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A few nights ago I watched a freakish episode of Larry King Live
about the controversy surrounding autism and childhood vaccinations.
Nothing frightens me more than the thought of my children getting sick
and, like most parents, I would do anything to ensure that they never
suffer from a serious childhood disease. That is why I have asked many
questions over the years about the appropriate timing and dosage of
vaccinations. These questions are fair given the issues raised about a
possible connection between the mercury in some vaccines and autism.
But when the mom of an autistic child (Jenny McCarthy) asked the same
questions of a pediatrician on Larry King Live last week, the doctor shot back,
“Pick the one you want your child to get. . . What disease would you like your child to get?”
As I watched this exchange, chills ran up and down my spine. I cannot
imagine a more insulting and condescending response by a doctor to a
parent.
Clearly there are factors to be weighed in determining the
appropriate dose and timing of vaccinations depending on a child’s home
environment, age, weight and overall health. Nonetheless, the
conventional wisdom is that there are just two options – to vaccinate
or not vaccinate. Dr. Jay Gordon
was the only one of three pediatricians on the panel who questioned the
conventional wisdom. Gordon is known for taking a controversial
position with respect to vaccines, yet nothing he said in this program
sounded one bit controversial to me.
“The risks of our (current) vaccine schedule exceed the
benefits. Nobody sitting here is anti-vaccine. . . . We have to address
the evidence. We do not have respect for the instincts of our parents.
We don't have respect for the immune system. The immune system is a
complicated, complicated system in the body -- complex. We should not
be giving the same dose of polio vaccination to a 10 pound baby as to a
180 pound adult . . . . You need to prove it's safe . . . ”
When asked by Larry King what puzzles him most about autism Gordon replied:
“What puzzles me the most is why families with children
with autism are having so much trouble getting respect from the
government, from their doctors. . .KING: Why?
GORDON: Because we [Doctors] know what we know, and we don't want to
deviate from it. Suggesting that changing diet or changing the vaccine
schedule will change the incidence of autism is anathema to many
pediatricians, if not most pediatricians.”
So why all the flap? Both doctors and parents are extremely
uncomfortable admitting that we don’t have one clear answer about how
to best vaccinate against childhood disease. It is downright terrifying
to acknowledge that we do not know everything there is to know about
the interrelationship between toxins, environment, vaccines and autism.
It is difficult enough to tolerate this uncertainty, but even more
difficult to set aside our emotions long enough to look clearheadedly
at what we fear: That what we do not yet know could possibly injure or
kill someone we love. The possibility of this happening is very, very
small, but it exists.
As difficult as it is to put emotions aside and live these
questions, it can be done, and if it could possibly make a difference
in the life of a single child, it is our responsibility to do so. Let’s
take a deep breath, slow down and listen to all of the many voices in
this debate.
