The Green Our Vaccines Rally

If I lived in DC I'd always be at a rally, so I think it's a good thing I don't.  Yesterday the folks at Talk About Curing Autism organized a Green Our Vaccines Rally at the Washington Monument.  You can read more over at Moms Speak Up.

The rally organizers aren't opposed to vaccines (a whole other topic, for another day - or not!).  Rather they are working to eliminate toxins and change the recommended schedule, which is pretty hard and fast.  While there is no conclusive evidence linking vaccines and autism, many suspect a connection.    I'm no MD, but the idea of removing potentially hazardous preservatives from vaccines given to infants and young children makes some sense, at least at first blush.  Especially since no-one's doing medical tests on children under 2, making it a wee bit hard to know the actual effects.  In our family we requested that the shots be spread out (hassle for all involved).  It just seemed safer.  What do you think?  What did you do? 

In my little mind, I think if vaccines can be prepared and given without potentially hazardous ingredients, why not?  Cost, likely.  Lack of alternatives?  Seems a very appropriate situation to apply the Precautionary Principle, which states that the lack of certainty regarding the threat should not be used as an excuse to do nothing to avert that threat. 

One thing I know for sure, Moms Against Mercury has a strong opinion on this one.  And when moms are against anything, I'm beginning to think change is on the horizon.

Comments

[Eric Miller]

We're doing only individual antigen shots, for example, measles, mumps and rubella as separate shots instead of as the combined MMR. they are available from Merck -- and we're being absolutely sure that our children are healthy for each one. We're also only giving one injection in a 3 month period, to be absolutely sure not to overload the immune system--precautionary principle on an individual scale! Also, when the kids get to the age for boosters, I plan to have titer levels checked prior to an injection, just to be sure that they are in need of it.

Did anyone see the Time article this past week? It seemed to villify parents who seek alternative schedules, though maybe I'm a bit sensitive since that's what I'm doing!

A couple of resources that I found helpful:
1. Stephanie Cave: "What your doctor may not tell you about children's vaccines"
2. The National Vaccine Information Center website:
http://www.909shot.com/About.htm