Winter 2004 ewsletter Vaccination Risk Awareness Network Inc. SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME OR SCURVY? INSIDE THIS ISSUE page By C. Alan B. Clemetson, M.D. 1 - Shaken Baby Syndrome or There has undoubtedly been a grave also jaundice, which was still evident Scurvy miscarriage of justice in the conviction four weeks after leaving hospital. His 1 - Pushing the Agenda of Alan Yurko of Orlando, Florida, health was further impaired when he 3 - VRAN News who was accused of “shaken baby syn- received six inoculations (for diphthe- drome” and was sentenced to life ria, whooping cough, tetanus, influen- 13 - Archie Kalokerinos, MD imprisonment for murder. The error za B, oral polio vaccine, and hepatitis 15 - Rubella Vaccination seems to have arisen because of fash- B at eight weeks of age. 18 - Rubella in Babies & ionable adherence to a diagnosis now Actually, the autopsy findings of Pregnant Women in vogue, and from a desire to blame subdural hemorrhage, four broken one single preventable occurrence for ribs, severe anemia, and a few bruises 21 - & Autism - IOM an infant death. Everything is supposed are characteristic of Barlow’s disease, Testimonies to be preventable nowadays. or infantile scurvy, but that diagnosis 25 - Letters Surely Alan held his 10-week-old son went out of fashion many years ago, so 31 - Dr. McCandless - Autism by the heels and slapped him on the no blood analysis for vitamin C or for bottom after he began wheezing, spat histamine was conducted. The prosecu- 31 - Chicken Pox & Shingles up, and stopped breathing, but he did tors suspected both parents, but 33 - Newsclips not cause his son’s death: he was trying Francine Yurko refused to implicate to resuscitate him. her husband, and Alan Yurko refused Actually, the infant died from a con- to plead guilty to a lesser charge, catenation of circumstances, having because he knew he was innocent. PUSHING THE VACCINE been born prematurely, weighing 5 lbs. Undoubtedly, many others have also AGENDA - AT ANY COST 8 oz., of a malnourished mother with been wrongly convicted on equally several medical problems. After becom- flimsy evidence, sometimes just because By Edda West ing pregnant, she became sick and there were petechial hemorrhages in “What’s occurring here is a cover-up remained so during her pregnancy, the retina at the back of the eye, or under the guise of protecting the vac- often to the point of dehydration, because the fatal event occurred more cine program.” going from her original weight of 130 than the usual 3 to 7 days after the Mark Geier, MD, Ph.D (1) lbs. down to 120 lbs. at one point, and inoculations. finally coming back to her original Undoubtedly, child abuse does occur, Vaccines are THE most protected weight of 130 lbs. at the time of deliv- and we are all alarmed when we hear class of drugs in the world. Medical ery. She said she was too sick to take about an infant with bruises and bro- monopoly’s big guns are ever poised her prenatal vitamins. ken bones, but we must appreciate that to shoot down any heretic who steps When one considers that the current- there are genetic disorders such as out of line to question the vaccine par- ly recommended weight gain for preg- osteogenesis imperfecta, fragilitas osse- adigm. Even worse if you have sound nancy is 25 to 30 lbs., it is clear that um (brittle bone disease), other meta- evidence that points to a real problem she was malnourished, and so was her bolic disorders, and also nutritional – like British gastroenterologist unborn child. The infant had several states like Barlow’s disease, which can Andrew Wakefield who has just suf- medical problems, including respirato- be mistaken for child abuse. fered another series of attacks in the ry distress syndrome, pneumonitis, and Shaken Baby or Scurvy cont.on page 5 Vaccine Agenda cont. on page 7

VRAN Newsletter Fall 2003 Page 1 VRAN NEWSLETTER The contents of this publication reflect the opinion of the authors only, and Vaccination Risk Awareness Network Inc. P.O. Box 169, Winlaw, B.C. V0G 2J0 are not to be construed or intended as medical information. This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Coordinator and newsletter editor: Edda West The particulars of any person’s concerns and circumstances should be dis- [email protected] 250-355-2525 cussed with a qualified health practitioner prior to making any decision which VRAN Board of Directors: may affect the health and welfare of that individual or anyone under his or her Mary James - President care. Rita Hoffman - Vice-President DISCLAIMER Edda West - Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Jason Whittaker - Director VRAN Speakers Bureau Winnipeg often being the epicentre of Leona Rew - Board Member Frank Luschak - Board Member VRAN NEWS vaccine awareness in !!! Leona Gloria Dignazio - Board Member co-founded the Association for Vaccine Susan Fletcher - VRAN Researcher VRAN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Damaged Children with Mary James in With thanks to Lisa Farr for the newsletter layout. the 1980s and worked with Mary urg- The VRAN annual general meeting Statement of Purpose ing the Manitoba Law Reform as announced previously in the Fall •VRAN was formed in October of 1992 in response Commission to investigate vaccine to growing parental concern regarding the safety of 2003 Newsletter, was held on March damage which resulted in the current vaccination programs in use in Canada. 13 via telephone conference. In atten- •VRAN continues the work of the Committee Against Commission publishing recommenda- Compulsory Vaccination, who in 1982, challenged dance were Mary James, Leona Rew, tions for a "no-fault" injury compensa- Ontario’s compulsory “Immunization of School Pupils Rita Hoffman, Susan Fletcher, Dr. Act”, which resulted in amendment of the Act, and tion in 2000 entitled "Compensation Jason Whittaker, Scott Hunter and guarantees an exemption of conscience from any of Vaccine-Damaged Children." ‘required’ vaccine. Edda West. •VRAN forwards the belief that all people have the Elections were held as required and AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED: right to draw on a broad information base when several new Board members were wel- deciding on drugs offered themselves and/or their -Vaccine Reaction data base. We children and in particular drugs associated with comed and a new position was created discussed the frustration of inaccessi- potentially serious health risks, injury and death. on the Board. VACCINES ARE SUCH DRUGS. bility to Health Canada’s adverse vac- •VRAN is committed to gathering and distributing VRAN AGM EXECUTIVE VOTE cine reaction records. No one knows information and resources that contribute to the creation of health and well being in our families and WENT AS FOLLOWS: what these numbers are in Canada. communities. Edda suggested we start a project to Mary James re-elected for another VRAN’s Mandate is: obtain Health Canada’s acumulated term as VRAN President. Rita •To empower parents to make an informed decision adverse reactions reports via access to when considering vaccines for their children. Hoffman elected as Vice President information requests. It was pointed •To educate and inform parents about the risks, Edda West re-elected for another term adverse reactions, and contraindications of out that this would be a lengthy and as Secretary-treasurer. Jason Whittaker vaccinations. frustrating process, that the vaccines •To respect parental choice in deciding whether or elected to the VRAN Board of and formulas have changed and that not to vaccinate their child. Directors and also elected to a new •To provide support to parents whose children have people are more interested in knowing position as Director of the VRAN suffered adverse reactions and health injuries as a about reaction data on current vac- result of childhood vaccinations. Speakers Bureau. Gloria Dignazio, cines. A case in point is the time it •To promote a multi-disciplinary approach to child elected to the Board. Leona Rew and and family health utilizing the following modalities: took CBC to obtain Health Canada’s herbalist, chiropractor, naturopath, homeopath, Frank Luschak remain as Directors. adverse drug reaction reports. It took reflexologist, allopath (regular doctor), etc. Welcome to the new board mem- •To empower women to reclaim their position as pri- them 5 years to obtain the data which bers. Your contributions in time, ener- mary healers in the family. is now posted on CBC website with •To maintain links with consumer groups similar to gy and creativity to vaccine risk educa- the “Disclosure” show. Scott Hunter ours around the world through an exchange of infor- tion are deeply appreciated!! mation, research and analysis, thereby enabling par- has investigated the vaccine adverse We’d like to take this opportunity to ents to reclaim health care choices for their families. reactions reporting system and feels it •To support people in their fight for health freedom thank out going VRAN Vice-President is hopeless – that we are better off and to maintain and further the individual's freedom Leona Rew for her contributions these from enforced medication. gathering our own numbers via a data past 3 years, and for the many years VRAN publishes a newsletter 3 to 4 times a year as base we set up. Scott reiterated that we she has worked so hard in Manitoba, a means of distributing information to members and need to shake the vaccine system on the community. Suggested annual membership fees, speaking, writing, organizing public the "Benefit/Risk" claim. The “bene- including quarterly newsletter and your on-going and political meetings and activities support to the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network: fit” claim is not based on an effective and working to raise awareness at the $35.00—Individual $75.00—Professional reporting system and the data is not We would like to share the personal stories of our legislative level. Thank you Leona for accessible to the public. We need to membership. If you would like to submit your the many, many years of incredible story, please contact Edda West by phone or e- mail,as indicated above. work you have done that resulted in VRAN News cont. on page 3 VRAN website: www.vran.org Page 2 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter VRAN News cont. from page 2 the Newsletter in December. We still young children. Concerned grandpar- gather our own vaccine reaction/injury have a ways to go to meet our yearly ents will love it too!! numbers as recent injuries are what budget objectives of around $20,000. DPT PROJECT people are interested in. "The only Creating new "revenue streams" was truth is what we create." discussed such as approaching other Rita Hoffman has been working for VRAN member Daniel Moser has been wholistic health professions to partici- over a year now to create a compre- working on a vaccine reaction data pate on our website. Both Jason and hensive index of the infant vaccines base and has put considerable time and Scott offered to put thought and ener- that have been licensed for use in effort into it, and Scott has volunteered gy into creative fundraising/revenue Canada since the early 1970’s. With to work with him to help get it up and initiatives. the help of her husband John, she has running. We discussed what is needed gathered product monographs from F UNDRAISING in a data base, and agreed that primar- medical libraries for DPT, DPTP, and ily it must be user friendly. One mem- A big THANK YOU to the VRAN DPTaP + Hib vaccines and documents ber offered financial help for the data members who responded so generously the detailed history of these vaccines, base if needed. to our fundraising drive. At this point which includes vaccine ingredients, and -Grassroots Advertising: Rita (mid March), we’re about half way to specific recommendations that accom- Hoffman suggested that we ask VRAN meeting our operating budget for this panied them at the time of use. It is a members to "adopt" a local paper and year. Please remember that your 2004 monumental work that will enable place small ads encouraging people to VRAN membership is due now at the people to easily reference the past 30 report reactions and injuries to VRAN' beginning of the year. At this point we years use of these products. Look for s reporting system. If we have people have nearly 350 active members, many this large new information source on across Canada buying small inexpen- of whom still need to send in this the VRAN website soon. Thank you sive ads, we would begin to have more year’s membership donation. This will Rita for putting your awesome ener- visibility, people would check our web- help shore up the budget, and if you’ve gies into this project. It is an historic site, where we could direct them to the been meaning to make a fundraising piece! reaction/reporting page, enabling us to contribution as well, we’d sure appre- BLOW TO ONTARIC CHIROPRACTORS develop a more realistic idea of the fre- ciate this additional support. As well, quency of adverse reactions. we keep hoping to find members inter- VRAN wants to take this opportuni- Leona suggested we look into advertis- ested in helping with ongoing fundrais- ty to thank the many Chiropractors ing on bus benches. These don't cost a ing projects. Please contact Edda if across Canada who have supported lot to rent and the ads are in large, you’re able to volunteer your time. vaccine risk education for so many prominent letters. years, and who have shown their soli- NEW PARENT PACKAGE - Media Guidelines: Jason Whittaker darity to our work through member- wants to develop "how to talk to the Much appreciation goes to Susan ships and generous donations. The media" guidelines. Mary James is Fletcher for creating a new comprehen- practitioners who adhere to the classi- going to find a book she read that sive information package specifically cal philosophy of “vital- spells out specific strategies that enable for new parents. This is something that ism” in human health have always small groups to get their message has been needed for a long time, and been at the forefront of enlightening across to the public. asked for by many. Susan has spent their patients about the risks inherently -VRAN website needs to have a over a year researching and writing the associated with vaccination. However, counter installed so we have an idea of text for this package. The introduction their philosophy and commitment to how many people visit our site. Jason to the vaccine issue is particularly core chiropractic principles is under talked about the tracking system on his excellent and we have formatted it in attack by their own governing body. website and how useful it is in giving booklet form, which is included with For a number of years, the an idea of what people are interested this newsletter. Hopefully it will wet Chiropractic College of Ontario in. Edda will talk to Maggie Teiner, your appetite to order the whole pack- (CCO), the governing body of Ontario our webmistress and ask her to install age which includes many more excel- Chiropractors has been threatening to a tracking device. lent articles. See back cover of this change the rules governing the scope of -Finances: Edda reported on VRAN Newsletter for pricing details. We practice – a change that would prohib- finances. We've had a good early know you will want to share this with it licensed practitioners in Ontario fundraising season with members neighbours and friends in your com- from communicating any vaccine donating a little over $8,000 since our munity who are about to become new VRAN News cont. on page 4 appeal went out with the last issue of parents, or already have babies and

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 3 VRAN News cont. from page 3 otomies? nutrition? Tylenol? etc...... it deadlines. He enthusiastically hosted information whatsoever to their is one of principle, ethics and freedom. the VRAN website and worked his patients. Last fall VRAN members We are looking into legal avenues as magic to ensure that our new website mounted a letter campaign and let the well as further letters and so on...If our launch would be a smooth and seam- CCO know that the public’s access to voices are silent who will/can speak? less transition. Our next project was a “balance” of information about vac- VRAN members wishing to support a going to be transferring all the back cination would be severely compro- Chiropractic initiative to counter this issues of the VRAN newsletter onto mised under the proposed changes. new restrictive ruling can contact both CD as a fundraising project. On February 10th of this year, the Dr. Steven Silk, President of the Doug was a wonderful craftsman CCO Executive voted 9 to 4 in support Chiropractic Awareness Council at: who delighted in salvaging and recy- of a ruling that will effectively gag [email protected] or cling vintage wood - planing, sanding Chiropractors from offering any verbal Dr. Diane Meyer at: and oiling it to its former brilliance, or written information about vaccina- [email protected] bringing the deep rich grain shining tion to their patients. back to life again. He crafted every- Dr. Diane Meyer, long time VRAN IN LOVING MEMORY OF thing from new window frames to gor- member and vaccine risk educator DOUG TONER geous cabinets. His beautiful blue eyes attended the fatal meeting and offered would light up with delight when My dear friend Doug Toner passed these words: working with old wood of size and away suddenly on November 21, “In my opinion there was a deliberate dimensions no longer milled today. 2003. Beloved husband and partner of plan in the way that the vote was And he loved to cook. Doug could Dr. Carolyn DeMarco, Doug’s sudden quickly pushed through after lunch. It whip up a delicious meal in no time, and unexpected passing didn’t allow happened way too fast. A future meet- and insist you stay for supper if you for any proper goodbyes, and family ing will discuss the addendums. Those happened to drop by which I always and friends still can’t believe he’s actu- who support the right to educate appreciated immensely as cooking isn’t ally gone forever. A profound sense of patients must be in full force for the a particular love of mine. loss and sadness lingers and it still feels next CCO meeting. There is no way to Doug was my Good Samaritan shocking that his life was cut short so know how that meeting would have neighbour - the trusted friend I could abruptly. gone if there were 40 passionate and call on when I needed a “man’s” Doug was a strong presence in many professional DC's there. advice with technical stuff, or repair lives - a one of a kind character whose Our great profession is slipping away problems around my house, or loan of burly and robust character filled a right through our fingers. It is obvious a pump to water the garden. The tail- room with booming conversation pep- to me that the medical/pharmaceutical gate on the back of my truck had been pered with outlandish Hungarianesque industry has quite a lot of influence on tied up with binder twine for a couple humour – a heritage he carried with our leaders. While our Boards sit with of years. He just showed up one day , pride. Doug was a man who met life glazed eyes doing what is "good for took it apart and put it back together - full on. He was “way out there” – one the public" our ability to serve the good as new! Just a few weeks before of those genius types who knew some- public through Chiropractic is being he died, Doug gave me the most pre- thing about everything, whose knowl- diminished and embraced by the very cious gift. With great care, he trans- edge of history, politics, finances, medical world which has fought so ferred old brittle audio cassettes of my music, science was light years beyond hard against us. Folks, if this keeps up long deceased beloved grandmother most people’s ken. it is clear to me that we will not sur- onto CD - an irreplaceable record of Doug had a special gift for mentor- vive. We will bit by bit be diminished her memories of farm life and agricul- ing young people. His big heart to symptomatic low back technicians... tural practices in Estonia in the early enabled him to meet young folks at nothing more... nothing less. years of the last century. Thank you their own level and offer guidance as a I cried that day. Mostly for my Doug for your friendship, your kind- loving friend and brother. Doug had patients, both now and in the future. ness and above all that abiding gen- the kindest and softest heart for chil- But I also cried in shame of the erosity of spirit with which you dren - he adored them, and every kid destruction of the legacy that our embraced us. Farewell dear friend – who knew him loved uncle Dougie. Chiropractic forefathers left for us to your loving memory will always live in Doug was an expert computer tech- guard in the Sacred Trust. This issue is my heart. nician and web designer – and rescued not only one of vaccination but where me countless times from computer will the issue stop? Can we speak breakdowns during critical newsletter about antibiotics? surgery? tympan-

Page 4 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Shaken Baby or Scurvy cont. from page 1 it was not thriving. One of the nurses he is holding his pipe between his It is said that ignorance is bliss; this rushed to the phone to call the child upper and lower gums. may be true for those who give evi- abuse authorities. Before long, the Clearly, he has returned from a long dence in our law courts with such con- nurses were presenting the infant to sea voyage where he lived on food held viction, following the standard teach- each other, to social workers, and to in storage, and maybe as many as half ing of the day. We should all keep an the doctors, as, “This is the child of his shipmates died of scurvy. We are open mind and consider the possibility abuse case.” The physician who first told that his arch enemy “Bluto” has that the standard teaching may be sees the infant can have his or her gone off with his woman “Olive Oil” wrong. opinion prejudiced by such hysteria, and his child “Sweet Pea”, but he does Barlow’s Disease before making an examination. not have the strength to fight Bluto What has happened to the practice until he has been fortified with In the first half of the twentieth cen- of medicine? Our duty as physicians is spinach. Of course, it is vitamin C-rich tury, many infants with bruises, broken to make a well-considered diagnosis fresh greens or fruit that he needs, not bones, and sores that would not heal, and to provide advice with compas- canned spinach that has lost its vitality, were correctly diagnosed as having sion, not accusation and vilification. but his misery has been exploited and infantile scurvy, or “Barlow’s disease”, Soon parents will be afraid to take transformed into an advertising car- and recovered quickly when treated their children to the emergency room toon. In fact, we may conjecture that with orange juice. Now people don’t of a hospital after a fall for fear that these poor men received little respect want to believe that malnutrition still some “expert” will find petechial hem- at the time, for the phrase “scurvy occurs in the Western World, so one or orrhages in the eyes and label the par- knave” persists in our literature. other of the parents or a caregiver has ents as child abusers. The social work- It will be about a week before his to be accused and possibly convicted ers are in an unenviable position, for bleeding gums are healed when he gets of child abuse, without any blood they can be damned if they do, and oranges, lemons, limes, tomatoes, or analysis for vitamin C. Sores that will damned if they don’t, remove a child lettuce, but it will be several weeks not heal are seen as cigarette burns from parental custody. Even more per- before his strength is restored. The and reported in newspapers as such. ilous is the job of infant care providers bleeding gums, which are so character- Barlow’s disease used to occur even in and pre-school teachers, who have so istic of adult scurvy, are not seen in the homes of the wealthy, sometimes often been embroiled in totally unrea- toothless infants, so the diagnosis is due to the custom of boiling cow’s sonable litigation, like the McMartin easily missed. Infection causes local vit- milk to kill the germs of tuberculosis, pre-school family, who endured a new amin C deficiency, and vitamin C defi- sometimes due to feeding of a commer- version of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. ciency predisposes to infection, so a cial “malt soup”, the alkalinity of vicious cycle develops. Clearly, it is the which destroyed vitamin C, and some- Popeye. A Case of Classical Adult Scurvy bacteria in the crevice between the times due to ignorance of the need to tooth and the gum that cause a local provide an orange juice supplement for Ignorance is bliss. Not many people infection leading to the foul mouth and bottle-fed infants. are aware that “Popeye the Sailor the swollen, bleeding gums of adult There are even records of such an Man” was a well-recognized character scurvy. This does not occur in edentu- infant suffering a complete fracture to be seen around any English seaport lous infants. across both femoral bones of the thigh in the days of sail. The protrusion of in hospital, when a nurse lifted the one eye was due to a hemorrhage Borderline Vitamin C Deficiency heels in the gentle act of diapering a behind the eyeball (a retrobulbar There is a wide separation between scorbutic infant. Luckily, it did not hemorrahge) due to scurvy; this was frank scurvy and perfect health, and occur at home, for even then someone only one of many hemorrhages this is becoming more and more appar- would have been suspected of child beneath his skin and elsewhere; he ent as we learn about the underlying abuse. Part of the problem now arises should be recognized as a symbol of defects in vitamin C deficiency. from the child abuse laws, which suffering who deserves our compassion Bleeding from the smallest blood require immediate reporting of any and not a comic cartoon character for vessels, the capillaries and the small suspicion of child abuse, so that even people to laugh at. He is a young man venules, is the principal manifestation the natural pigmentation of the who looks old beyond his years, due to of the disease; this is due to a weak- “Mongol Spot”, just above the natal scurvy. He would have had foul breath ness of the blood vessel wall and not cleft, was suspected as child abuse due to his infected bleeding gums. His the result of any defect in the blood when a young mother brought her pipe juts up in front of his face because coagulation system. Several tests have baby to our hospital for advice because he has lost all his teeth to scurvy, and Shaken Baby or Scurvy cont. on page 6

