnnSTCVideo
Ms. Fisher,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Troy Pankey. Lisa and I are expecting a beautiful bouncing baby girl, Ava Autumn Violet Elizabeth, in three month's time.
The other day we started discussing vaccinations and the fact that she would be getting them upon her arrival. This started me wondering all about these vaccinations. So now I'm into my 'first' night of reading all that I can about what's going on with this. Thankfully, I've run across you and the work you've been doing. Bravo to you for doing what you're doing.
At present I don't have an opinion either way other than to say how hard is it for the AAP and CDC to recognize the possibility that, indeed, one-size does not fit all relative to these, in my opinion, overabundance of vaccinations.
While this is Lisa's first child, and coming rather late in life for her, I have a 22 yr old child, or should I say young lady of a daughter. All those years ago my ex and I hadn't given any thought to the possible dangers of vaccinations. However, should I, after the reasearch I see I'm about to get into concerning this, decide to take a stand against a certain vaccination(s)so as to protect the welfare of my (our) daughter, come hell or high water, or God himself, is what it would take to get me to move from my position. While I recognize this comment has nothing direct to do with the post it accompanies, I just wanted to make sure you realized you have my (our)support, and this was the only direct way at the moment I could see to that.
Our daughter will be born in NYU and we reside in NJ.
Keep on keeping on and best to you.
Troy Pankey
I loved the Jenny McCarthy on Larry King stuff. She really let them have it. I love that she is taking a stand for what is right and we all know to be truth. Hopefully she will help lead the way to the truth and the CDC and AAP will have to admit the error of their ways.
ReplyDeleteTo the previous commenter, Troy, kudos to you for doing your research and not just listening to a doctor. Many people do not make it as far as you have. Keep on researching the truth and don't blindly poison your daughter like millions of others have (myself included).
Good for you, Troy, for doing your research. I think its important to remember that 1. you have a choice and 2. you do not have to go with the CDC recommended schedule. Even if you aren't certain of any link between vaxes and autism, you can still choose to vaccinate selectively, one at a time, and when you feel like your daughter is able to handle it.
ReplyDeleteBack to the original post, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Jenny on Larry King. I just LOVED how she stumped Harvey Karp and the guy from the AAP several times. She asked some hard questions and they just didn't have the answers, did they? Or at least, not acceptable ones!
Dear Ms. Fisher,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Sara and I reside in Pennsylvania. Like the other commentor on this page, I recently began researching vaccines.
I have learned a little bit about you through the NVIC site and this blog, and would like to thank you for your work. How it must give you a degree of relief to see this autism/vaccine issue finally coming into the light more, after working on it for decades. Thank you for building a foundation so tirelessly for all these years. I hope you continue to see the good fruit of your labors, and I hope we can turn the tide to save children and families from so many vaccine-related injuries.
I am linking to your Web sites on my brand new blog: http://vaccinesandmychild.blogspot.com/ which I created because I had to do SOMETHING, and wanted a means to communicate my findings to friends/family. I hope you'll come visit it someday! :)
Sara B.
Ms. Fisher:
ReplyDeleteAfter much discussion and research, My husband and I have decided not to vaccinate our two month old son. We live in Arlington Virginia and wondered if you knew of any doctors or pediatricians in the area who would be sympathetic to our decision and support us and not try to bully us into getting him vaccinated.
Thanks very much
Julie
Dear Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI'm a chiropractor and I have seen you speak at many seminars. I remember seeing you for the first time back in the mid-90's during one of your first speeches in front of many other chiropractors and parents like myself.
Your recent newsletter reviewing the April 11th meeting with the DHHS and the public panel was moving and inspiring. You continue to amaze and motivate me to stay confident as a mother (who chose not to vaccinate) and a chiropractor to stand for educating other people about vaccinations and informed consent. I've donated to NVIC several times and look forward to contribute regularly. Thank you for what you've done, your strength, conviction, and determination. I support you and your team always.
Much love,
Dr MaryAnne Shiozawa
Are there any pediatricians in New Jersey that are not 100% pro vaccines? I really need to find one asap. Please e-mail me at
ReplyDeleteDarlenehage@msn.com