To Vaccinate or Not Vaccinate? That’s Not the Question - Susan Kaiser Greenland

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.

The conventional wisdom is that there are just two options – to vaccinate or not vaccinate, but that is not the case. 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.