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 5 Shaken Baby or Scurvy cont. from page 5 1988-94 revealed plasma vitamin C (or Medicine (Volume 14, no. 3, pages been used to measure capillary fragili- ascorbic acid) deficiency (<0.2 mg/100 137-142) in 1999. Unfortunately, this ty, the strength or weakness of the mL) in 12 percent of Caucasians, 15 excellent journal has, as yet, a relative- small blood vessels, by counting the percent of African-Americans, and 9 ly small circulation, so the truth is not number of small pinpoint hemorrhages percent of Mexican-Americans. So we yet well known. or petechiae produced by suction on must not assume that small capillary Infant Nutrition the skin of the arm or by venous occlu- hemorrhages in the retina are due to Bottle-fed infants need a vitamin C sion, but these tests for vitamin C child abuse; they could be due to vita- supplement with their milk diet, and depletion are rendered unreliable by min C depletion or to many other fac- this can be readily provided by giving the fact that so many other conditions tors which increase the blood hista- them a bottle of orange juice every such as thrombocytopenic purpura, mine level. day, as one hundred grams of fresh , and scarlet fever also cause Vaccinations and Inoculations orange juice contain about 49 mg of capillary fragility and petechial hemor- We now know that vaccinations and vitamin C. Nowadays, the fashion is to rhages. Only by chemical analysis can inoculations cause increased blood his- give them apple juice, instead of we tell for sure whether petechial hem- tamine levels, as can many systemic orange juice, but apple juice contains orrhages are due to vitamin C deficien- infections and other illnesses, so an only 1 mg of vitamin C in the same cy or to something else. The word infant already low in vitamin C will volume of juice. So, unless the parent scurvy is used only for the almost com- have its blood histamine level further knows to buy apple juice with added plete absence of vitamin C from the increased by any such insult. vitamin C, there can be a risk of vita- blood and tissues, when fibroblasts Undoubtedly, this accounts for the fact min C deficiency. and the related osteoblasts, chondrob- that vitamin C supplementation Another problem to be considered is lasts, and odontoblast cells can no markedly reduces the risk of death fol- that the white blood cell or leukocyte longer manufacture collagen, the foun- lowing immunization or vaccination in C level is halved within 24 hours after dation matrix for connective tissue, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and human the development of a head cold, and bone, cartilage, and tooth dentin, infants; vitamin C reduces the blood even more during the healing of an respectively. But we now know that histamine level. injury. Moreover, heavy metals like lesser degrees of vitamin C depletion mercury and even excesses of copper cause the accumulation of histamine in Medical Prejudice or iron can deplete vitamin C stores, the blood, and this causes weakness of Physicians are just like other people: so one has to wonder about the effect the capillary blood vessels by separat- they believe only what they want to of the mercury-based additive ing the cells of the vascular intima believe, and they are spoon-fed by the thimerosol used as an antiseptic in from one another. major medical journals. It would seem some pediatric inoculants. Suffice it to Histamine accumulation dissolves that the editors of most medical jour- say that it is probably wise to post- the intercellular cement; this increase nals do not want to publish any article pone vaccinations and inoculations for in the blood histamine level begins as discussing the risks of inoculations. any premature or sickly infant; more- soon as the blood plasma vitamin C They would like to see a higher per- over, a 500 mg vitamin C supplement level begins to fall below the normal centage of children being immunized, should be given in orange juice before level of 1.0 mg/100 mL; frank scurvy and they are afraid that any talk of or at the time of an inoculation to any does not occur until the vitamin C risks could frighten parents away. I healthy infant. Extensive studies have level falls to one tenth of that value. submitted a review of the literature been conducted to ascertain the pres- The plasma vitamin C status of the proving quite conclusively that vitamin ence or absence of toxicity for each general population is much poorer C can be used to reduce the risk of individual inoculant, but now that we than is generally appreciated, being death or brain damage following inoc- recognize the toxic effects of elevated below 0.7 mg/100 mL in 34 percent of ulations, both in animals and in blood histamine levels resulting from ambulant people in Brooklyn, New human infants, but nine of the major inoculations, we must consider the York1; below 0.5 mg/l00 mL in 30 English language medical journals additive toxic effect of all the inocu- percent and below 0.2 mg/100 mL in 6 refused to publish it. The reviewers lants taken together. So many inocu- percent of people attending a Health must be unaware that vitamin C defi- lants are given together nowadays. Maintenance Organization (HMO) ciency still occurs in the modern Moreover, the parents should not be clinic in Tempe, Arizona.2 Likewise, world. My article was eventually pub- held responsible for “shaken baby syn- the National Health and Nutrition lished by the open-minded editors of drome” just because an infant convuls- Examination Survey3 for the years The Journal of Orthomolecular Shaken Baby or Scurvy cont. on page 7

Page 6 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Shaken Baby or Scurvy cont. from page 6 Vaccine Agenda cont. from page 1 creepy things you find under rocks and es or dies with petechial hemorrhages media, setting off hysteria in medical seems to dislike being interviewed him- in the retina within a week or two circles. It is a déjà vu of other heroes self, though keen to stick the knife into after receiving the usual inoculations. of times gone by who discovered pro- others.” Even some American soldiers going to found truths, only to be denounced Dr. Wakefield has been able to refute the Gulf War suffered grievous conse- and vilified by the dominators of the every accusation and stands strong by quences following the battery of inocu- era. his research. His only error having lations they receive. Elevated tissue his- Wakefield’s discovery of a new been poor timing in the disclosure of tamine levels cause , hay fever, bowel syndrome in children who funding received by The Royal Free nettle rash, or angioneurotic edema, regressed into autism after vaccination Hospital research trust from the British but elevated blood histamine levels with the measles, mumps and rubella legal aid commission to investigate the cause endothelial damage and capillary (MMR) vaccine and subsequent find- presence of measles virus in the gut of fragility throughout the body. ings of measles virus in the gut of a group of autistic children. Many of Laboratory Analyses many of these children has enraged these families are also are part of a vaccine authorities world wide, as it large class action law suit against the Very few hospital laboratories rou- has shattered confidence in the safety MMR manufacturer in England. This tinely do blood plasma analyses for of the triple virus vaccine. His study second study is quite separate from the vitamin C, and any spot analyses done published in The Lancet in 1998 original one published in the Lancet by special order can be very unreliable. resulted in a steep decline in uptake of around which false allegations of con- One of the reasons for their unreliabili- MMR vaccine in England., and ripples flict of interest have arisen. (2) ty is that vitamin C (ascorbic acid), of dissent have spread to North In a letter to the British Medical crystals or powder, is hygroscopic and America. Worried that some children Association Journal, veteran vaccine can double its weight with moisture. might be at risk of injury from the risk researcher Hilary Butler hit the So when one compares test results triple virus vaccine, and in the absence nail on the head - “If vaccine manu- with internal or external standards, it of proof of long term safety of the facturers are so sure of their products, is essential that the ascorbic acid stan- MMR vaccine, Wakefield suggested they should have the confidence not dard powder be dried over calcium that parents should have a choice of only to fund the studies required, but chloride in a desiccator for a week or single, monovalent vaccines, which to allow the appointment of a panel of so, without heating. Otherwise, the British authorities refused to provide doctors equally split down the middle. results of analysis can give falsely high through the national health service, One lot with "vested interests" and values. driving many families to order the sin- the others, the likes of Andrew This article was first published in the gle measles vaccine from other Wakefield whose "vested" interests lies Journal of European countries. with the children, rather than with a (2002) 17(4):193-6. We thank both This time round, the furor has been vaccine. Parents should also be Dr. Clemetson and Dr. Abram Hoffer, whipped up by British journalist, Brian allowed input into study proto- Editor of the Journal of Deer who, in a derogatory article in cols.…..You would think that if every- Orthomolecular Medicine for their the Sunday Times, accused Wakefield one's primary goal was "first do no kind permission to reprint this article. of multiple conflicts of interest in his harm" then these three groups would autism/bowel syndrome research and have no trouble working together. Do I References: has personally vowed to “destroy” think it might happen? Only when pigs 1. Clemestson, C. Alan, Vitamin C, CRC Press, Boca Raton Florida, 1989 him. Alan Rees, European vaccine grow wings.” (3) 2. Johnston, Thomson: Vitamin C status of an out- activist and parent of an autistic child In defense of Dr. Wakefield, Barbara patient population. J Am Coll Nutr, 1998; has had run-ins with Deer - “He has it Loe Fisher, director of the National 17(4):366-70. 3. The Third National Health and Nutrition in for vaccine victims for some reason Vaccine Information Center in Virginia Examination Survey 1988-94 (NHANES III) and has previously written a scurrilous offers these words – “The extent to http://www.cehn.org/cehn/resourceguide/nhanes.html piece about Margaret Best, the Irish which the forced vaccination propo- nents have gone to smear Andrew For detailed information and updates mother who proved her child’s severe Wakefield and the meticulous biologi- on the Yurko case and other innocent disability was caused by vaccines, and cal mechanism research he has con- parents falsely accused: whose courage and persistence in get- ducted into MMR-vaccine associated http://www.freeyurko.bizland.com/alba ting compensation for her son have autism is in direct proportion to the yatisum.html#sectionI inspired me and many others to keep going. He's a bit like one of those Vaccine Agenda cont. on page 8

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 7 Vaccine Agenda cont. from page 7 colleagues subscribe to the belief that vaccines. A recent investigation by fear they have that his hypothesis is any child is expendable. History has Insight magazine highlights the mer- correct: MMR vaccine can cause a per- encountered and dealt with such cury/thimerosal scandal. Speculation is sistent vaccine strain measles virus beliefs. You, the parent's and children, rife that the U.S. Centers for Disease infection in genetically vulnerable chil- are the source of the inspiration and Control and Prevention (CDC) is dren that leads to chronic inflammato- strength for our endeavours; our quest embroiled in conflicts of interest & ry bowel disease and autistic behav- for truth through science - a science data manipulation after releasing a iors. It is unfortunate they are so that is compassionate, uncompromis- study titled “Safety of Thimerosal- frightened of the scientific truth Dr. ing and uncompromised. I do not Containing Vaccines: A Two-Phased Wakefield is pursuing that they find it mean to stir you to mutiny, but be Study of Computerized Health necessary to behave like a band of assured that armed with this science it Maintenance Organization thugs out to score a hit.” is in your power to force this issue, in Databases”. The study was published “ For the past 22 years, [we] have your pediatricians office, in Congress, in the November 2003 issue of watched babies die and be horribly in the Law Courts. Keep faith with Pediatrics. It concluded that "no con- crippled by vaccine reactions while your instincts - they have served you sistent significant associations were officials in industry, public health well." (4) found between TCVs [thimerosal-con- agencies and medical organizations Within the context of “modern med- taining vaccines] and neurodevelop- have refused to support the kind of icine”, the vaccine wars have ebbed ment outcomes." Critics scoff at such biological mechanism research that Dr. and flowed for over two centuries. a conclusion. "Sure," laughs one, Wakefield is doing so that parents and Under the most punitive British laws in "they say you can't eat tuna because doctors can have more information the 19th century, large numbers of par- the level of mercury you ingest isn't about children at high risk for suffer- ents were willing to be imprisoned good for you, but there's no health ing vaccine reactions and find ways to rather than submit their children to risk associated with injecting high lev- spare their lives. Parents around the vaccination because they experienced els of mercury directly into a newborn world are not fooled by the ignorant, and saw the devastation and disease baby?"(5) inhumane behavior of forced vaccina- caused by enforced smallpox vaccina- The lead author of the study, tion proponents, whose zealous tion. Today’s vaccine war wages a Thomas Verstraeten, was an employee defense of one-size-fits-all vaccine poli- campaign of fear and intimidation of GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceuti- cies injure and kill innocent children. against families who choose not to cal giant and vaccine manufacturer, The truth will shine bright and clear in vaccinate - threats of loss of custody of when he submitted the study for publi- the end.” children are not unusual by aggressive cation. The first phase of the study Speaking from his heart at the and well funded “child protective ser- “actually revealed a significant associa- Power of One Autism rally in vices”. Nightmare scenarios of parents tion between TCVs administered to Washington, Andrew Wakefield shared and caregivers accused of child abuse infants and who later developmental this inspiration - “We are in the midst and imprisoned when children suc- abnormalities such as speech and lan- of an international epidemic. Those cumb to injury or death from vaccina- guage delays and neurodevelopment responsible for investigating and deal- tion are widespread in North problems in general, such as tics and ing with this epidemic have failed. America.(16) Manipulated and corrupt- the alleged hyperactivity symptoms of Among the reasons for this failure is ed by the powerful profit driven phar- attention-deficit disorder and atten- the fact that they are faced with the maceutical industry, medical science is tion-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. prospect that they themselves may be aloof and indifferent to the cataclysm However, this conclusion was not responsible for the epidemic. it has perpetrated. “This society is included in the final draft; and was Therefore, in their efforts to exonerate going to be in big trouble – we cannot only made public afterward when themselves they are an impediment to have a whole generation of people Verstraeten's notes were revealed in progress. I believe that public health damaged the way this is happening” another forum. The notes, not pub- officials know there is a problem; they said geneticist Dr. Mark Geier at the lished with the CDC study, showed are, however, willing to deny the prob- recent IOM meeting on vaccines and that the "relative risk" for autism was lem and accept the loss of an unknown autism. (12) 2.48 times higher for children who number of children on the basis that At the forefront of the received 62.5 micrograms or more of the success of public health policy - vaccine/autism debate is of course the mercury from TCVs by 3 months of age. (5) mandatory vaccination - by necessity role of thimerosal, the toxic mercury U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon, involves sacrifice. Neither I, nor my based preservative used for decades in Vaccine Agenda cont. on page 9

Page 8 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Vaccine Agenda cont. from page 8 you're not supposed to take in more System Function?” - the study will be MD has taken up the fight on behalf than one microgram per day. They published in the April issue of of families who believe their children’s were taking little seven and 10 pound Molecular Psychiatry. (6) neurodevelopmental disorders have babies and pumping 50 and 75 micro- Writes Sharon Kirkey of the been caused by the mercury in vaccines grams of mercury into them in one National Post, “After assuring parents they received and has vowed to get to shot. That's like giving an adult 1,000 that additives in vaccines don't cause the truth of the matter. Weldon sum- micrograms. And, on top of that, the brain damage, scientists have found marizes: "The CDC produced an arti- World Health Organization says mer- what they believe could be a "smoking cle by Dr. Verstraeten, published on cury is 10 times more toxic in children gun" linking these additives to autism Nov. 3 in Pediatrics. Dr. Verstraeten is than it is in adults. It's horrifying." (5) and attention-deficit hyperactivity dis- a former CDC employee. Since 2001 Mark Geier, M.D., Ph.D., president order in children. In tests on human he has worked for GlaxoSmithKline - a of the Genetic Centers of America was brain cells, researchers found two nat- vaccine manufacturer. While working also interviewed by Insight. He and ural chemicals - one compound that for the CDC in 2000, the first version his son, David Geier, are consultants stimulates cell growth and also of Dr. Verstraeten's unpublished study on vaccine injury cases. On examining dopamine, which transmits nerve sig- found an association between higher the CDC’s Vaccine Safety Data Link nals -- are both key to a process in the thimerosal exposures and neurodevel- (VSD), they found a “mega” difference brain called methylation. Methylation opment disorders, including autism. between two groups of children who helps DNA work properly and is cru- Between 2000 and 2003, Dr. had been injected with either “three cial to the normal development of the Verstraeten and co-authors manipulat- consecutive thimerosal-containg DTaPs brain.” (7) ed and stratified the data so much that or three consecutive thimerosal-free “The team found thimerosal, each of these associations magically DTaPs. The rate of autism in the chil- ethanol and the metals, lead and mer- disappeared.”(5) dren that got more than three doses of cury all interfere with methylation. “I'm just very concerned that we're thimersoal-containg DTaP vaccines What's more, thimerosal did so at not going to get answers as long as was much, much higher. More than 20 doses 100 times lower than a child there are careers at stake. You know times higher. Almost all the children would receive after a single shot with a there are people at the CDC who have that have autism in that group were thimerosal-containing vaccine. "It was been involved in the vaccine program the ones that got the thimerosal-con- by far the most potent," said investiga- who didn't recognize the amount of taining vaccine. The more thimerosal, tor Dr. Richard Deth, a professor of mercury they were giving kids, and the greater the cases of autism.” (5) pharmacology at Northeastern now they're in the process of investi- Mark Geier says, "Believe us, there University in Boston.” (7) gating themselves. Meanwhile a lot of is no scientific issue here. This is fraud. While Canada phased out most these investigators bounce to and from The CDC and the FDA [Food and thimerosal containing vaccines given to the drug companies. I think it all is Drug Administration] know what is children by 1997, except for hepatitis very, very murky and very suspicious." (5) happening. They just can't admit it B and influenza vaccine, it is of little This veteran member of Congress because it is one of the worst things comfort to families whose children puts it plainly: "We're not going to get ever to have happened to this United were subjected to repeat doses of the answers to these questions until States. If a terrorist had done this, we neurotoxin and who as a result, suffer Congress or some outside group starts wouldn't attack them, we'd nuke a wide spectrum of developmental dis- pouring through this information. But them. We're talking about one in eight orders and neurological injuries that it's very coincidental that they added children in the U.S. that currently are will affect them for the rest of their the hepatitis vaccine, the HiB vaccine in special education, and that number lives. In Canada, the burden of vaccine and the chicken-pox vaccine - they is going to change to about one in five. injury is particularly grim as there is added all these additional childhood What percentage of our young popula- no compensation system to help defray vaccines around the time when the tion can we destroy before we realize the often daunting costs incurred by autism rate started to skyrocket. Then how serious this is?" (5) families who struggle to meet their when you actually sit down and do the On February 5th of this year, children’s therapeutic needs – needs calculations, according to the advance release of another new mer- that are often not covered by the Environmental Protection Agency cury study made front page headlines health care system or recognized as [EPA], they were giving these kids very across Canada. Titled “A Link vital to help improve their health and toxic levels of mercury. I mean as a Between Thimerosal and the Brain: ability to cope with life. 150- to 200 pound adult the EPA says Can Vaccines Affect Central Nervous Vaccine Agenda cont. on page 10

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 9 Vaccine Agenda cont. from page 9 Canada is one of the few Western ernment that funds mass vaccination In Canada, there is NO mandatory nations without a vaccine injury com- programs as their number one disease reporting system of vaccine reactions pensation program, except for the prevention measure, insures that vac- and injuries. Canadian health officials province of Quebec, which has paid cine injury cases are virtually impossi- have NO idea what the real numbers out minimal sums to a few oral polio ble to win in this country. The absence of vaccine reactions and injuries are in and DPT vaccine injury cases. Health of successful vaccine injury court chal- this country, and they don't want to officials in the rest of the country have lenges in Canada enables vaccine know! Vaccine reaction records are simply swept vaccine injuries under the authorities to repel any movement closely guarded by Health Canada and carpet and pretend they don't exist. In toward the establishment of a humane virtually inaccessible to the public. contrast the U.S. government has to and just vaccine injury compensation When this most recent study linking date, paid out in excess of one billion system. thimerosal to the disruption of critical dollars to vaccine victims. A document published in the sequences of brain chemistry hit the The Canadian judicial system is Canadian Paediatric Society's journal media, the ‘good old boys’ vaccine stacked against vaccine injury victims applauds the work of IMPACT - the experts jumped to damage control in who must prove both causality and Immunization Monitoring Program set defense of thimerosal and the almighty negligence, and are given access only up to provide "selected surveillance vaccine program. Not one word of to a trial by judge rather than a jury of data on vaccine-preventable diseases concern – not one phrase uttered in peers. The fundamental conflict of and (possible) adverse reactions to sympathy for children who may have interest inherent in a trial by judge been affected. whose salary is paid by the same gov- Vaccine Agenda cont. on page 12

A link between thimerosal and the brain: Can vaccines affect central nervous system function? According to new research from Northeastern University lowing vaccination or other sources of exposure. The pharmacy professor Richard Deth and colleagues from work of Deth and his the University of Nebraska, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins colleagues helps to explain how environmental contact University, there is an apparent link between exposure to with metals and administration of certain vaccines may certain neurodevelopmental toxins and an increased lead to serious disorders that manifest themselves during possibility of developing neurological disorders includ- childhood, including autism and ADHD. ing autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. "Scientists certainly acknowledge that exposure to neuro- The research – the first to offer an explanation for possi- toxins like ethanol and heavy metals can cause develop- ble causes of two increasingly common childhood neu- mental disorders, but until now, the precise mechanisms rological disorders. underlying their toxicity have not been known." said Deth and his colleagues found that exposure to toxins, Deth. "The recent increase in the incidence of autism led such as ethanol and heavy metals (including lead, alu- us to speculate that environmental exposures, including minum and the ethylmercury-containing preservative vaccine additives might contribute to the triggering of thimerosal) potently interrupt growth factor signaling, this disorder." causing adverse effects on methylation reactions (i.e. the Additionally, the scientists recently obtained more insight transfer of carbon atoms). Methylation, in turn, plays a into the mechanism by which thimerosal interferes with significant role in regulating normal DNA function and folate-dependent methylation. It acts by inhibiting the gene expression, and is critical to proper neurological biosynthesis of the active form of vitamin B12 (methyl- development in infants and children.. cobalamin), which is of particular interest because doc- In their work, the scientists found that insulin-like growth tors treating autistic kids are having good success with factor-1 (IGF-1) and the neurotransmitter dopamine both the administration of methycobalamin. stimulated folate-dependent methylation pathways in neuronal cells. At the same time they noted that com- Citation source: Molecular Psychiatry 2004 Volume 9, pounds like thimerosal, ethanol and metals (like lead and www.nature.com/mp mercury) effectively inhibited these same biochemical Contact: Aimee Midei at pathways at concentrations that are typically found fol- [email protected]

Page 10 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Vaccine Agenda cont. from page 10 - that's 8 percent, have unsafe levels of industrial profiteering turns a blind eye immunization." The document also mercury in their blood. The people hit to the devastating effects of mercury reveals some disturbing back room hardest and most vulnerable are new- contamination on the environment and dealmaking by health officials. (8) born infants and young children. human health. The largest source of "The origins of IMPACT trace back Mercury crosses the placental barrier overall mercury contamination is from to the late 1980's when societal con- and once in the fetus can also cross the coal-fired power plants. Under pres- cerns about the safety of whole cell blood brain barrier. Every year over sure of heat, the mercury which is nat- pertussis vaccines for children were 630,000 infants are born with levels of urally bound in coal is released into the reaching fever pitch. As a potential mercury in their blood so high they can air when the coal is burned to generate safety valve, federal and provincial cause brain damage. (9) in electrical power plants. It is Deputy Ministers of Health considered Someone once said, “The sign of a then dispersed on wind currents and a vaccine injury compensation plan. species having gone quite mad is when rains down to contaminate water, the While the merits of such a plan were it turns on its own young”. We face an earth and the food chain. recognized, the Deputy Ministers were unfathomable societal catastrophe Under pressure from the energy distressed to find that accurate esti- where government/political cronyism industry, which resists the installation mates of vaccine-related injuries were protects the excesses of the of mercury emission controls, the U.S. unavailable. Fearing that they were military/medical/industrial complex at Environmental Protection Agency ( signing a blank cheque, they chose not the expense of millions of children EPA) recently announced its intention to fund a compensation plan, but world wide who will succumb to mer- to weaken its own earlier proposal that instead funded a major eight-year ini- cury poisoning. In a letter to the jour- would have required a 90 percent tiative to improve vaccine safety sur- nal Pediatrics Dr. Geier critisizes policy reduction in mercury pollution by veillance and documentation of attrib- makers for soft pedaling the mercury power plants by 2008. Now it will utable injuries." (8) issue - “In fact, several documents delay implementation of even these But IMPACT has failed to honestly recently obtained from WHO (World weaker requirements until 2018, leav- evaluate and document vaccine related Health Organization) state that it is ing a whole new generation of children injuries, and has done nothing to help their policy to lobby strongly for main- needlessly at risk (9) vaccine injured families obtain justice. taining thimerosal in childhood vac- Reducing mercury emissions would It is a national disgrace that Canadian cines for the foreseeable future because cut into industry’s profits. Nothing is vaccine victims continue to be relegat- they say it is necessary for use in third permitted to stand in the way of the ed to obscurity by a system hell bent world countries and if it is removed bottom line. Industry’s profitability on maintaining the status quo at any from US vaccines, these countries may must not be hampered by environmen- cost. The document is full of doubles- refuse to use thimerosal containing tal/safety restrictions, regardless of the peak and suggests that the IMPACT vaccines.” (10) extreme urgency to protect the health program’s real intention is to track From in utero exposure of mercury of present and future generations. children who contract “vaccine pre- leaching from mothers’ toxic amalgam The message is very, very clear. It is ventable” diseases and to insure that fillings which mainstream dentistry still profits before people – profits before children presenting with vaccine reac- insists on implanting into people’s health – profits before life. And soci- tions are laundered into the “coinci- mouths, to the continued widespread ety’s most basic right to a poison-free, dence” zone. “Vaccinators should use of thimerosal containing vaccines healthy environment, is trumped by report postimmunization adverse in many countries and in particular the corporate greed whose tyranny ensures events to local public health authorities developing world, to widespread conta- the neurological destruction of a signif- using the prescribed provincial or terri- mination of the food chain even in icant segment of society. torial reporting form. Such reports are unindustrialized remote areas like the “Death by Medicine”, a new block- collated nationally and carefully consid- Canadian arctic, children’s exposure to buster meta-analysis reviewed thou- ered as evidence of vaccine safety.” (8) the highest doses of mercury in the first sands of medical journal analyses and Evidence of vaccine safety?? Say what? two critical years of life when the neu- government statistics to conclude that Your child has just suffered an adverse rological system grows and unfolds monopoly/pharmaceutical/profit driven vaccine reaction, and when the report according to specific time sequences of medicine has a farther reaching and is made, it is held up as evidence of development encapsulates mercury poi- more destructive impact on human vaccine safety!!! How perverse is that? soning as a global public health emer- health than we could have ever imag- The CDC estimates that 4.9 million gency without historical precedent. ined. Dr. Carolyn Dean MD, a lead women of childbearing age in the U.S. Governmental/political allegiance to Vaccine Agenda cont. on page 12

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 11 Vaccine Agenda cont. from page 11 learning disabilities, epilepsy/seizure Supplements Directive are systematical- author of Death by Medicine was our disorders, etc. is triggered by multiple ly planning to outlaw a majority of vit- family’s wonderful wholistic physician vaccines started in early infancy? amins and natural food supplements many years ago when my children 3. What are the long term medical within the next few years. If we the were young. Dr. Dean & associates' costs of treating these people, includ- people don’t stand up and derail this review of the damage monopoly medi- ing the cost of custodial care for the process, not only we will not be able cine inflicts on society at large is sober- hundreds of thousands of brain injured to obtain the supplements so many ing indeed. Never before have such individuals over a lifetime? To my people rely on to maintain health, but comprehensive statistics on the multi- knowledge these calculations have what is left will be controlled by Big ple causes of iatrogenic disease (doctor never been done. Pharma who will gouge us to the caused) been combined in one analysis. (11) The authors of Death by Medicine max.. Already in some European coun- Their conclusion is "The American conclude, “When the number one tries Vitamin C in doses higher than medical system is the leading cause of killer in a society is the health care sys- 250 mg tablets can only be obtained death and injury in the United States." tem, then that system has no excuse by prescription and prices have Iatrogenic events which include "med- except to address its own urgent short- increased more than tenfold! (13) ical error" involving drugs, surgery, comings. It’s a failed system in need of World wide, destructive agricultural and unnecessary procedures, is the immediate attention. What we have practices have altered the content of number one killer at 738,000 annual outlined in this paper are insupport- nutrients in food so drastically, that deaths. Undoubtedly a review of able aspects of our contemporary med- most commercially grown, non-organic Canadian stats would offer propor- ical system that need to be changed-- food no longer sustains health or life. tionately similar results. This study beginning at its very foundations.” (11) We must step outside the current sick- dovetails with and expands on Dr. In the meantime, how can society ness engendering medical paradigm L.Leape’s well known study, Error In protect itself from a medical system and re-vision the meaning of true Medicine, (JAMA. 1994 Dec that is clearly out of control and is health and what we need to do as indi- 21;272(23):1851-7) which calculated seriously threatening public health? viduals and collectively as a society to that the human toll in medical mis- One thing is sure, the people who run stop the magnitude of destruction takes annually was equivalent to three this system have long ago sold out to unfolding. The first step is to release jumbo-jet crashes every two days. (11). the drug lobby. Massive legislative the fear of this or that disease – to The Death by Medicine report shows changes to Canada’s Food & Drug Act grasp the most basic truth - that that the equivalent of six jumbo jets are underway and will give the phar- health is a creative process that are falling out of the sky each and maceutical industry new powers of requires us to be engaged in everything every day! (11) self-regulation shifting the burden of as fundamental as working towards Although the authors have not proof of drug safety from the manufac- agricultural reform to insure that food included an analysis of the iatrogenic turer to the public. Drugs will be pre- is grown by organic methods that sup- role of vaccines in this grim scenario, sumed safe unless someone can prove port life, to protecting water & air important questions immediately arise there is harm – same standard as with from industrial/chemical contamina- in relation to the effect of mass vacci- vaccines!! Federal MP Svend Robinson tion, to stopping the Global Pharma nation programs on human health in reports that the powerful US lobby movement that plans to sabotage our the long term and the cost to society as group (PhRMA) is “allotting an addi- right to nutritional supplements. a whole. tional million dollars in its lobbying Dr. Mathias Rath, MD, scientist and 1. What are the real costs to society budget toward 'changing the Canadian international health freedoms activist of vaccine induced injuries and death, healthcare system’ which will pave the offers these encouraging words- “We taking into consideration the vast way for direct consumer drug advertis- live in historic times. Mankind is current- range of neurodevelopmental and ing. (14, 15) ly undertaking one of the great move- autoimmune disorders that have sky- On the Global scene we are witness- ments in its history: The liberation of our rocketed in the past few decades and ing the destruction of the natural health from the yoke of a medicine driven parallel the rise in the number of vac- health supplements industry by mon- by the ‘business with disease’. It is the cines injected into children? strous forces starting at the World liberation of our bodies and health 2. What percentage of the explosion Health Organization level, whose towards natural medicine that prevents of diseases like childhood diabetes, Codex Alimentarius Draft Guidelines commercialism and eradicates diseases asthma, analphylaxis, neuroimmune for Vitamin and Mineral Supplements effectively without harmful side effects. disorders, disorders, and the European Union’s Food Together we are writing history.” (17)

Page 12 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter References: developed countries - Sudden Infant 1.Dr. Mar Geier, MD - Statement at IOM Safety MEDICAL PIONEER Death Syndrome (SIDS), the majority Review on Vaccines & Autism Feb.9/04 of the medical world remains in disbe- http://www.universityofhealth.net/PR/3304PRU - A TRIBUTE TO ARCHIE SNOMHearing.htm lief. 2.Lancet review of Wakefield allegations: KALOKERINOS,MD "The matron was convinced that the http://image.thelancet.com/extras/statement20F diagnosis was meningitis so she pre- eb2004web.pdf 3. Hilary Butler letter to BMJ: “Ascorbic acid, the universal detoxifi- pared a lumbar puncture. I had howev- http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eleters/328/743 er and tolerance factor, can be placed er, seen this problem before. Lumbar 8/483-a#52356 punctures performed by me had been 4. Andrew Wakefield: Power of One Rally, in its true position as an important Washington DC, April /02 – www.child- weapon against disease.” negative and the infants died....the screen.org trauma of inserting a needle….might 5. Insight Magazine: CDC Study Raises Levels of When Archie Kalokerinos’ book result in a haemorrhage that might Suspicion, Kelly O’Meara http://www.insight- Every Second Child was published in cause spinal cord paralysis. So I decid- mag.com/news/573542.html 1974, a veil was lifted on the mystery 6.Molecular Psychiatry: Link Between Thimerosal ed to give an injection of vitamin C. I & the Brain of Australia’s aboriginal infant deaths. probably gave as many as 6 injections, http://www.nature.com/cgitaf/DynaPage.taf?file For eight years, Dr. Kalokerinos each 100mg. After half an hour Mary =/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/4001476a.html worked among the aborigines of 7.Sharon Kirkey, National Post-Feb.5, 2004: was normal. It was hard to believe, but Study Links Vaccine to Autism Collarenebri, yet despite all his efforts I had performed a miracle!...I found 8.Canadian Paediactirc Society Journal: he was powerless to turn around the that any viral infection, including November 2002, Volume 7, Number 9 high death rate. In despair, he left his measles and hepatitis, could be dra- Assuring vaccine safety: A celebration of 10 practice for a few years to work in years progress with the IMPACT project matically 'cured' by administering http://www.pulsus.com/Paeds/07_09/sche_ed.htm Australia’s opal fields at Coober Pedy, Vitamin C intravenously in big doses-- 9.Protect Our Kids from Mercury: and lived in close contact with the provided that treatment was com- http://www.moveon.org/mercury/mercury- aborigines. This experience triggered resources.html menced early." (Medical Pioneer 10 Mark R. Geier, MD, Ph.D., David A. Geier of new insights into their special physical p.175) Medcon, Inc. Letter to Pediatrics, 12 March and dietary needs, and on returning to In his chapter on Sudden Infant 2004, Parents’ worries about thimerosal in Collarenebri in 1967 he found their vaccines are well founded!: Death Syndrome in “Medical Pioneer”, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/elet- vitamin deficiencies and immunologi- Kalokerinos explores the multiple fac- ters/112/6/1394 cal problems showed themselves in tors that can predispose a child to 11.Death By Medicine - Dr.Mercola's website at: strange and treatable ways. SIDS - environment, diet, deprivation Part 1 Dr. Kalokerinos discovered that http://mercola.com/2003/nov/26/death_medi- of breastfeeding, genetic influences, cine.htm most of these children suffered from medications, including some antibi- Part 2 infantile scurvy, (acute Vitamin C defi- otics, antihistamines and iron supple- http://mercola.com/2003/nov/29/death_by_med ciency), with deaths resulting from this icine.htm ments can introduce problems. 12. Mark Geier,MD statement at IOM hearing: deficiency precipitated by vaccination “Antibiotics can alter the nature of http://www.univerrsityofhealth.net/PR/3304PR of infants who were suffering from organisms in the gut that are normally USNOMHearing.htm colds or minor illness. Dr. Kalokerinos 13. The Observer: Special Investigation, Feb. 29, essential for life. Gastrointestinal 2004: Nil By Mouth , by Rose Shepherd achieved a dramatic drop in the infant immunity is then affected and a vicious http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0 mortality rate in Collarenebri and res- cycle can commence. Antihistamines, ,11913,1157031,00.html cued countless infants from the brink sometimes used in cough mixtures and 14. Svend Robinson, “Canada Getting Out of the of death by supplementing with Business of Health Protection?” Feb 6, 2004 as anti- medications, can result http://www.taxtyranny.ca/images/HTML/Healt Vitamin C or administering Vitamin C in respiratory disorders including respi- h-Protection-Update.html injections in acute cases. He also ratory arrest. Antihistamine-contain- 15. Canadian Health Coalition for Health stopped vaccinating babies who were Freedom: http://www.canadiancoalition- ing cough mixtures should never be forhealthfreedom.ca/ unwell. The cures with Vitamin C given to infants or children.” (p. 180) 16. Shaken Baby Syndrome or Medical seemed nothing short of miraculous, “Apart from the failure to breast- Malpractice by Mohammed Ali Al-Bayati, and are documented extensively both Toxicologist & Pathologist feed,……. various factors can alter the http://www.freeyurko.bizland.com/albay- in Every Second Child and his autobi- distribution of lactic acid type bacteria, atisum.html#sectionI ography, Medical Pioneer of the 20th E.coli and other gram negative organ- 17. Dr. Mathias Rath: Dr. Rath Health Century. And even though Dr. isms in an infant’s gut. Exposure to Foundation: Kalokerinos has demonstrated conclu- http://www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/PHARMA- heat or cold, stress of any sort, an CEUTICAL_BUSINESS/index.html sively that Vitamin C can largely pre- vent the greatest killer of infants in Medical Pioneer cont. on page 14

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 13 Medical Pioneer cont. from page 13 “If the vitamin C status of an infant rhoea with Calcium Ascorbate, infection, (bacterial or viral), some is boderline, the administration of a because you have to use far more of it medications, especially antibiotics and vaccine, particularly (but not only) to do what Sodium Ascorbate does. iron mixtures, and the administration pertussis vaccine, can result in endo- So how did Ester C (Calcium of vaccines, can result in an upward toxaemia. This results in a severe Ascorbate) become supposedly the migration of E.coli organisms in the reaction to the vaccine, a tremendous best? I don't know. I do know my gut, gut immune problems, and a increase in the need for Vitamin C, facts now though, because Archie change in the distribution of the many and the precipitation of some of the Kalokerinos explained them to me, as different species of “gram negative’ signs and/or symptoms of acute scurvy. have a couple of biochemists. I needed (and ‘gram positive’) organisms in the The onset of this may be so rapid that to know, because when Archie sorted gut.” When the gut balance is thrown the classical signs of scurvy may be out my arthritis after the rubella vac- off, and there are insufficient antioxi- absent. Sudden death, sudden uncon- cine, he didn't put a label on the form dants such as zinc, selenium and vita- sciousness, sudden shock, or sudden of Vitamin C he gave me. I didn't min C, large amounts of endotoxin spontaneous bruising and hemorrhage know what it was. So when I ran out, produced by the “gram negative” (including brain and retinal haemor- I went to the health shop, and asked organisms can be released into the rhages) may occur. Haemorrhage and for "the best". blood stream, resulting in fatal endo- bruising in such cases can be wrongly Within 9 months, I was in deep toxic shock, the mechanisms of which attributed to the “battered baby syn- trouble and rang Archie to ask if this Kalokerinos explains in detail. drome”. stuff was supposed to kill me (had a “Endotoxin disturbs the blood ves- “It would appear that many differ- severe sodium deficiency, which was sels in the brain in several ways. The ent diseases may be treated with the stuffing my immune system even worse blood vessel walls become damaged, specific nutrient Vitamin C. So maybe than normal!!!). He asked what was the so-called ‘blood-brain’ barrier is a new mindset needs to be set in place on the bottle, and when I read out broken, endotoxin leaks through to where clinicians consider specific dis- Calcium Ascorbate - well - I'm sure he the brain cells, brain reserves of ease conditions such as inadequate would have boxed my ears if he was in Vitamin C are quickly used and a defi- Vitamin C levels rather than just spe- the same room. Just joking. He's very ciency of Vitamin C in vital parts of cific diseases alone.” calm and gentle, is Archie. Anyway, he the brain results in a cessation of func- explained that I would need to salt tion. Apnea and possibly death can Cautions About Calcium everything in sight for a while, and follow.” Ascorbate – a form of Vitamin C never take Calcium Ascorbate again. “The role of vaccines, particularly Hypercalcemia makes cancer cells By Hilary Butler the whole-cell pertussis vaccine (still grow like billie-oh... " used in many countries) can be under- "Don't use Calcium Ascorbate – Dosage Guidelines for the use of stood when it is realized that this vac- ever! It is also widely marketed as Vitamin C : Ascorbic Acid or Sodium cine contains a variable and uncontrol- ‘Ester-C’. There are very good rea- Ascorbate lable amount of endotoxin that is sons why - not least of which is how it injected and absorbed, unaltered, into is metabolised in the body. Calcium Linus Pauling, winner of the Nobel the blood. It does not even go first to Ascorbate is a no no. I learned the Prize for his work on Vitamin C esti- the liver where attempts to detoxify it hard way. Brief description. In order mated that human adult requirements could be made. If an infant happens to metabolise ascorbate, the Vitamin C for health maintenance are between to be particularly sensitive to endotox- needs a sodium ion. It splits into two 1000 to 5000 milligrams daily, far in when the vaccine is injected, brain compounds, one of which is used, the more than the 60 mg recommended by damage or death can result. other excreted. The basic biochemical the National Research Council. During It is apparent that any infant with unit of the cell is the sodium ion. If illness, the need for Vitamin C increas- gastrointenstinal problems, abnormal you use Calcium Ascorbate, the calci- es dramatically. um sheers away, and sodium is pulled organisms, intestinal parasites, loose - Sodium ascorbate powder is best for from the nearest cell with it in it. Once bowels resulting from the use of children & for breastfed babies. It is the ascorbate is split, the first thing it antibiotics and malabsorption of food buffered and not sour tasting. does is to chelate out the calcium, (including lactose intolerance) – is - Recommended dosage rate is which should not be there. Then what liable, when further stressed, to pro- between 200 - 375 mg per kg of body you have left, is what is available. duce endotoxin and this can end in weight over a day, but the actual dose SIDS.” That is why you rarely get diar- Medical Pioneer cont. on page 15

Page 14 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Medical Pioneer cont. from page 14 depends on the individual. If bowels RUBELLA VACCINATION- UTILITARIANISM & get loose, reduce the amount. - As an example, if your baby weights 5 kilos, you can give 1000 to 1875 Excerpted from Immunization: History, Ethics, Law and Health milligrams over the course of the day. By Catherine Diodate - If you’re calculating body weight by Additional Perspectives by Dr. F. Edward Yazbak pounds, 1 kilo = 2.2 pounds. Utilitarianism and herd immunity tive to inoculate young children - One-quarter of a level teaspoon is are central correlative concepts in this (reducing the risk of infection) or approximately 1,000 mgs discussion on mass immunization. whether to concentrate inoculations on - One good pinch equals about 250 Utilitarianism refers to the belief that adolescent girls prior to child bearing mgs, if you want to use the vague the greater value (utility/usefulness) of age (decreasing the number of suscepti- method. a certain act or rule must be that bles). - Express some breastmilk, dissolve the which secures the greatest benefit for It appears to be the current practice vitamin C in it. Using a plastic drop- the greatest number. Herd Immunity in Canada, the United States, and the per, drip it into the inside of her cheek refers to the level of disease resistance United Kingdom to immunize children until all in, or get it into her as she of a community or population. Herd soon after their first birthday thus breastfeeds by inserting the dropper immunity is associated with mass reducing the circulation of the wild into the corner of the mouth. immunization by virtue of the belief virus among children. This method for You should start to notice a significant that if high percentages of a popula- creating herd immunity has been difference within 24 hours. tion or community are adequately described in the following way: Resources: immunized against certain diseases, Mass childhood rubella immuniza- Dr. Robert Cathcarct, M.D. "I virtually all persons will be protected tion programs…….designed to pro- would agree with Kalokerinos and from disease. duce “herd immunity” are intended to Klenner that crib deaths are often Immunization against rubella pre- prevent the spread of rubella to one caused by sudden ascorbate (Vitamin sents an interesting example of both “herd” – susceptible women of child- C) depletions. The induced scurvy in the utilitarian rationale behind mass bearing age – by creating a high level some vital regulatory center kills the immunization and of the sometimes of immunity in another “herd” – child. This induced deficiency is more perverse effects of inadequate immuni- young population groups. likely to occur when the diet is poor in ty thresholds and of achieving targeted Vaccinating children en mass against vitamin C. All of the epidemiologic immunity thresholds but within the rubella is not justified by any signifi- factors predisposing to crib deaths are wrong herd population. Mass rubella cant health benefits accrued by the associated with low vitamin C intake immunization, perhaps one of the children themselves. Instead, inflicting or high vitamin C destruction." clearest examples of immunization for some measure of pain and risk of http://www.mall-net.com/cathcart/ utilitarian purposes, is meant to offer adverse events (e.g. arthritis, autism, Dr. Cathcart’s extensive website also protection, not to the vaccine recipient etc.) on this one target population has gives sources for obtaining Vitamin C but, to fetuses in utero whose suscepti- been justified by the greater utilitarian injection materials for health care ble mothers may contact an infectious good proposed for another population. practitioners. carrier. Although contact with the It was determined that an 80-85% Irwin Stone for a complete history of rubella virus does not always result in rubella vaccine threshold coverage is Vitamin C with acknowledgements by congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), the called for in order to induce herd Linus Pauling: http://www.vitaminc- fetus of a non-immune mother who immunity. Theoretically, unless the foundation.org/healing.html#INTRO comes into contact with the virus dur- number of immunes reach the targeted Quotes-vitamin C & crib death: ing the first trimester of pregnancy goal, either by contracting the disease http://www.whale.to/m/quotes24.html may be at risk. For all other popula- naturally or by vaccination, a “propor- Additional sources: tions, “rubella is …a benign disease tion of women of reproductive age http://www.whale.to/p/vitc.html that does not justify prevention by vac- [remain] susceptible to the virus and http://doctoryouself.com/cathcart_third cination.” the number of ….cases of congential face.html To determine the herd immunity rubella syndrome actually increase[s].” Vitamin C Foundation: threshold for rubella immunization, While this may be true for inadequate http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/me health care professionals needed to immunity rates, it appears that ade- ga_1_1.html#HOLFORD consider whether it was more effec- Rubella Vaccination cont. on page 16

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 15 Rubella Vaccination cont. from page 15 strategy produced the opposite results The Following excerpt is from: quate vaccine-induced herd immunity of those anticipated. Furthermore, Vaccination, Rubella and rates may result in the same perverse from 1970-1988, Britain adopted the Congenital Rubella Syndrome: consequences. strategy of immunizing only adolescent Separating Fact from Fiction In the United States, the number of girls and susceptible women and, while By F. Edward Yazbak, MD CRS cases reported for 1969, the year this strategy did not decrease the num- the rubella vaccine was licensed, was ber of rubella cases, CRS cases “From 1982 to 1992, approximately 31; that number represents a nearly decreased, albeit slightly. Similarly, 30% of cases [of rubella] occurred in three-fold increase in cases reported from 1979-1982, the US adopted this each of three age groups: < 5, 5-19, for each of the three preceding years. same strategy and by 1981 there was a and 20-39 years… However, since Certainly, as the above theory suggests, significant decline in CRS cases. Even 1994, persons 20-39 of age have the initiation of rubella immunization, though the US returned to the child- accounted for more than half of the which would not reach herd immunity hood vaccination strategy, both rubella cases. In 1997, this age group account- rates within the first year, could have and CRS cases continued to decline, ed for 77% of all reported cases. Most resulted in an increase in CRS. Oddly except for occasional divergences. It persons with rubella in this age group enough, and perhaps unpredictably, the has been suggested, however, that the were born outside the United States, in number of CRS cases did not decline more recent decline in CRS may be areas where rubella vaccine is not rou- in the following years despite wide- attributed to other significant “hid- tinely given”. Whatever the reason, it spread vaccination. In 1970 and 1971, den” factors such as a fall in the fertili- is alarming that rubella, a childhood CRS cases soared to 77 and 68 respec- ty rate and the more frequent use of disease, is now occurring more fre- tively. In fact, the number of CRS therapeutic abortions post-exposure. quently in susceptible women. It can cases remained at very high levels (30- It seems fairly clear that even if herd be argued that if the women in that 62 per year) for over a decade before immunity thresholds are reached, but group had contracted rubella as chil- they returned to the pre-vaccine rates. they are not reached in the proper dren, when the disease is fairly benign, Quite simply, this method of protecting populations, the results are disastrous they would have acquired solid lifetime one “herd” by creating immunity in and contrary to the goals of the herd immunity. This appears to be support- another “herd” failed dismally. immunity theory. If only susceptible ed by the fact that in 1969, when the Initially, the vaccine had “little or no women of childbearing age were tar- rubella vaccine was licensed, there impact on the number of [rubella] geted for immunization against rubella, were 57,686 cases of rubella (reported) cases reported” but, even when inci- it is unlikely that the US would have and 62 (0.1%) cases of CRS while in dence rates fell into decline during the experienced such a dramatic increase 1997, there were 181 reported cases of 1970’s there was no concurrent pro- in CRS cases. Furthermore, this strate- rubella and 9 (5%) cases of CRS. gressive decline in CRS until the early gy would have conformed more closely A study from Greece by T. 1980’s. What actually happened is that to the utilitarian ethic in a variety of Panagiotopoulos T. et al. published in rubella infections became less common ways. The vaccine-related costs, pain the British Medical Journal (BMJ in young children but appeared more and adverse events would have been 1999;319:1462-1467) reports that: frequently in older adolescents and less burdensome overall. If the natural- ❇ MMR has been administered to adults which posed a greater health ly acquired disease continued to pro- children in Greece since 1975 risk for women of reproductive age. duce immunity in 80% of the popula- ❇ In 1993, the incidence of rubella In 1980 Dr. Cherry, a member of the tion, then only a small percentage in young adults was higher than in any Advisory Committee on Immunization would require immunization, fewer other recent year Practices, explained that “essentially individuals would suffer discomfort, ❇ That there were 25 serologically we have controlled the disease in per- pain and adverse events from the vac- confirmed cases of CRS {24.6/100 000 sons 14 years or younger but have cine and the associated costs. It seems live births, largest since 1950) that given it a free hand in those 15 or fairly clear that if vaccine-derived herd year. older.” Contrast this with the fact that immunity really is an utilitarian bene- ❇ “With low vaccination coverage, naturally occurring rubella epidemics, fit, then the target populations must be the immunization of boys and girls in the pre-vaccine era, “produced appropriate or else the result is disas- aged 1 year against rubella carries the immunity in about 80% of the popula- trous. theoretical risk of increasing the occur- tion by 20 years of age” and it rence of congenital rubella” wrote the becomes evident that, by targeting the authors. wrong “herd”, this immunization Rubella Vaccination cont. on page 17

Page 16 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Rubella Vaccination cont. from page 16 maternal immunity does not always 1990, 71% of the mothers had a posi- An argument one hears often is that guarantee that the fetus will not devel- tive serologic test, while 43% gave a toddlers must be vaccinated because if op CRS: history of vaccination” Carolyn they are not, they can come down with “Two children developed congenital DiGuiseppi, MD, MPH, US Preventive rubella and infect their susceptible rubella infection when their mothers Services Task Force. January 1994 pregnant mother or teacher. Clearly had been proven to be satisfactorily Dr. Yazbak has studied the problems the best way to prevent that dangerous immunised against rubella before the that arise when rubella susceptible situation is to make sure that the affected pregnancy. One child was women are revaccinated both prior to female adult herself is immune not all severely affected with heart lesions, conception and postpartum. Autism is the children around her. brain damage, severe deafness, physical there a Vaccine Connection? Overview Susceptible pregnant women in their retardation, cataracts and rubella and case histories of women who were critical first trimester may be exposed retinopathy. The other child had mod- injected with rubella vaccine and not only to children but to infected erately severe sensorineural deafness whose children subsequently developed adults and especially healthcare work- and a mild reduction in visual acuity autism spectrum disorders is a “must” ers. The following abstract of a study due to rubella retinopathy” Bott LM, read. (see link below) by Dr. Walter Orenstein , now Chief of Eizenberg DH. “The routine administration of a live the Vaccine Immunization Program at Aust N Z J Ophthalmol 1991 virus vaccine booster, during the post- CDC describes such potential risks. Nov;19(4):291-3 partum period, to previously vaccinat- Rubella vaccine and susceptible hos- “We report a case of a patient who ed women who have remained rubella- pital employees. Poor physician partici- had a subclinical rubella infection in susceptible, should be reconsidered. It pation. Orenstein WA, Heseltine PN, the first trimester of pregnancy which is likely that continued rubella suscep- LeGagnoux SJ, Portnoy BA serosurvey resulted in the delivery of a baby suf- tibility in these women, is not due to a of 2,456 high-risk employees of the fering from congenital rubella. Rubella problem with the vaccine, but with the Los Angeles County-University of virus vaccine, live attenuated woman herself, and therefore it seems Southern California Medical Center (Cendevax) vaccine had been adminis- reasonable not to attempt to correct it showed that 345 (14%) were suscepti- tered to the mother nearly three years by the administration of more boosters. ble to rubella. Of 197 seronegative before, with proven sero-conversion Some re-vaccinated mothers are personnel followed up for participation from a rubella haemagglutination-inhi- developing unusual problems, and in a vaccination program, 105 (53.3%) bition titer of 1:10 to 1:80.” Bott LM, many remain rubella-susceptible. Their were vaccinated. However, only one of Eizenberg DH. children also appear to have an inordi- the 11 known susceptible obstetrician- Med J Aust 1982 Jun 12;1(12):514-5 nate number of difficulties of their gynecologists was vaccinated. Thirty- “A 2 1/2 year-old girl was found to own. Twenty out of twenty five fami- eight seronegative employees who were have congenital rubella syndrome. She lies (80%) in this study have children vaccinated with RA 27/3 rubella vac- presented with microcephaly, mild with autism.” cine were queried four to six weeks developmental delay, partial sen- Autism : Is there a vaccine connection? Part I after vaccination and compared with sorineural deafness and cerebellar atro- http://www.garynull.com/Documents/autis 32 unvaccinated seropositive control phy. Blood titers of rubella hemagglu- m99b.htm subjects. Although the reaction rate tinin were 1/256 and 1/512 (exclusive- Part II was 50% among vaccinees and 3% ly IgG). She had not had rubella, nor http://www.garynull.com/Documents/autis among control subjects, each vaccinee had she been immunized against it. m99b2.htm lost only an average of 0.2 workdays The mother had been immunized References: compared with 0.1 workdays for con- against rubella 4 years before her preg- 1. Catherine Diodati- Immunization: trol subjects. The high rate of suscepti- nancy with this girl and 2 years later History, Ethics, Law and Health, pges bility to rubella among hospital blood hemagglutinin titers were 1/32 14-19. Published 1999 by Integral Aspects Inc. Book available for pur- employees supports the need for and 1/64. She was neither exposed to chase from VRAN screening. Although vaccine reactions nor suffered from rubella during the 2. Excerpt from Dr. F. Edward Yazbak’s are common, they are generally mild. pregnancy” Miron D, On A, Harefuah article titled VACCINATION, RUBEL- Means must be found to ensure greater 1992 Mar 1;122(5):291-3 LA AND CONGENITAL RUBELLA employee acceptance of vaccine. “No population studies have evalu- SYNDROME: Separating Fact >From PMID: 7463660, UI: 81120098 JAMA ated the effectiveness of screening and Fiction 3. Health Canada article access to Rubella 1981 Feb 20;245(7):711-3 vaccinating susceptible individuals in Blind Deaf Association http://www.hc- Although it is highly advisable that reducing the incidence of CRS. Of the sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/dird-dimr/vpd- all mothers be immune to rubella, 21 CRS cases reported in the U.S. in mev/rubella_e.html

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 17 RUBELLA IN BABIES & PREGNANT WOMEN

By Hilary Butler The medical people use an acronym called TORCH to define these defects. This In 1973 at the age of 19, my then acronym stands for: boss told me to go and have a rubella In order of severity of the first 5 vaccine, because my records showed I T = toxoplasma gondii 1 = HIV hadn’t, and rubella was going around. O = Other viruses (HIV, herpes simplex 2 = Cytomegalovirus He didn’t want me off work, since we chicken pox, human parvovirus, 3 = Toxoplasma gondii dairy-herd testers worked 24 days on, Treponema pallidum, measles, mumps...) 4 = Rubella rest of the month off. Anyone who got R = Rubella 5 = Chickenpox, etc. sick was a pain in the neck. C = Cytomegalovirus Being a conforming dutiful employ- H = Herpes simplex ee, I trotted off, had the jab and car- ried on working. Within three weeks I My friend explained that the reason twelfth weeks it is 8%, giving an over- had carpal tunnel syndrome and very all these different ‘nasties’ could cause all risk in the first trimester of 20%(1). sore joints which, I was told, was the almost identical defects was that virus- The logical thought, to me, is not, price you pay for doing something as es pull Vitamin A out of the system. If "That is high, have the jab", but, stupid as full-on gymnastics in earlier you feed a pregnant dog a diet defi- "How is it that 80% of babies come years. The carpal tunnel was operated cient in Vitamin A (but no viruses) you through rubella in utero, in the first on, and the joints settled down into a will get TORCH defects in the pup- trimester, with no problems? What pattern of progressively worsening and pies. If children in Africa who are mal- went wrong in the babies who had "learning to live with it" each winter nourished get measles, they can go deformities?" I believe that diet and and "freedom" in the summer. blind (as can babies born with congen- Vitamin A in the mother is the answer. In August 1980, having got married, ital rubella effects, except in babies the But this line of thought was not my then doctor (an American), on blindness is permanent.). But the blind- "there" in my first pregnancy because I hearing of the prospect of "pregnan- ness in malnourished children is had not even considered that the vac- cy", made me have a blood test. reversible with Vitamin A. The reason cine-produced antibodies might not Happily, he told us that since I had for these defects in babies is that in the work. I was sick, and all I knew then beautifully high levels of rubella anti- first few weeks that a baby is forming, was that if any virus could cause bodies, I could go ahead and get preg- cells divide very quickly. One of the defects, something had to be done. So, nant, so I did. nutritional keys to proper cell division at 8 weeks, really sick, funny rash, At about 8 weeks pregnant I got as is vitamin A, and if a mother contracts glands up on back of neck and behind sick as a dog, and couldn’t figure it any virus, the body uses that Vitamin ears, the shot-gun approach was out, so went to the doctor who took a A to fight the infection… but the baby used…vitamin A, B, C, D, E, F, G, blood test. I didn’t think of rubella, keeps on forming – minus one essential H,…the lot. because I had "immunity", but did dis- building block. Another blood test was taken at the cuss "viral infections" with a friend of The problem with this Vitamin A next antenatal visit, but I felt fine, and mine who was a midwife. She information is that the studies done on nothing further was said during the explained several things, the most animals are old, and have not been pregnancy. Neither did we think to important of which at that time was recently corroborated, nor have any ask. that ALL VIRUSES CAN CAUSE studies been done on pregnant women. I enjoyed the winter during that DEFECTS. I don’t suppose they thought it worthy pregnancy. No joint-pain – what a way of study. to go. And Ian was born with no signs According to the medical literature, of any "TORCH" problems. if a pregnant woman gets rubella in But what a rotten winter the follow- the first 4 weeks of gestation, 30 – ing one was! However, by the next 50% of babies run the risk of congeni- winter No 2 was on the way. Another tal malformations. Infection between pain-free fantastic winter, bouncing the fifth and eighth week gives a risk around like a spring donkey, which is of 25%; and during the ninth to pretty hard to do when you carry like

Rubella in Babies cont. on page 19

Page 18 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Rubella in Babies cont. from page 18 when I went to teach gymnastics, and how much rubella was around now, an elephant with twins! the subject came up during one of the but could find very little information The winter after David’s birth was Health Department’s ‘scareness’ cam- on this. The "experts" aren’t studying so bad that a lot of time was spent in paigns, I found that three of us within it. After all, why should they with a tears (won’t use painkillers), and the the gym club had had the same experi- vaccine to stop it all? In the past, all two following it were not that much ence. I hadn’t realized that 3 million they studied was the levels of 15-year- better. In desperation, when David was women lived in Franklin District! olds who had natural immunity. That four, I went to my GP with a whole In the meantime the GP decided that has not been done now for nearly 20 load of questions like: the tests showed an "immunodeficien- years. So, last year, this parent got cy" so maybe the vaccine was not the caught out, to my embarrassment. I 1.Why does this "arthritis" only come culprit. (Usual tactic – blame the really should have known better. After in the winter? patient). So my file and all my tests all, I had just written an article on 2.Why did it start after the rubella jab? were sent to the rubella expert in rubella! Hmmm…. 3.Why does it stop in the summer? America. He sent a nice letter back Ian got sick. Very strange, I thought. 4.What is the solution? saying that since I was in New Definitely a virus, with him not liking His only reply was to question 4. Zealand, and not the States and so the light (in goes the Vitamin A and "Get pregnant every year." couldn’t sue anyone, he could easily Vitamin C), bit of a mild headache, I lost my rag and stormed out of his confirm that my arthritis was actually didn’t want to eat, mild sore throat. rooms taking my file. In the car, I rubella vaccine-induced, but I should Just a low temperature and sleeping a decided to have a read, and staring up take heart, because had I got it "natu- lot. Sort of nothing much, but not at me were the blood tests done when I rally" it would have been much worse. right. Then he said, "What’s this rash, was pregnant with Ian. I had had Do something about it? No – just learn Mum?" I took one look, and straight rubella. I went back in and asked the to live with it. away felt around the neck and behind doctor why he hadn’t told me. His Ian and David both got rubella in the ears, and there were the telltale response ensured I never went back. So their second year – diagnosed not by glands. And no, the rash did not leave I found another more sympathetic (I the doctor, who couldn’t tell, but by a stain. thought) GP. (My second thought was the Plunket nurse on the basis of low Rubella. I had just written about it, to query how was it that someone fever, swollen glands behind the ears, and missed the obvious! Why? Because who, a few weeks before the pregnan- and a rash that did not leave a stain. it never occurred to me that the chil- cy, could have "immunity" then get The rash of English (red) measles dren would get it twice. And where did rubella when pregnant?) leaves behind a brownish stain on the he get it from? I never found out. The new GP had no idea where to skin for a few days, whereas rubella Could have been anywhere, anyone – start with my "arthritis", so ticked comes and goes with no difference on even a casual contact with a recently everything in the immunology boxes the skin. If you’re dealing with mild vaccinated child in Woolworth’s. on the basis that if something abnor- symptoms which could be either, this I rang the doctor’s surgery, detailed mal came up , we’d look at that and browning, or lack of, might clinch the the symptoms, progression etc, and figure from there. I went to the med- diagnosis. they agreed it was most likely rubella. ical library and ran a Med-line search The question of whether or not my I really wanted some blood tests done on every relevant word for rubella, children could pass it on to other preg- this time, because I wanted proof, but only to find lots of cases of carpal tun- nant women never came up, for several was laughed off the phone. Waste of nel syndrome and arthritis following reasons. The first was that it was my resources, he’s not going to die, etc – the use of the rubella vaccine. I also policy never to take my babies any- same excuses as when David had found documented cases of women where if they were lethargic, or grizzly, measles the second time – so I haven’t with laboratory proof of immunity or I knew they were sick. Secondly, in the "proof" I’d really have liked. who caught rubella while pregnant, an area where most women were test- So, in answer to the issues raised in and some of their babies had congeni- ed, immune or vaccinated, why should the letter in Wavelets (Immunisation tal rubella.(2,3,4,5,6,7) the issue even arise? The conventional Awareness Society Newsletter): I knew that this was common with wisdom is "immunity means you won’t Every pregnant woman should make cytomegalovirus but not with rubella. get it" and at that time it was never it her business to find out her immune My GP’s response was that this was so questioned. status for rubella, even if previously rare (1 in a million!) that no one he During the last measles vaccination vaccinated. Even so, this does not knew of had come across this. Later, campaign I started to look for data of Rubella in Babies cont. on page 20

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 19 Rubella in Babies cont. from page 19 the most benign of all infectious dis- but the response is not sustained. guarantee immunity. eases in children. However, the rare Natural, long-term immunity is not Every pregnant woman should know complications of encephalitis and acquired. Possible reasons for babies that every virus could cause TORCH. thrombocytopenic purpura may alter not developing permanent immunity It is her responsibility to ensure that the prognosis. Many reported deaths are that babies are selectively compe- her diet is such that she can fight off attributed to rubella infection reflect tent to mount immune responses. That any virus without depleting nutrients errors in diagnosis".(1) competence is age dependent, with cer- needed to build a baby. Damage done tain immune components only reach- The likelihood of a baby becoming at this stage is irreversible. ing adult levels at about 8 yrs of age. congenitally deformed is mother- No one knows how much rubella is Research using the measles virus shows dependant, in that her diet (Vitamin A, around at any one time. You can’t tell very clearly that babies’ immune sys- folic acid) and how many weeks preg- when a child might get something. Or, tems are quite different to adults,10 nant she is are the important factors. for that matter, an adult. My husband and that there are some viruses and After all, 80% of pregnant women taught in schools with "mumpy" chil- bacteria which a baby might fend off, who catch rubella in the first trimester dren for years but didn’t catch mumps but will not develop immunity to, in do not have babies with congenital until the age of 63. the early months. deformities. Every parent who decides not to If a mother vaccinated with the This leads to another problem not immunise their children should, out of rubella vaccine can excrete significant mentioned in the letter. What happens fairness to everyone else, keep a close quantities of rubella virus, can vacci- if a mother finds out at the beginning watch on their child. If they are not nated infants also excrete virus? I think of her pregnancy that she is not ‘all-go’ as normal, don’t take them out, so. Usually parents with babies have immune? This is becoming more com- or risk exposing visitors to them. pregnant friends, but never have I mon, as children who were vaccinated When discussing risks, ask your par- heard anyone query whether their vac- as babies, and again when they were ents how you fared with rubella as a cinated 15-month-old could pass the 11, often lose their immunity. The child. Amongst my children, and my rubella virus on to a pregnant friend or standard line from the Health friends, rubella has proven to be nui- her children. This possibility also needs Department is that the two shots result sance value only. Subclinical infections considering since, to be consistent, par- in immunity for life. This is not true. A with no symptoms, but which give ents who vaccinate their children problem also exists where some doc- immunity are estimated at 25%(1). should make sure they are quarantined tors, if a young mother has a history of The risks to normal children from from all pregnant women or her chil- vaccination, do not test for immunity. rubella are remote. Complications dren for at least 21 days. In reality, this They should, regardless. from rubella are rare, with the follow- is never going to happen, because If you are told that despite being ing observed in large epidemics where mothers who vaccinate assume their vaccinated, you are no longer immune, virus load is heavy: child is "clean". you will be offered a vaccination So where did Ian get rubella? Who Transient arthralgia/arthritis – Rates immediately after your baby is born. In knows – but Ian got sick just over vary from epidemic to epidemic – my opinion there are some very good three weeks after the local area had London, 1962; 33% in 40 female reasons why you should not do this. had their Form 1 MMR shots. Co-inci- adults, 6% in 34 males; Bermuda, In mothers vaccinated 2 – 4 days dental or causal? With an excretion 1971; 24% under 11 yrs, 52% in 11 after birth, significant amounts of time of virus up to 3 weeks after vacci- yrs and over(1). infectious rubella virus is shed from nation, and an incubation time of nasopharyngeal secretions and in the Encephalitis – usually cited at 1 in around 14 days, I’d say the timing was breastmilk for two to three weeks after 6,000 cases(1). impeccable. vaccination, although a period of 34 Purpura (reduction in platelet count) days has been noted in the literature. The following comprehensive review complicates rubella in rare instances. Infectious virus was recovered from of rubella in pregnant Danish Women Most patients become symptom-free in 56% of babies, none of whom showed (1975-1984), by M. Mitsch, was pub- 2 weeks and platelet count returns to any clinical evidence of rubella. 25% lished in the Danish Medical Bulletin normal values. May last from weeks to developed transient antibodies to in March1987 (34:46-49). It is one of months(1). rubella virus which became unde- the largest studies ever done. Its tectable after 18 – 20 weeks. (9) results are summarized in the follow- Prognosis – "…the prognosis is almost So breastfed babies can mount a ing table. uniformly excellent. Rubella is one of response to virus from their mothers, Rubella in Babies cont. on page 21

Page 20 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Rubella in Babies cont. from page 20 VACCINES AND DANISH MEDICAL BULLETIN MARCH 1987 A study of pregnancy outcomes of 1346 women serologically identified with AUTISM - rubella between 1975 and 1984. IOM TESTIMONIES The following excerpts from presen- Group 1 Group 2 tations to the Immunization Safety Review Committee meeting at the 623 chose abortion 672 chose to continue pregnancy Institutes of Medicine (IOM) in the 113 lost to follow up U.S. on February 9, 2004 are examples No further data - assumed no 559 total of the level of vaccine inquiries cur- foetal autopsies rently taking place in the U.S. In con- trast to the many vaccine safety 35 aborted spontaneously reviews undertaken by the IOM since 4 stillbirths 1991, similar vaccine inquiries have Total foetal deaths = 39 (6.97%) never been undertaken in Canada. In 623 deaths 520 live births - cord samples taken for this country, legislative hearings have not been convened on the topic of vac- rubella testing cine reactions, injuries, or compensa- 111 had rubella specific IgM (21.34% infec tion to victims. Vaccine reaction data tion rate) bases are closely guarded by Health 14 of those were infected prior to 12 Canada and virtually inaccessible to weeks and 7 of those had serious malforma the public. In Canada, there is no mechanism by which the public can tions (6.3% of 111) appeal for any accountability on vac- OUTCOME: OUTCOME: 513 normal cine injuries. The official stance 0% healthy child outcome 91.77% healthy child outcome amongst Canadian vaccine policy mak- ers is to closely guard the status quo by maintaining an impenetrable The Danish study concluded: References: 1. Not all foetuses are infected stonewall on the issue. 1.Krugman’s "Infectious Diseases of This meeting focused on vaccines (21.34%) Children" 1998, 10th Edition, pg. 403- 2. Not all infected foetuses have 413. and autism. There was a range of sci- malformations (6.3%) 2.British Medical Journal, 16 May 1987, entific information presented on pg. 1277-78 thimerosal, MMR and autoimmunity Recommendations: 3.Medical Journal of Australia June 12, 1982 pg. 514-515 by Dr. Boyd Haley, Dr. Jeff Bradstreet, 1. Therapeutic abortion offered 4.New England Medical Journal, Dr. David Baskin,Dr. Mark Geier, prior to 12 weeks (50% malfor 1988:319, pg. 1415-1416 Mady Hornig and Dr. Vijendra Singh. mations) 5.Communicable Diseases Report, 1991:1 Other scientists presented information 2. In case of fertility problems, thor (R5), pg. 7-9 6.Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal, attempting to refute any link to vac- ough evaluation is necessary 1994:13, pg. 812-815 cines and autism. 3. An estimated 80% healthy foetus 7.Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal, es are aborted if all women abort, 1997:16, pg. 249-251. Following is the statement made by 8.Medicine International, No 51, March Barbara Loe Fisher on behalf of the therefore foetal blood test should 1988, pg. 2107-2110. be offered to conserve life. 9.Journal of Infectious Disease 1982: National Vaccine Information 145:5, pg. 655-666. Center: Rubella in Babies and Pregnant 10.Nature Medicine 1996: 2(11), pg 1250- Women by Hilary Butler is reprinted 1354. “My name is Barbara Loe Fisher from the Immunisation Awareness and I am co-founder and president of Newsletter, Waves - Vol 11, No. 4 the National Vaccine Information Center, which has represented parents of vaccine injured children since 1982. Today we join with the third genera- Vaccines & Autism continued on page 22

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 21 Vaccines & Autism cont. from page 21 safety research priorities in this coun- autistic regression following MMR. tion of parents in the past 22 years to try, including whether or not studies Measles virus is rarely detected in con- ask for scientific acknowledgement will be funded to find out which chil- trols and the only positive control we that vaccines can cause some healthy dren are genetically vulnerable to vac- have obtained for our CSF study has children to regress physically, mentally cine reactions, so their lives can be both lymphoma and leukemia. All and emotionally after vaccination and spared. We hope you will do what other leukemia patients did not have be left with brain and immune system needs to be done, to not only foster measles virus in the CSF. Where [virus] damage, including autism. public trust in the impartiality of the strain specificity can be determined it is As the mother of a son brain injured Institute of Medicine but to light the nearly 100% of vaccine origin.” by the DPT vaccine in 1980, I remem- way for the medical community to do “As has been eloquently demonstrat- ber that back then no scientific body the credible scientific research that will ed by Landing et al, (Pediatric had ever analyzed and published infor- prevent future generations of children Pathology and Molecular Medicine mation about vaccine risks for the pub- from suffering the kinds of vaccine 21:321-342, 2002), the organization lic. The National Childhood Vaccine damage that our children have suffered of the six layers of the human neocor- Injury Act of 1986 asked IOM do that. over the past quarter century.” tex [of the brain] undergoes repeated The reports you have published since and dynamic changes during the exact Biological Evidence of Significant then have been historic documentation time when a known neurotoxicant Vaccine Related Side-effects of the fact that vaccines can cause (ethylmercury) has been and is continu- Resulting in Neurodevelopmental brain and immune system dysfunction ing to be administered. Strides to Disorders: in some children. And you have been reduce thimerosal in vaccines have A brief excerpt from a presentation the first scientific body in the world to been partially successful in the made by Jeff Bradstreet MD, call for more credible basic science youngest children, but incompletely ICDRC research to answer outstanding ques- understood potential risks remain in tions about vaccine risks. “Evident for many individuals expe- older children who are still being That being said, you know from our rienced with these issues, is the data exposed through Diphtheria/Tetanus testimony before your committees over supporting unprecedented levels of boosters, Influenza and other vaccines. the years that we have not agreed with neurodevelopmental and immune dis- Since no market-ready alternative for all of your conclusions. Dr. Harris orders within the last two decades. MMR exists in the US, this is a more Coulter and I were the first to report The prevalence has risen to the point challenging issue until new options vaccine induced autism in our 1985 that many believe it has reached epi- emerge [such as] ….a nasal measles book DPT: A Shot in the Dark , which demic proportions. Our group of vaccine in development and expected was used by your 1991 committee as a researchers and clinicians, have within 2-3 years. No safety data is reference. However that committee hypothesized that a subset of neurode- available, nor will be available for declared that DPT vaccine-induced velopmental and medical disorders some time.” encephalopathy could not cause including: encephalopathy with autistic “A crucial question relates to what autism, an early conclusion which was features, a unique inflammatory bowel makes a child susceptible to a possible later called into question by IOM's disease, along with speech, learning adverse event to MMR vaccine. 1994 reanalysis of the National and sensorimotor dysfunction, repre- Possible risk factors are beginning to Childhood Encephalopathy Study sent the manifestations of injuries relat- emerge in the histories of affected chil- (NCES) because many of the DPT ed to vaccine components, especially dren including: familial autoimmunity, damaged children in that study had mercury in the form of thimerosal and pre-existing dietary allergy/intolerance, autism spectrum disorder symptoms. measles virus from the MMR. Part of vaccination with MMR while unwell, While you said in 2001 that it is bio- this hypothesis has been the existence including current or recent antibiotic logically plausible that vaccines could of specific genetic vulnerability of envi- administration, and receipt of multiple cause autism, causation was once again ronmental susceptibility cofactors. simultaneous vaccine antigens, with the rejected. In coming to that conclusion, Dr. Bradstreet presented “com- associated potential for immunological we question the preferential treatment pelling” data representing the “detec- interference, particularly for mumps given to published retrospective epi- tion of MV (measles virus) in the upon measles virus. The growing bur- demiological studies over strong clini- inflamed GI biopsies, the circulating den of infant vaccines may increasingly cal and biological mechanism evidence. lymphocytes and the CSF (cere- skew the immune response away from What you do at this critical moment brospinal fluid) in a significant number optimal anti-viral immunity towards a in time may well determine vaccine of children whose parents reported Vaccines & Autism cont. on page 23

Page 22 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Vaccines & Autism cont. from page 22 teratogens (agents that cause develop- tion are quite similar to the immune dominant T-helper cell type 2 reper- mental malfunctions) etiologically abnormalities in autistic children, indi- toire. The rapid increase in numbers linked to autism. Children with con- rectly pointing to an etiological link of of children with dietary allergy, itself genital rubella had certain autistic-like measles infection in autism.” associated with reduced CD8 cell num- behaviors. Some autistic children did bers, prolonged viral infections and not make antibodies to rubella vaccine Excerpt from the Statement of Rep. familial autoimmunity and increasing even after the repeated rubella immu- Dave Weldon, M.D. antibiotic use in infants over the last nization. Few cases of autism have also Member of Congress before the 10-15 years, suggest that the number been described among children with Institute of Medicine of children who may be at risk of aber- congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) On the Mercury-Vaccine-Autism con- rant responses to atypical infectious infection. troversy challenges will have risen in the last Recently, we took a novel approach decades.” of studying viral etiology in autism [7- “I am very disturbed by the contin- “When combined with our data and 9]. We raised two simple questions: ued number of reports I receive from that published or presented by others First, do autistic children harbor researchers regarding their experiences in different forums, the evidence is abnormal virus serology (antibody lev- in pursuing these answers. It is past substantial that this type of genetically els) and, secondly, is there a correlation time that individuals are persecuted for predisposed individual would be between virus serology and brain anti- asking questions about vaccine safety - expected to encounter difficulty with vaccine constituents, particularly mer- cury and aluminum. Equally impor- ...individuals are persecuted for asking tant to evaluating thimerosal toxicity issues and susceptibility risks are nutri- questions about vaccine safety ... tional factors, e.g. micronutrients, pro- tein quality, vitamins, essential fatty bodies. We studied immune response we have recognized error before in the acids and antioxidants. Neither the to viruses by measuring the level of case of live polio, whole-cell pertusiss, previous IOM proceedings, nor epi- their antibodies. For this purpose, we and rotavirus vaccines. Many have demiology available regarding vaccine measured antibodies to five viruses: described encountering apathy from safety take these factors into adequate Measles virus, mumps virus, rubella government officials charged with consideration” virus, CMV, and human herpesvirus-6 investigating these matters, difficulty in getting their papers published, and the Excerpt from Statement by (HHV-6). To our surprise, we found loss of other research grants. Vijendra Singh, Ph.D, Associate that the antibody level of only the Others report overt discouragement, Professor of Neuroimmunology, measles virus, but not of the other intimidation and threats, and have Center for Integrated Biosystems, viruses tested, was significantly higher abandoned this field of research. Some Utah State University in autistic children than the normal children In addition, we found an have had their clinical privileges Full statement can be viewed at: interesting correlation between measles revoked and others have been hounded http://autismautoimmunityproject.org/ antibody and brain autoimmunity, out of their institutions. An example of “Leading scientists in the field com- which was marked by myelin basic the latter is Dr. Andy Wakefield who monly believe that the viral infections protein (MBP) antibodies. These two has described to me how the intellectu- trigger autoimmune responses and immune markers correlated in 90% or al climate at the Royal Free in London eventually lead to organ-specific greater autistic children, suggesting a became intolerable for him and he was autoimmune diseases. In autism, the causal link of measles virus with forced to depart. trigger mechanism is not known but autoimmunity in autism. But the serol- Virtually all of his ongoing research viral infections have been suspected. ogy to other viruses and other brain now has to be privately funded, while Viruses can enter the brain through the autoantibodies did not show this cor- those seeking to disprove him receive nasopharyngeal membranes or induce relation. This was a very important government money. Mind you, half of an autoimmune response against the finding that prompted us to postulate a Dr. Wakefield's theory has been proven brain, thereby impact the development temporal link of measles virus in the correct and accepted in the medical of the central nervous system (CNS). etiology of the disorder To that end, it community. Hundreds of children with Since the onset of the disorder is quite is also noteworthy that the immune regressive autism and GI dysfunction early on in life, viruses might serve as manifestations of measles virus infec- Vaccines & Autism cont. on page 24

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 23 Vaccines & Autism cont. from page 23 cury. Amazingly, some of these have As with thimerosal, my concerns have been scoped and clinicians are actually been published by government about MMR have not subsided: . The seeing the inflammatory bowel disease officials. Yet other officials claim the NIH is presently funding an effort to he first described. The NIH is finally toxicity of thimerosal duplicate Wakefield. Vaccine strain funding an attempt to repeat Dr. is unknown, or not likely harmful. measles virus has been identified in the O'Leary's findings of measles RNA in In 2001 you concluded that “exposure inflamed GI tract of children with Wakefield's biopsy specimens, though I to thimerosal-containing vaccines regressive autism . Measles virus anti- am disappointed it has taken this long. could be associated with neurodevelop- bodies have been found in the cere- A clinician in New York was poised to mental disorders." I urge you not to brospinal fluid (CSF) of children with repeat Wakefield's work two years retract from this conclusion, but to regressive autism. Rechallenge cases of ago, but he ultimately was refused by build upon it. children with regressive autism have his IRB and then subsequently had his Your recommendation in 2001 that been observed and documented. The clinical privileges withdrawn. there be an immediate effort to end the medical community has largely accept- This atmosphere of intimidation administering of thimerosal containing ed a new form of bowel disease in chil- even surrounds today's hearing. I vaccines to infants was wise. dren with regressive Autism. Federal received numerous complaints that this Unfortunately, it was ignored. Existing research funding has not been directed event is not a further attempt to get at stocks and new lots of such vaccines to investigating many of your MMR the facts but rather a desire to sweep were administered to millions of research recommendations. these issues under the rug. I shared infants. Furthermore, the CDC is Also, a significant shortcoming of these with Dr. Gerberding. Last week poised to recommend thimerosal-con- today's meeting is that Dr. Wakefield she called me to assure me that this is taining flu vaccine to 6, 7 and 23 was not invited. In 2001 you found not the case. She informed me that she month old babies. Some recent litera- that cases of MMR "rechallenge" wants to meet with me and some of ture gives me further reason for con- would provide evidence in favor of the parents, clinicians, and researchers cern: causality. It is my understanding that to work with them to get There is very little science to back Dr. Wakefield has developed such a the proper answers.” (Dr. up claim of no harm. In fact, a review case series. The lack of an invitation is Gerberding is new head of the Centers of the medical literature appears to puzzling. for Disease Control & Prevention show just how harmful thimerosal is. CDC Built-In Conflict of Interest (CD) Even Dr. Neal Halsey's evaluation of “I was assured by Dr Gerberding the Pichichero (Pediatrics 2003) data While I have considerable respect for over a year ago that she would wel- found toxic exposure levels in some Dr. Gerberding, I am concerned about come outside researchers into the children. In 2001 you recommended the ability of the CDC's National (VSD). It then studies to compare children receiving Immunization Program to objectively took me over a year to secure access thimoersal with those who did not. investigate this matter. The CDC has a for independent researchers. Once in, You urged a monitoring of the preva- built-in conflict of interest that is likely it was quickly discovered that if you lence of neurodevelopmental disorders to bias any reviews. CDC is tasked sort the VSD looking at the children as thimerosal was removed. with promoting vaccination, ensuring who in 1997 and later received Unfortunately, government officials high vaccination rates, and monitoring thimerosal-free DTaP versus those who have done neither. Outside researchers the safety of vaccines. They serve as received thimerosal-containing DTaP, have made some progress, but they their own watchdog - neither common there is a dramatic statistically signifi- have been hampered in gaining ade- nor desirable when seeking unbiased cant increase in autism for those quate access to the VSD. MMR and research. This has been a recipe for receiving thimerosal. Unfortunately, Autism With regard to MMR and disaster with other agencies. Congress the CDC has hampered further Autism, I urge the Committee to build recently saw the wisdom of splitting research, by refusing to make available upon its 2001 conclusions and recom- the FAA because its dual functions left post-2000 data. mendations. A strong signal from you it conflicted between promoting flying A thorough medical literature search could lessen the intimidation obstruct- and regulating the flying public. yields thousands of articles on ing this research. You concluded that In the aftermath of the Space Shuttle thimerosal many of them delineating since the MMR was mandatory it was Columbia accident, The Gehman its highly toxic nature, including sever- the responsibility of the government to Commission found that a critical prob- al recent studies reporting that ensure its safety, even if hypothesized lem in the Shuttle program was that thimerasol is as toxic as methylmer- adverse outcomes are rare. I concur. Vaccines & Autism cont.on page 25

Page 24 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Vaccines & Autism cont. from page 24 not demand the ability to fact check the same individuals were responsible and replicate work? LETTERS for flying the shuttle on time and fly- Conclusions To summarize: ing it safely. Dear VRAN, This same conflict is inherent in the Last week, Dr. Gerberding shared January 30, 2004 CDC. Unfavorable safety reports lead with me that she would be devoting to lower vaccination rates. An associa- additional time personally to this issue I have a question. I just recently lost tion with between and that she believed the research my grandfather, He was 81 years old. would also force CDC officials to should not end with this meeting. She He was sick with a cold but other wise admit that their policies irreparably indicated her desire to see this research healthy, he was given a flu shot and damaged thousands of children. Who continue and emphasized that we later that day he had difficulty breath- among us would easily accept such a should let the truth prevail, regardless ing. He passed away that same night. conclusion about ourselves? Yet, this is of the consequences. I urge you to Could it have been a reaction to the flu what the CDC is asked to do. Also, the build on the recommendations and shot ? relationship between the CDC and findings of possible associations estab- Angela Wallace vaccine manufactures has become lished in your 2001 reports on MMR extremely close. Given these facts, and Thimerosal. Dear Angela, studies conducted for or by the CDC There are increased reasons for con- I am so sorry to hear of your grand- should be re-evaluated with in this cern. father’s sudden and unexpected pass- context. Evaluating how best to elimi- ing. Every year, we hear accounts of nate this conflict of interest would be a ❇ The evidence of persistent measles healthy seniors dying shortly after a flu worthwhile endeavor for the IOM. I infection in the GI tract and CSF of shot. Unfortunately, there are no legal urge the IOM to take this matter under children with regressive autism contin- requirements for vaccine providers to review. ues to expand and further research keep records of people who die shortly Further undermining my confidence should be encouraged. after injection with flu vaccines which in the CDC's ability to monitor safety ❇ Many of the research recommen- enables health officials to keep vaccine is the experience I had in assisting an dations you set forth in your 2001 related deaths hidden. independent researcher gain access to reports have been ignored by federal Similarly, we have many accounts of the VSD and what we have discovered research agencies. children sustaining severe injuries subsequently. The CDC erected exces- ❇ Results of the Wakefield duplica- when vaccinated during a minor ill- sive barriers and has imposed severe tion study will not be known until this ness. In Canada, child deaths follow- limits on access to the data. summer. ing vaccination are NEVER recorded Researchers are not provided data col- ❇ Studies conducted by or in conjuc- as an adverse reaction, even if death lected beyond December 2000 - seri- tion with the CDC should be consid- occurs within hours of the shot, but ously limiting the ability to provide for ered in the context of the CDC's inher- are lumped into and hidden in the independent research to observe the ent conflict of interest. Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) category. effects of the removal of thimerosal. ❇ Neither the entire VSD, nor the In recent years, much information The IRB approval process forces datasets used by the CDC for their has emerged suggesting that a large researchers to receive approval from as studies are being made available for segment of the population suffers from many as 7 IRBs - each with its own independent review. vitamin C deficiency. Adequate vitamin requirements. CDC places strict limits ❇ More investigation is needed to C plays a critical role as an antioxi- on what data is available to answer these questions with the degree dant and antiviral in neutralizing many researchers, access to the complete of certainty that science demands.” pathogens and toxins. During illness, database is virtually impossible, and For additional astute comments on the the need for increased amounts of vita- the data is made available on an inade- IOM meeting by Dr. F. Edward min C rises markedly. The end result quate PC. Yazbak. MD, read his article: Studies can be catastrophic for an individual Raw datasets used by the CDC to that Count, Studies that Don’t already vitamin C deficient who, when conduct their studies are not made http://autismautoimmunityproject.org/y suffering from a viral/bacterial infec- available to independent researchers - azbak_studies.html tion, is then bombarded with vaccine only altered datasets are provided, thus toxins. Indeed, death can ensue, as has the CDC's work cannot be evaluated been amply demonstrated by numerous by outside researchers. Does science Letters cont. on page 26

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 25 Letters cont. from page 25 into the vaccine program. That their fering public is what I experience out- researchers. You may also be aware illness was “milder” due to “partial side my front door because my daugh- that the flu vaccine contains the mer- protection” is debatable. They were ter’s disability is invisible to those who cury based preservative, thimerosal, sicker than me! don’t know her. Support from the which is a known neurotoxin. My oldest daughter is in grade 7 this government is what you have to fight Vaccination is an invasive medical pro- year. Hepatitis B vaccine time. for each year and physicians become cedure which carries a risk of injury Interesting that public health are now annoyed with me when I shun their and death - and when given to a per- keeping records this year, health & vaccines. son already fighting an infection, the vaccine reaction history and lot num- It’s a hell of a lifestyle I walked into risk rises, especially if that person is bers. A few years ago when my son the day I allowed my youngest to have vitamin C deficient. passed through this grade, they kept her routine vaccines. Our family has I've attached an article by Dr. Alan no records – only the number of shots been slowly drowning in sorrow every Clemetson, MD on the critical role of given and not specifically to whom. since. We hang onto the hope that one vitamin C as essential for the detoxifi- This improved record keeping amused day recognition and apology will be cation of histamine which can be me – impressed me even, but not delivered. Thank you VRAN for help- caused by numerous factors, including enough for me to “bite”. ing people understand this issue. infection, lack of sleep, stress and vac- I have daily reminders at home how Sincerely, cination. The injection of foreign pro- a vaccine can change your life forever. Judy Williams teins contained in vaccines can lead to My youngest daughter is autistic and St. Catherines, Ontario dramatically elevated histamine levels, can be very aggressive. My smashed a well recognized cause of capillary nose bent permanently to left is what I This is a card Judy keeps in her purse fragility and increased risk of brain see each morning in the mirror. Rage to inform people who offer unsolicit- hemorrhage. attacks and chaos is what I experience ed advice on her daughter’s behaviour I do hope this information is helpful in my house. An unsympathetic, inter- problems to you. Very sincerely, Edda West My daughter suffers from a cluster of serious brain disorders. The complexi- VRAN - Vaccination Risk Awareness ty and the consequences of these conditions would not be obvious to you. Network Inc. Many times I have been approached by strangers and store staff with regard ******************** to my daughter’s behaviour. Many times my response to her (or my apparent Dear Edda, under-response to her) has been judged by those who have no idea of the Feb. 10, 2004 scope of the problem. Please know that I have much experience with her as her parent; that the normal parenting techniques that you might suggest to me I’m sending along my membership do not work with a child in this condition; that your store policies are unen- dues – I really do try to be on time, forceable for a child like this (until we find the right medication). I have on- but life has a way with getting in the going consultation with professionals and her behaviour therapist. Your inter- way. Flu shots were highly promoted ference makes my already difficult job as her parent that much more difficult. this season at my place of employment, In fact, interference such as this escalates her behaviour and sets her off. This in the newspaper, on t.v. commercials. leads to a rage attack that threatens the safety and security of everyone around “Highly promoted”, of course is the her. The meltdown may not happen here in the store, but it’s coming. polite way of saying the vaccines were "shoved down my throat at every My aim right now is to quickly complete my necessary shopping, keep my turn.” Scare tactics and guilt inducers daughter away from your attention (which fuels her), and get us all to safety so were the tools used – and, my good- that it doesn’t happen in this store (or when I’m behind the wheel, as it has in ness, the shots are free! Far into the the past). flu season, the media is saying there’s still time to get in on this deal – and Please respect that I am the most qualified person here to handle her….and clinic hours are posted everywhere! that leaving her home was not an option today. I passed upon the “deal”, thank you very much! Many of my clients and co-workers got the flu despite buying Letters cont. on page 27

Page 26 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Letters cont. from page 26 Reply to Donna the American Brain, that pertussis vac- Dear VRAN, cine has been used for years to induce Many thanks for contacting VRAN Feb. 15, 2004 experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and for sharing the heartwrenching (EAE) in laboratory animals and which I just finished reading your web story of your son's profound disabili- can cause demyelination or incomplete page. And I just wanted to say thank ties, and the suffering your son and myelination in the brain. Says Coulter you for the information. whole family have endured these many (pge 159) “…..pertussis vaccine is the My son is 17 years old. He has years. A number of questions always preferred "adjuvant" in experiments to Lennox-gastaut syndrome (seizure dis- come up when we hear from families produce allergic encephalomyelitis...... order) microcephaly, c.p and is severely who suspect vaccine injury. What was U.S. vaccination authorities seem retarded with no speech. He has been his health profile at birth and in the steadily oblivious to the danger of through every test and had every cause first few months of life before any vac- injecting children with an "adjuvant" ruled out. The doctors’ explanation cines were given? Was he developing which , of all those known to the was: “Sometimes things just happen.” normally, meeting all milestones, and world of biochemistry, has the most I gave up looking for reasons WHY then at some point you began to notice pronounced ability to produce allergic this happened to my son. Then last problems? Did the disabilities develop sensitization." year, for some reason I put in Rhogam over a period of time, or sudden and We encourage all parents who con- and seizures in the search bar on my dramatic in onset? Do you recall any- tact us with a suspected vaccine injury computer...Boy was I surprised! Then I thing unusual after his vaccines, such that they write a detailed chronology started looking up mercury as high pitched inconsolable scream- of all the events that happened leading poison...My son has the classic symp- ing, high fever, staring spells, long up to the child's disability, and ensuing toms!! sleeps he couldn't be aroused from? At impact on the development and health. So I called another mother I know what age were vaccines started? What Our goal is to present to the govern- who has a child with Lennox (her vaccine combinations did he receive ment & public, a record, including the child had died last year at age 16) She and at what age? Any records of vac- individual stories, of all the families told me to have my sons baby hair cine brand names and lot numbers? At who have suffered the heartbreak of tested..(I’m glad I was one of those what age would you say he became seeing their once normal babies sink moms who saved her baby’s hair). His severely disabled? Where in Canada do into intractable chronic disabilities and baby hair at age 7 months had mer- you live? neuroimmune disorders after being cury levels of 13.78! A healthy adult At some point, you might be inter- injected with the recommended vac- is 1.58. I felt sick to my stomach. All ested in reading about the effects of cines. these years of the doctors telling me the whole cell pertussis vaccine, which I look forward to hearing from you that "Things just Happen". My son is what your son would have received, again, and should you wish to speak to can not go through chelation because and which has been implicated in me in person, you can contact me at he is on seizure medicine, and I also many cases of severe neurological 250-355-2525.. read that mercury damage is irre- injuries and well documented in A versible. He has never eaten fish, (he Shot in the Dark by Barbara Loe Very sincerely, has to eat pureed foods) Never had a Fisher & Harris Coulter. The mercury Edda West filling. content in vaccines is one aspect of ******************* I am so disgusted that my child and vaccine damage amongst others, and other children were poisoned and the has only recently come to light as hav- RE: Hepatitis B Vaccine Injury government allowed it to happen! Well ing been present in exceedingly toxic Jan. 28, 2004 from a mother that has been pained doses in childhood vaccines. Dear VRAN, Historically though, pertussis vaccine with a child that will always need 24 I believe it was about 2 years ago, I has been the main one implicated in hour medical care. Thank you for writ- was referred to you. I recall having vaccine damage cases. I suspect your ing on this subject. spoken to you on the phone and then son suffered both from mercury poi- you sent me some information as well soning as well as severe reaction to the Sincerely, as contact info of a lawyer named Ron whole cell pertussis vaccine. Donna Arnold Strike in Ontario. I was shocked to read some years I had the hepatitis B vaccine that ago in Dr. Harris Coulter's excellent was recommended to me by my family book: Vaccination, Social Violence, Criminality: The Medical Assault on Letters cont. on page 28

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 27 physician, Dr. Erlick (who is now the she is in some part of Africa. asked the doctor if I should limit his head of the OMA). He stated that I am sure as a joined force we can exposure to others. He instructed me there was an epidemic in 1995 and do something. For me to gather all the that such precautions were unneces- that he thought I should get it. At that info is too stressful and this makes my sary. time, I didn’t know what I know now, illness worse. I would like to speak My son infected 3 others with and trusted the medical profession, with you regarding this. Shall call you measles, including 2 adults who and did agree to take it. I was a very one of these days? became gravely ill. (Another G.P. diag- healthy individual, enjoyed life and nosed the other 3 with old fashioned Tammy de Silva lead a very active life. I had so much measles). My younger son had grave energy and was so vibrant until I got ************************** problems with the pertussis component the shot. of the booster vaccinations beginning I noticed with the second shot, I Shot in the arm: The chiropractic dis- with his first vaccination almost 16 started getting viral infections that I pute over childhood vaccinations years ago. As a result of his last boost- had never got all my life. I recall I got When CBC Marketplace aired this er that caused a rapid spike in temper- bowel problems, flues, vaginal sting- segment on January 20, 2004, it ature, resulting in many febrile ing, eye problems, stress related prob- brought an avalanche of protest over seizures, and, extreme swelling of the lems where I would get so agitated for the shoddy treatment of the issue and leg in which the shot was administered no reason at all. My bowel problems the shadow it cast over the my G.P. He then prescribed a pertussis were so severe and would drive me up Chiropractic profession. It’s biased free booster prior to his enrollment in the wall. I believe that this vaccine editing is an absolute blot on CBC’s public school. affected my liver and depressed my journalistic integrity. Instead of a sin- When I contacted Public Health ask- immune system. These symptoms were cere effort to explore critical vaccine ing for some advice and information getting worse. I got pregnant in 1996 issues relevant to every parent today, it regarding his reactions to the boosters and my hormones were playing hell. I turned the show into a Chiropractor I was not assisted. In fact after the last miscarried my child at 3 months. I bashing free-for-all. The Market place booster, I was advised over the phone have never been sick all my life and discussion forum is still on line and to by a Public Health nurse that she had everything started to get worse. I date it has posted nearly 400 letters, never heard of such a severe reaction. developed major neurological symp- many from parents whose children In my alarm I drove him to the Issak toms, digestive problems, cognitive have been adversely affected by vac- Walton Killiam Hospital's Emergency problems, muscle aches and pains, cines, and many intimidating and nasty Department in Halifax, some 100 kms dizziness, numbness, tingling, swelling, letters from provocateurs on the pro- away from my home to be told by the vision problems, bladder and bowel vaccination side. Following are a few attending physician that febrile seizures problems and in other words every posts: and extreme swelling of the vaccinated part of my body had a dysfunction. limb are common side effects among I am presently on a disability income ******************** children. I believe that it may be useful and this in not sufficient to survive. I and helpful to parent consumers for Letter from Anne Urquhart: cannot tolerate meds and therefore had Marketplace to examine the safety and to resort to nutritional therapies as I just watched your item on vaccina- effectiveness of childhood vaccinations advised by my physician. This aggra- tions and my response is this: I have aside from the issue of chiropractic vates my illness as you would know never accessed the services of a chiro- advice. Thank you. that financial problems builds up more practor, but I've had a couple of ******************** stress and this in turn exacerbates my unusual and distressing experiences symptoms. with my own children following child- Letter from Helene Matte, I believe that like in the US where hood vaccinations. My eldest son was Gatineau, Quebec there is a compensation fund for the vaccinated for measles, mumps, etc. as I too am a mother who believes that vaccine injury victims, there should be a toddler, some 19 years ago. He her child has had a severe reaction to a fund set up here too, where people became mildly ill with something that an MMR vaccine. One month after could be compensated. I have a paper looked very much like old fashioned this vaccine my daughter started hav- written by Dr. Bonnie Dunbar who has measles. I took him to my doctor who ing seizures. She had a cluster of 7 proved the connection between this informed me that he couldn't possibly seizures. Many tests were administered vaccine and those affected. I now hear have measles because he had been vac- and no cause was found. I was told that she cannot be reached and that cinated for this illness. I specifically Letters cont. on page 29

Page 28 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Letters cont. from page 28 When a thinking person adds up the for themselves. When a health problem that a reaction to an MMR vaccine amount of toxins circulating in the arises some time after the vaccination, could not be the cause since a reaction body, it is not difficult to see that this doctors rarely associate these with the should be within two weeks. Nothing can cause serious health problems injection and do not, as they should, was reported. I believed them. either immediately (like SIDS, food report the problem as an adverse reac- After the MMR booster 6 months ) or sometime in the future tion. The monograph then reports that later, she had a second cluster of (autism, ADD, diabetes mellitus, can- "A cause and effect relationship seizures of approx. 70 seizures this cer, MS, etc.). Vaccines change the pat- between these side effects and the vac- time. I do not need any more convinc- tern of exposure of children to com- cination was not established." ing. Nothing will be reported on my mon childhood pathogens. The Had you done honest reporting daughter's experience because it was immune system becomes skewed and without showing your bias against vac- not a reaction within the 2 week norm. I know that I gave birth to a perfect child with an APGAR of 10 and now You ignored the most important reason parents at age 4 she is epileptic. The reporting are against vaccinating their children: of incidence of immunization injuries is so strict that a case like my daugh- THE INGREDIENTS . . . ter's will never be reported. How many others are like my daughter? We can susceptible to viral diseases in adult- cines and chiropractors: never know. hood. ❇ You would have involved the par- In the 1960s, as an elementary ents, the real experts on this topic, ******************** school teacher, I was expected to rec- who have banded together because of Letter from Heidi Johl: ognize learning disabilities and child- their sad experiences hood diseases. In a school of over 400 ❇ You would have consulted doctors Your program on childhood vaccina- children, we never had a case of and paramedics who know that the tions was incomplete! You ignored the autism, peanut allergy or ADD. Only vaccines are an assault on our children most important reason parents are many years later in the 1990's did and many of whom will not vaccinate against vaccinating their children: the these problems come to light in the their own children or be vaccinated INGREDIENTS: classroom. My parents' generation, my themselves against the flu. listed in the Compendium of generation and my children were never ❇ You would have explained to the Pharmaceuticals and Specialties avail- vaccinated and are immune for life public that VACCINATIONS are NOT able at every pharmacy and in every because we were allowed to have the MANDATORY in Canada and pre- doctor's office, and itemized on the diseases at an early age. Today we are sented the laws proving this. package insert included with the vac- also aware of the use of vitamins C ❇ You would have found that some cine!! and A in alleviating the symptoms of children, in spite of having been vacci- ❇ formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, most of these diseases and should nated, can still contract the disease. 27 ppm in every shot encourage the use these instead of seri- This can be disastrous especially if the ❇ aluminum phosphate, a neurotoxin, ous toxic substances. doctor does not recognize it and fails 1.5 mg Toxins in the environment are diffi- to treat it appropriately. ❇ thimerosal, a derivative of mercury cult to handle, but toxins directly ❇ You would have investigated very and a neurotoxin, .01% and vari injected into the body must have con- carefully the pharmaceutical industry's ous other substances that are of sequences! No one knows the long- financial benefits versus our children's questionable value. These ingredi term consequences of injecting foreign health benefits. The public, including ents are administered to tiny bodies proteins into the body; no one is mak- the health care providers, have been not able to complain about aches ing any structured effort to find out. made to believe in vaccinations or pains, whose immune systems Detailed monographs of the vaccines through irresponsible scare tactics have not matured enough to handle will give warnings such as: "As with orchestrated by the pharmaceuticals. the many doses of toxins (a mini any vaccine, there is the possibility that As a former teacher, a mother and mum of 23 vaccines in the first 18 broad use of (name of the vaccine) grandmother, I am concerned with the months of life) and whose parents could reveal adverse reactions not health of our children. I consider this are not able to understand the body observed in clinical trials." Our chil- non-chalant, uninformed assault on language of their ailing children dren are guinea pigs who cannot speak until it is too late. Letters cont. on page 30

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 29 News Clips cont. from page 29 In the case of vaccine injury and vaccines actually work? our most vulnerable a serious form of death of our children, this never hap- I’m sad at the approach that was abuse. Your programme failed to help pens. Information from the US Vaccine taken in this investigative piece. But the parents, but worse, the children Adverse Effects Reporting System data- not surprised. It was just under a year who cannot speak for themselves! base indicates almost 200,000 adverse ago that “The National” ran an in- effects reports since 1990. Even with depth story on vaccinations with a ******************** an estimated maximum of only 10% focus on the measles vaccine. That Letter from Donna Barker of the adverse vaccine reactions being story was filled with hum-dinger lines reported to the government in the US, such as, “In their hearts most parents As a mother who did my due dili- there were nearly 25,000 VAERS know vaccines are safe…. that the gence before deciding whether to vac- hepatitis B reports from July 1990 to chances of something going wrong are cinate my son or not, there are a num- October 31, 1998, showing 439 deaths only one in a million." ber of statements I would like to chal- and 9,673 serious reactions involving Unfortunately, the statistics at the lenge the Marketplace research and emergency room visits, hospitalization, World Health Organization (a pro-vac- editorial crew on: disablement or death. This means that cine organization if ever there was one) according to estimates by the FDA indicate that the odds of a child having First, the statement by Jason Busse 4,390 deaths from this one vaccine a severe adverse reaction from the that “there have been very large com- alone could easily be possible when measles vaccine alone is 368 – 429 per prehensive studies…to see if there’s any applying the estimated reporting of million. http://www.who.int/ith/chap- higher rate of autism in (vaccinated) only 10%. ter06_18.html#table64 groups than in children that have never That’s the equivalent of five jumbo Add up the hospitalizations (11,916) had the vaccines and there simply jets filled with American Hep B-vacci- and deaths (2,900) that the US VAERS isn’t.” nated babies that just crashed. Where database notes between 1999 and 2002 for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, chicken ...no study has ever been undertaken with pox, polio, hib and flu vaccines togeth- regard to any vaccine that compares the er and you get 14,816 children who became so sick due to a vaccine reac- relative health of a population of vaccinated tion that they required hospitalization versus non-vaccinated children. or a casket. http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/ And that's NOT taking into account the are the headlines? Where’s the inquiry fact that just 10% of vaccines events In fact, although many studies have into the Hep B vaccine?? are even reported... been done on the possible connection Third, in the segment about the per- So, explain to me why chiropractors between the MMR vaccine and autism, tussis vaccines at the London, Ontario aren’t allowed to provide parents with to my knowledge, no study has ever school Wendy Mesley indicated that advice on an alternative way to keep been undertaken with regard to any “last year there were nine cases (of our children healthy… and why CBC vaccine that compares the relative whooping cough) in the city – and at journalists are so eager to maintain the health of a population of vaccinated least one was a student who had not status quo when it comes to the vacci- versus non-vaccinated children. If such been vaccinated.” Am I the only one nation issue. a study has been done, I would love to who picked up the unstated fact: - that know where it can be found. ******************** means that eight of the nine cases were Busse also drew an analogy, claiming in children who HAD BEEN VACCI- To view the transcript or video of the that showing parents the possible side NATED against whooping Maketplace segment: effects of vaccines is like “describing cough…isn’t that an interesting story? http:/www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/fil the entire airline industry based on one 89% of vaccinated children contracted es/health/vaccines/pg_one.html# crash.” The analogy doesn’t fit howev- the disease. Yet parents are lead to er. When a plane crashes and kills or To read viewers responses, debate still believe that vaccination confers immu- injures even eight people in a remote ongoing on the discussion forum at: nity, thus it’s other moniker, “immu- town in Ontario, all Canadians hear http://forums.cbc.ca/[email protected] nization.” Why didn’t Wendy ask the the news and enquiries are launched to [email protected]/0 next obvious question: how well do determine why the plane crashed.

Page 30 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter DR. MC CANDLESS ON THIMEROSAL & CHICKENPOX IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER CHILDHOOD PRO-

For anyone who did not attend the get the MMR, after which the immune TECTS LATER IN science section of the Oct. DAN! system can no longer sustain them and LIFE [Defeat Autism Now! Conference] in the characteristic picture we call ASD Portland, you might want to review the becomes clinically apparent. The By Dr. Sherri Tenpenny PP presentations of Dr. Richard Deth immune system, gut, and endocrine and Dr. Jill James (on the ARI - DAN! systems are damaged, and in different site) and their research on the effects of degrees in each child, making the clini- By attempting to eliminate an essen- thimerosal on the methylation system cal picture extremely complex and dif- tially harmless childhood disease, we and the ramifications of this on autism. ficult to treat. Mercury doesn't just sit are going to create a disaster of epi- As we are pulling in excellent and well- there waiting for us to send in a chelat- demic proportions. This is the "first qualified scientists such as Dr. Boyd ing agent to remove it. It has already glimpse" of things to come: vaccines to Haley, Dr. Deth, and Dr. James to damaged many enzyme systems and treat problems caused by vaccines. explore the thimerosal connection, the cellular patterns that are difficult to Chickenpox is a mild infection of evidence becomes more and more repair whatever we do, and autoim- childhood caused by the varicella irrefutable that a certain subset of chil- mune processes are daunting and hard zoster virus. A self - limiting disease dren have not been able to handle the to treat. characterized by fever, malaise and an thimerosal that was injected into them As a physician happily ignorant until itchy, vesicular rash that covers the in early infancy. The resulting injury to my granddaughter was given the diag- entire body, chickenpox usually the methionine synthase system and its nosis of ASD 7 years ago, I have resolves within 4 - 5 days, leaving the resulting devastation to glutathione become completely disenchanted with child with lifetime immunity. With vac- and the immune and nervous system is my professional colleagues called cination by Varivax®, the duration of elegantly spelled out by their findings. "mainstream," most of whom receive protection from varicella infection by is The benefits we clinicians are seeing as all medical education after medical unknown.[1 ] we address these methylation defects school by pharmaceutical reps who tell Shingles is thought to be caused by are being more and more elucidated by them the latest prescription they can the reactivation of the same chicken- what these researchers are bringing to write. Politicians who are grandly sup- pox -- causing virus, varicella -- zoster. us. ported by the most profitable industry It is generally a disease of the elderly I agree with other commentators on in the world are definitely not interest- but can also develop in insulin - depen- this issue that the thimerosal struck the ed in an epidemic disorder that most dent diabetics and those who have first blow (of course after the predis- likely has been caused by the pharma- immunodeficient diseases such as AIDS posing genetics), setting off the ceutical industry and gets helped main- and leukemia. A shingles outbreak can immune and gut impairment (well- ly by dietary and nutrient methods. be triggered by the stress-emotional or known and well-documented effects of While the pharmaceutical companies physical-or by certain medications, ethylmercury). Then come the frequent persist in deceiving and distorting and including steroids [ex: prednisone], infections, increased antibiotics, and the politicians deny or remain ignorant chemotherapy and radiation. finally the inability to handle the of the scientific facts pouring in now, Unlike chickenpox, a shingles out- onslaught of triple live vaccines in the we parents/grandparents and devoted break is anything but benign. The first MMR and the ensuing inflammation clinicians will continue to make head- sign is usually unilateral tingling, itch- and autoimmunity that besets most of way in finding ways to improve the ing, or stabbing pain on the skin. After our children as they get their diagnosis health of our ASD children (and a few days, a red, blistering rash in their second year of life. (if then!). adults) who keep me going in this appears that is severely painful rash Yes, there are rarely kids who get fight) that can last for weeks. At its peak, autism without vaccines, but in my [email protected] symptoms range from a mild itch to seven years of working with ASD chil- Dr. McCandless is the author of intense pain. dren, I would say that 90-95% of kids “Children With Starving Brains” When the outbreak resolves, it can I see or know of as a clinician follow ARI – Autism Research Institute: leave numbness, skin discoloration and the pattern of Hep B plus the other 20 http://www.autism.com/ari/ permanent scars. Serious complica- or so vaccines they get by the time they Chickenpox continued on page 32

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 31 Chickenpox cont. from page 31 shingles vaccine in clinical trials in So, a shingles vaccine to treat a tions, including facial paralysis, hear- conjunction with the National problem caused by the chickenpox ing loss, or encephalitis (inflammation Institutes of Health (NIH.) The vaccine is only the beginning. Here are of the brain) can occur, and if the Shingles Prevention Study is part of a three examples of dozens: infection includes the eye, the result nationwide collaborative effort 1) The Allergy Vaccine: for cypress can be glaucoma, cataracts or even between the NIAID, Department of pollen and food allergies. Seven prod- permanent blindness. There are a few Veterans Affairs (the VA), and Merck. uct candidates are in clinical trials with medications available to treat shingles It should be noted that Merck is also two more at the preclinical stage.[4] such as antidepressants, anticonvul- the manufacturer of Varivax®, the 2) The M.S. Vaccine: A USC - sants, and topical agents. The severity chickenpox vaccine. invented vaccine for multiple sclerosis and duration of an attack of shingles This double - blind study will test a (MS)[5] can be somewhat reduced if treated vaccine similar to Varivax®; however, 3) The Rhematoid Arthritis vaccine: early with the antiviral drugs acyclovir the experimental vaccine contains a RAVAX® is thought to inhibit the dis- (Zovirax), valacyclovir ( Valtrex) or larger amount of the weakened varicel- ease -- associated T cells that cause famcyclovir (Famvir). However, none la virus. If a participant was given the rheumatoid arthritis, and prevent fur- ther damage in patients suffering from the disease.[6] Even the most cursory review of vac- ...there seems to be little logic when it comes to cine package inserts and the medical literature will show ample evidence the development of new vaccines. that the side effects of vaccines can cause allergies. The hepatitis B vaccine has been implicated in the develop- of these medications "cure" shingles. placebo during the trial and the vac- ment of both M.S. and rheumatoid Approximately 20% of shingles cine is later found to be "successful," arthritis. The list goes on and on. cases can result in post - herpetic neu- the person will be offered the shingles However, with NIAID's proposed ralgia. This condition manifests as vaccine at no charge at the conclusion budget of $4 billion for fiscal year unrelenting pain that can persist for of the study.[2] A nice perk for partici- 2003 [7], it is likely we will see more years after the initial rash has healed. pating as a human test subject. and more "designer vaccines" to treat There is no conventional treatment for None of this makes sense. Wouldn't a myriad of diseases -- in fact, there post - herpetic neuralgia and even the the logical solution be to STOP the are more than 200 vaccines currently strongest pain medications are rarely chickenpox vaccination and allow this in the pipeline. It remains to be seen helpful. mild virus to do its job? what additional medical disasters will Vaccinating children with the chick- However, there seems to be little created by this massive immunological enpox vaccine will cause the pool of logic when it comes to the develop- experimentation. wild virus to die out. Adults who had ment of new vaccines. The vaccine This article is reprinted from Dr. chickenpox as a child need to be re- industry believes that the widespread Mercola’s website where references are exposed to the wild virus to keep any use of vaccines to prevent infectious also available: residual dormant virus in check. It is diseases is "one of the greatest public http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/29/ estimated that currently as many as 2 health achievements of this century" chickenpox_vaccine.htm in every 10 persons may be affected by and plans are in place to create a vac- shingles in their lifetime. Without this cine to treat every type of conceivable Additional reading about complica- exposure, the number of people who ailment. One of the goals set forth in tions of Varicella: will contract shingles is anticipated to the NIAID Strategic Plan it to: Chickenpox: Why Do Children Die? increase substantially. The solution "Explore opportunities for vaccine “Following each regimen of antibi- appears to be the development of development in less traditional areas, otics, analgesics, or steroidal medica- another vaccine. including therapeutic vaccines for the tions their condition grew progressive- Not to miss an opportunity, a large management of chronic diseases; vac- ly worse. The doctors responded to study is underway for the development cines for the control of autoimmune each new symptom with yet another of the shingles vaccine. The National diseases; and vaccines for special cir- drug, until the children died.” cumstances of public health concern, Institute of Allergy and Infectious http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/17/ such as bioterrorism."[3] Diseases (NIAID) is currently testing a chicken_pox.htm

Page 32 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Journal - 2003 Jan;22(1):22-7 offers cells helped undermine the longstand- NEWSCLIPS an explanation for the resurgence of ing belief that antibodies alone protect- the disease. An assessment of hospital ed the body from disease and micro- Canada to set up bird flu records in Quebec between 1983 – organisms, died on Jan. 5 at his home vaccine centers 1998 showed that “mean annual inci- in New York City at age 98.” This year’s flu propaganda has been dence of pertussis before 1990 was 3.8 Dr. Chase made his landmark dis- revved to an unprecedented fever pitch cases per 100,000 population which covery in the early 1940's while work- with dire predictions of influenza pan- increased to 37.2 thereafter. Infants ing with Dr. Karl Landsteiner, a Nobel demics blaring from multi-media had the smallest increase (2.7-fold) laureate recognized for his work iden- sources. Outbreaks of bird flu in B.C. when compared with children between tifying the human blood groups. At the chicken farms have health officials on 1 and 19 years who experienced a 9 time, experts believed that the body edge. Canada plans to set up eight to 15-fold increase and with adults mounted its attacks against pathogens vaccine centers by this summer to (22.5-fold). Ninety percent of hospi- primarily through antibodies circulat- deflect a "disaster scenario" of a dead- talizations occurred in children <5 ing in the blood stream, known as ly bird-flu outbreak that could kill years of age. The proportion of cases humoral immunity. But Dr. Chase, thousands was announced on March 4. in 0- to 4-year-old children decreased, working in his laboratory, stumbled The network of eight vaccine centres whereas it increased steadily in all upon something that appeared to shat- is funded by the Canadian Institutes of other age groups during the entire ter that widespread tenet.” Health Research and will be located in study period.” In trying to immunize a guinea pig Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, “Between 1990 and 1998 the medi- against a disease using antibodies he Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, an age of cases shifted from 4.4 to 7.8 had extracted from a another pig, he Ottawa and Halifax. These facilities years. Pertussis affected predominantly found that blood serum did not work will be linked to the National Centre children who were immunized with a as the transfer agent. “Not until he for Foreign Animal Diseases in vaccine introduced in the mid-1980s. used white blood cells did the immuni- Winnipeg and the Immune Response The evolution of the age distribution ty carry over to the other guinea pig, Monitoring Laboratory at the of cases paralleled the aging of this providing solid evidence that it could University of Montreal, and could vac- cohort with a slow but steady drift of not be antibodies alone orchestrating cinate as many as 400 people a day disease from early childhood to adoles- the body's immune response.” against the disease, said Brian Ward, cence.” The analysis concluded that “Dr. Chase had uncovered the sec- chief of infectious diseases at the “The sudden increase in pertussis inci- ond arm of the immune system, or cell- McGill University Health Center. dence in Canada can be largely attrib- mediated immunity. His finding “According to the Canadian Health uted to a cohort effect resulting from a became the groundwork for later Ministry, a pandemic could potentially poorly protective pertussis vaccine research that pinpointed B cells, T cells result in between 9,000 to 51,000 used between 1985 and 1998. and other types of white blood cells as deaths in Canada if a vaccine was not Source: PMID: 12544404 [PubMed - the body's central safeguards against available. Rapid vaccine evaluation is indexed for MEDLINE] infection. "This was a major discovery part of the Health Ministry's plan for because everyone now thinks of the Editor’s Note: As so aptly observed by reducing illnesses, minimizing deaths immuneresponse in two parts, and in one vaccine risk activist - “All that and maintaining social order during many instances it's the cellular compo- brain damage and death for a "poorly the next flu pandemic.” nents that are more important," said protective pertusiss vaccine". All of http://news.xinhuanet.com/eng- Dr. Michel Nussenzweig, a professor this information is painting a pretty lish/2004-03/05/content_1347084.htm of immunology at Rockefeller. "Before sorry picture!!” www.chinaview.cn 2004-03-05 Chase, there was only humoral immu- 11:13:07 ******************** nity. After him, there was humoral and cellular immunity." ******************** Scientist Who Advanced Immunology Dr. Chase's breakthrough set in Dies at 98 “Poorly Protective” Vaccine Leads to motion the research that helped rede- Excerpt from an article by Anahad Increase of Whooping Cough fine the fundamental nature of the O’Connor – The New York Times, immune system.. "People never antici- Whooping cough has been on the Jan. 22/04 rise in Canada for a number of years pated that there would be something “Dr. Merrill W. Chase, an immunol- despite high vaccination rates. An arti- other than antibodies. It was an amaz- ogist whose research on white blood cle in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Newsclips continued on page 34

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 33 Newsclips cont. from page 33 just because the children involved are Data Reveals Threat of Shingles ing finding." said Dr. Ralph Steinman, from poor parents?” Epidemic From Vaccine Use; a professor of cellular physiology and Health Officials Threaten Legal Action Excerpt from All Africa Global Media immunology at Rockefeller. Against Researcher http://allafrica.com/sto- October 1, 2003 Dr. Chase has published at least 150 ries/200403080104.html scientific papers. The European journal, Vaccine ******************** http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/22/n (Volume 21, Issue 27/28, Oct/03) has yregion/22CHAS.html Moms who breast-feed reduce infants' devoted eighteen pages to three reports asthma risk ******************** by U.S. researcher Gary S. Goldman, Ph.D. identifying an impending threat An Australian study published in Contaminated Oral Polio Vaccine in of a shingles epidemic due to mass vac- 2002 has found that infants who are Africa cination with varicella (chickenpox) breastfed for 4 months of longer are vaccine. Goldman has been gathering For a number of months news bul- significantly more protected from data on the effects of chickenpox vac- letins from Africa have reported con- developing asthma. The beneficial hor- cine since 1995. The analysis revealed cerns of contamination of oral polio mones, enzymes and growth factors, that “that when chickenpox disease vaccine in widespread use in various enhance health and reduce infections, was significantly reduced in a popula- regions. In Nigeria there were concerns respiratory illness and diarrhea in tion, there was an unexpectedly high that the vaccine contained antifertility babies. number of shingles cases among hormones and some areas of the coun- “Dr. Wendy H. Oddy, of the unvaccinated children with a previous try refused to allow distribution of the Telethon Institute for Child Health history of chickenpox. Shingles is a vaccine. Dr. Haruna Kaita, Dean of Research in Perth, and colleagues eval- painful blistering rash that is potential- the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, uated asthma outcomes of more than ly dangerous in the elderly. Ahmadu Bello University Zaria con- 2,600 infants that they followed from In 2000, after hearing reports that ducted extensive tests on samples of preterm to age 6 years. Mothers school nurses were seeing cases of oral polio vaccines. Using state of the answered questions about their own shingles in children for the first time, art diagnostic tools, the tests were con- asthma status and how long they Goldman suggested that shingles be ducted in laboratories in India. “Some breast-fed, if at all.” added to the active surveillance project of the things we discovered in the vac- “The risk of childhood asthma he was working on. After two years of cines are harmful, toxic; some have increased by 28% if exclusive breast- shingles data collection, he document- direct effect on human reproductive feeding was stopped and other milk ed the adverse effects that might well system” said Dr. Kaita. was introduced before the infant was 4 be associated with the universal vari- Dr. Kaita presented his findings to months old, the authors report in the cella vaccination program. all parties involved in the vaccination July (2002) issue of the Journal of “Complications from shingles, program. “We circulated it to every- Allergy and Clinical Immunology. This which is caused by the reactivation of body for further analysis because we was true regardless of whether the the chickenpox virus that lies dormant were sure of our results….. now they mother had asthma.” in the body, result in about three times agreed that the vaccines they have been "Given our findings, we continue to the number of hospitalizations and five giving to our children for the past 4 recommend that infants with or with- times the number of deaths as those years when the polio campaign started out a maternal history of asthma be from chickenpox disease.” were contaminated, but what is the exclusively breast-fed for 4 months While the vaccine suppresses chick- government going to do about those and beyond," the authors conclude. enpox disease, children and adults no who have been trying to bury that fact Asthma remains an incurable chronic longer receive benefit of the natural from the people. Would the importers illness, and death from the disease is boost to their immune systems that of such contaminated be left to go highest among children aged 1 to 4 they received from periodic exposures free? What plans has the government years - an age group accounting for to the disease, thereby greatly increas- put in place to help the children who about half of all asthma-related ing the risk of shingles both in children have given these toxic and contaminat- emegency department visits.” ed vaccines in case they start reacting (who rarely developed it in the past) http://www.whale.to/a/breast5.html to them? Are we going to allow this to and adults. If all children were vacci- be swept again under the carpet like nated, adults who have had chicken- the Kano MININGITIS Trovan test pox would no longer be protected Newsclips continued on page 35

Page 34 Winter 2004 VRAN Newsletter Newsclips cont. from page 34 gest that parents use ibuprofen or against developing shingles. Goldman “Between June 1996 and September ibuprofen together with aceta- predicts that a large-scale increase in 1998, 52 cases of invasive Group A minophen to treat high fever and shingles incidence will soon become Streptococcal (GAS) infection, includ- severe illness, which seems to identify manifest among adults – a group more ing 21 with necrotizing soft tissue children at high risk for invasive GAS susceptible to serious complications. infection, and 172 controls with infection.” “Vaccine manufacturers plan to uncomplicated primary varicella Editor’s note: As has been pointed out license a booster "shingles" vaccine to (chickenpox) were enrolled in the by Viera Scheibner, Ph.D on many substitute for the boosting that natu- study. Risk of invasive GAS infection occasions, the data found in so many rally occurred when chickenpox dis- was increased among children who scientific studies are often turned ease was previously circulating in the were nonwhite, living in low-income around to conclude the opposite of population. "This will likely lead to households, exposed to varicella at what has been discovered. This study endless disease-and-cure cycles," says home, or had a persistent high fever. is a case in point. It concludes with Goldman. "Varicella vaccination Antipyretic (fever reducing medication) contradictory and confusing state- would have been less problematic if all regimen was associated with several ments that on the one hand indicate children had the opportunity to gain measures of varicella illness severity an association between group A strep natural immunity and only those still among the controls. The risk of necro- with use of these drugs while on the susceptible at twelve years old were tizing soft tissue infection was not other hand denies the finding and vaccinated." associated with the use of ibuprofen encourages parents to continue using On communicating with U.S. health before the development of signs or both drugs together!! officials about the release of his find- symptoms of this complication. Risk ings, Goldman was threatened with of any invasive GAS infection was The suppression of fever in infectious legal action if he published the manu- increased among children who had diseases is inherently risky as has been script in the medical literature. He received ibuprofen, but not aceta- well documented in measles, where said, "Whenever research data and minophen use. Subgroup analyses fever suppression increases the risk of information concerning potential revealed that the risk of invasive GAS morbidity and mortality. Fever adverse effects associated with a vac- infection was increased only among enhances the immune response by cine used in a human population are children who had received both aceta- increasing mobility and activity of suppressed and/or misrepresented by minophen and ibuprofen.” white cells which fight bacteria, virus- health authorities, not only is this most Conclusion: “These data do not sup- es, and toxins, and remove damaged disturbing, it goes against all accepted port the hypothesis that nonsteroidal tissue from the body. The routine rec- scientific norms and dangerously co antiinflammatory drugs, or ibuprofen ommendation of fever suppressants in promises professional ethics." in particular, increase the risk of necro- childhood illnesses works against nat- tizing GAS infections. A statistically ural defense mechanisms and literally significant association was observed sabotages the immune response needed Flesh-eating Disease (Group A Strep) between nonnecrotizing invasive GAS to overcome the disease. Perhaps the in Children & Anti-inflammatory infection and ibuprofen use; however, children who developed flesh-eating Drugs because of potential confounding, the disease did so precisely because their Pediatrics. 2001 May;107(5):1108-15. meaning of this unexpected result is fevers were suppressed with these Lesko SM, O'Brien KL, Schwartz B, unclear. Nonetheless, these data sug- drugs. Vezina R, Mitchell AA.

VRAN Newsletter Winter 2004 Page 35 Shaken Baby Syndrome cont. from page 35

Shaken Baby Syndrome continued on page 37

Page 36 April–June 2000 VRAN Newsletter Shaken Baby Syndrome cont. from page 36

VRAN Newsletter April–June 2000 Page 37 Leading edge Research Group: The IMMUNIZATION Biological Manipulation of Human DID YOU KNOW ? Populations INFORMATION ON http://www.trufax.org/menu/bio.html There is no law that can force you Center For Complex Infectious Diseases— to vaccinate your children. The only THE INTERNET info re. stealth viruses & Dr. John Martin’s laws relating to vaccination govern research school pupils, not infants, and these Compiled by: VRAN (web site hosted http://www.ccid.org by Freedom of Choice in Health Care: can be waived through available ) Tetrahedron — AIDS, Ebola, vaccines, Gulf exemptions. If your child has exhibited War Syndrome any of the following adverse reactions Eagle Foundation http://tetrahedron.org/ or conditions, you may wish to defer http://www.eaglefoundation.org International Advocates for Health from continuing the course of vaccina- Canadian organization in support of Freedom — John Hammell tions. vaccine injured families. http://www.iahf.com/index1.html • If your child is ill or running a fever. WHALE Vaccination Resource Networking between health freedom http://www.whaleto.freeserve.co.uk/vac- activists • If the child collapses or goes into a cines.html Health World Online- Discussion Forums shock-like state following a vaccine. Excellent site. on Vaccines • If the child has high pitched scream- New Atlantean Immunisation Resources http://www.healthy.net/ ing for several hours; and cannot be http://www.new-atlantean.com/ Vaccination Information & Awareness— comforted global/vaccine.html Links to many sites • If the child has a temperature of 38° A good list of resources; global pro-choice http://www.access1.net/via C or higher after vaccination. vaccine groups books, tapes and videos. Vaccine Safety Website—Dr. B. Classen • If the child develops pain, redness, Vaccination Information Paradigm http://vaccines.net/risks.htm swelling, lump at the needle site http://www.cco.net/~trufax/vaccine/ vacindex.html Australian Vaccination Network • If the child develops severe diarrhea Very good information, updated regularly. http://www.avn.org.au/ and/or vomiting This group is forging ahead with legal • If the child has one or more convul- Sebastiana’s Medical Journal listings of actions challenging government violation of sions or has a family history of con- vaccine risks informed consent laws. http://www.omen.net.au/~pienaar/index.html vulsive disorders (eg. epilepsy); if the National Vaccine Information Center MEDICAL INFORMATION & child has an evolving neurological http://www.909shot.com PRO-VACCINE LINKS: condition. Excellent site run by the largest N.A. group. • If there is a family history of severe WHO & Communicable Diseases Attachment Parenting & Natural Nurturing allergies and/or history of vaccine Surveillance & Vaccine Links http://www.who.int/emc/ reactions. www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/2460 • If the child has signs of brain injury Excellent site offering concepts that create Vaccine News Updates— Immunization such as a bulge in the soft spots of health in the family and access to Briefs Vaccination OneList network. www.infoinc.com/imnews2 the head or a severe change of con- sciousness. Natural Immunity Network Vaccine Weekly Magazine—For the medical http://www.i-wayco.com/niin/index.html world • If the child is receiving treatments http://www.holonet.net/homepage/1v.htm that suppress the immune system Concerned Parents for Vaccine Safety Covers new vaccines. http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/Gyrene/Ho • If the child has a widespread allergic me.htm Infectious Diseases in Children reaction, rashes, hives, wheezing, Excellent site—links to many others. http://www.slackinc.com/child/idc/199805/v trouble breathing. accine.htm#speclink Informed Parents Home Page • If the child develops swollen http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/ Immunization Action Coalition— joints/arthritis like symptoms vaccine/informed.htm Pro-Vaccine site • If the child has an irregular heartbeat http://www.immunize.org/ Excellent site—well researched. within several hours after vaccination. Immunisation Awareness Society Achoo & MD • If the child is excessively sleepy fol- http://www.achoo.com http://www.ias.org.nz lowing vaccination. Excellent site—offers international research. Consultation source for travel vaccines • If the child has an episode of sleep Medscape—Online medical info FEAT (Families for Early Autism Treatment) apnoea (stops breathing during http://www.feat.org http://www.medscape.com √ sleep) Dr. Harris Coulter’s Website http://home.earthlink.net/~emptherapies/

Page 38 April–June 2000 VRAN Newsletter SIX REASONS TO QUESTION VACCINATION

By Walene James

1. Vaccinations are forced. For example, there are compulsory vaccination laws in every state. If something is good it doesn’t have to be forced*. 2. Vaccinations are toxins by definition. 3. Vaccinations are indigenous to only one model of healthcare—the allopathic medical model—and its practitioner’s particular understanding of disease phenomena. 4. Vaccinations are promoted by fear, guilt, and ‘creative’ statistics. 5. Vaccinations are represented as safe and effective when evidence suggests they are neither. 6. Vaccinations are aggressively pushed by public health departments and other government agencies as though they were a public health issue when they are not. This is done to insure a high rate of compliance.

*Vaccination is not mandatory anywhere in Canada.

TEN REASONS TO JUST SAY ‘NO’ TO VACCINATIONS

By Walene James

1. Vaccinations are toxins by definition. 2. Vaccinations are aggressively promoted by those who have a financial stake in their consumption. 3. Vaccinations are promoted using fear, intimidation, and coercion. 4. Vaccinations are big business. 5. Vaccine manufacturers are nearly liability proof for their products. 6. Vaccinations are not only forced upon us, but those who deny us the exercise of our free will refuse to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. 7. Evidence suggests that vaccinations damage the immune system, the nervous system and the spirit-mind-body connection. 8. Compulsory vaccinations ignore biochemical and psychospiritual individuality. 9. Vaccinations are misrepresented by government agencies as a public health issue which they are not. 10. Vaccinations are heavily subsidized, heavily propagandized and can be seen as a wake-up call for us to see how we allow ourselves to be programmed by huge vested interests.

Philosophical questions:

“Perhaps more important than anything else is for our group to consider the larger picture: What lessons do we need to learn trying to stem the tide of coercion from an out-of-control medical-pharmaceutical industry and the Mass Mind that allows this? How does understanding and working with the vaccination issue contribute to our mat- uration as spiritually aware and fully alive human beings?”

~Walene James

Walene James has authored an exceptional book that is a must read for everyone involved in educating themselves, their families and communities about vaccine risks and health creating alternatives to vaccination. She helps us take a quatum leap out of the fear-based vaccine paradigm. Walene’s insightful analysis of the history of vaccines and infec- tious disease is complemented by a thorough investigation of the factors that create health in human populations, and what we all need to do to create health in our families. For more information, contact Ingri Cassel at Vaccination Liberation in Idaho: 208-267-8037

VRAN Newsletter April–June 2000 Page 39 Vaccination, Social Violence, The Immunization Decision—A RESOURCE & Criminality: The Medical Guide for Parents INFORMATION LIST Assault on The American Brain by Dr. Randal Neustaedter. by Dr. Harris L. Coulter The Case Against Immunizations Immunization: History, Ethics, Vaccination—Medical Assault by Richard Moscovitch M.D. Law & Health on the Immune System available from American by Catherine Diodati. Best new by Viera Scheibner Ph.D. Institute of , 1500 book about vaccines. Please to order: ( 204) 895-9192 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. order from VRAN Washington, D.C. 20005. Cost: $35 + $5 postage The Immune Trio The Immunization Resource Immunization—The Reality by Dr. Harold Buttram Guide Behind The Myth To order call 215-536-5168 by Dr. Zoltan Rona, M.D. by Walene James. Every Second Child to order call: What Every Parent Should by Dr. Archie Kalokerinos (204) 1-877-920-8887 Know About Childhood 895-9192 Natural Alternatives to Immunization Vaccination by Jamie Murphy Vaccinations and Immunization: Dangers, Delusions and by Diane Rozario Vaccinations: Are They Really Alternatives available from Vaccine Policy Safe and Effective? by Dr. Leon Chaitow. Institute by Neil Z. Miller (937) 435-4750 What About Immunizations? How To Raise a Healthy Child Exposing the Vaccine Philosophy Vaccination—The Hidden Truth In Spite of Your Doctor by Cynthia Cournoyer Nelson’s New Video. Five medical doctors by Robert Mendelsohn, M.D. Books, Box 2302 Santa Cruz, speak out about vaccine risks. Universal Immunization — CA, 95063 Order from VRAN Medical Miracle or Masterful Cost—$40 + $5 postage Vaccinations—The Rest of the Mirage? Story by Dr. Raymond Obomsawin published by Mothering MANY OF THESE TITLES available from Health Action Magazine. P.O. Box 1690-Santa CAN BE ORDERED FROM Network - (604) 435-0512 Fe, N.M. 87504. PARENT BOOKS IN A Shot in The Dark TORONTO by Dr. Harris L. Coulter & (416) 537-8334 √ Barbara Loe Fisher

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Powerful new video featuring five medical doctors on how vaccines are harming children’s health. Cost $40.00 plus $5.00 postage. Order from VRAN

Page 40 April–June 2000 VRAN Newsletter