An Open Letter To The Chicago Tribune’s Julie Deardorff
July 7, 2008 by Do'C 
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From the Chicago Tribune Web Edition, blogger Julie Deardorff writes:
Originally posted: July 3, 2008
The AAP responds to ‘vaccine dissenters’
Below, I’ve posted the response by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to my recent blog item The AAP gets tough on vaccine dissenters.
In the piece, I pointed out that some parents are unnerved by the sheer number of shots that are currently recommended and in many cases, mandated. The new combo vaccines are sure to raise more questions and concerns, especially since parents are currently trying to unbundle the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) shot.
In the rebuttal, which will appear Wednesday in the Chicago Tribune’s Voice of the People section, AAP president Renee Jenkins emphasized the safety of vaccines, even though I never directly addressed the issue. She added: “The number of vaccines has increased because new vaccines have been developed to prevent more diseases. That is a good thing.”
She also says, “Pediatricians spend many hours in their day counseling parents about the safety and importance of immunization and answering their specific questions.”
Has this been your experience? Was I “less than fair?” Or should parents be tossed out of the doctor’s office for refusing shots, which is what the AAP suggests?
Here is her full letter:
You can read that full letter she mentions here, or apparently in the Chicago Tribune in a day or two.
An open letter to Julie Deardorff
Dear Ms. Deardorff,
In your recent post The AAP responds to ‘vaccine dissenters’ you asserted that “parents” are currently trying to unbundle the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) shot”. Can you provide any evidence to support that this applies to “parents” in general? Or, should you have written that a very small fraction of parents may be pursuing this? Can you provide any evidence of reduced risks, or actual benefits, of unbundling the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) shot?
You concluded with the following question:
Or should parents be tossed out of the doctor’s office for refusing shots, which is what the AAP suggests?
Certainly you are aware that the AAP does not actually suggest that parents be “tossed out”. Here’s the actual AAP policy:
In general, pediatricians should avoid discharging patients from their practices solely because a parent refuses to immunize his or her child. However, when a substantial level of distrust develops, significant differences in the philosophy of care emerge, or poor quality of communication persists, the pediatrician may encourage the family to find another physician or practice. Although pediatricians have the option of terminating the physician-patient relationship, they cannot do so without giving sufficient advance notice to the patient or custodial parent or legal guardian to permit another health care professional to be secured.27 Such decisions should be unusual and generally made only after attempts have been made to work with the family. Families with doubts about immunization should still have access to good medical care, and maintaining the relationship in the face of disagreement conveys respect and at the same time allows the child access to medical care. Furthermore, a continuing relationship allows additional opportunity to discuss the issue of immunization over time.
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/5/1428
Also, hopefully, you read the entire sample letter from All-Star Pediatrics at the AAP practice website, which has the following clear disclaimer:
Disclaimer: This sample document is provided only as a reference for practices developing their own materials and may be adapted to local needs. This document may or may not represent official AAP policy or guidelines and the AAP is not responsible for its use. You should consult an attorney who is knowledgeable about the laws of the jurisdiction in which you practice before creating or using any legal documents.
http://practice.aap.org/content.aspx?aid=2382&nodeID=3030
Finally, I’d like to ask you to respond to three questions.
1. Why should physicians take on the liability of having unvaccinated patients in their practices?
You may wish to read up on the recent outbreak of Measels in San Diego where 4 additional children contracted measles simply by being seen in the same doctor’s office as an infected, unvaccinated child was.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5708a3.htm
2. Do you think it’s possible that parents who refuse vaccination are “self-centered” and have “unacceptable attitudes” in terms of social responsibility? I’m not asking whether or not you agree. I’m asking whether or not you think the physicians at All-Star Pediatrics could be correct in terms of social responsibility.
3. Does any of what you written in this (or the previous) post have anything to do with autism? Please provide substantiating science if you are inclined to answer, “yes”.
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Comment by isles — 8 July, 2008 @ 6:26 am
Thanks for handing Ms. Deardorff the cluestick, which she sorely needed. Is there any half- (quarter-, eighth-) truth that woman won’t swallow whole and regurgitate onto her blog?
Comment by Alex Plank — 8 July, 2008 @ 6:48 am
She wrote a blog entry and an article about me in the Tribune a while ago.
[Link]
[Link]
Apparently she attends the mercury militia autism conferences (like autism one). I don’t think it’s possible to sway her opinion on the matter.
However, she gave some coverage to the autistic point of view, albeit in an editorial in which she expressed disagreement.
Comment by Liz D — 8 July, 2008 @ 8:59 am
Thanks for the letter. Be sure to let us know if you get any response.
Comment by Patrick — 8 July, 2008 @ 9:21 am
With a paradigm as biased as hers I am tempted to state that there is no way she could even approach the issue of fairness.
Consistent professionalism in writing style isn’t present. Use of the slang ‘combo’ instead of the word combination is an indicator of rushing to spew out content, instead of reviewing the content for accuracy and proper word use.
I’m sure there is more to critique!
Comment by Last Commenter — 15 July, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
How do you get measels from an unvaccinated kid if you are vaccinated?
CluelessInUSA
Comment by Do'C — 15 July, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
Last Commenter,
You are welcome to comment here under a pseudonym, however, please make sure that it does not match the name of a real person (other than yourself) or a government organization (unless you officially represent them).
To address your question, you be an infant too young to be vaccinated. See the linked MMWR in the post.
Comment by ANGRY MOTHER FROM NJ — 25 August, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
I am a mother of an infant who died at 4 months old. Her autopsy stated that she died of SIDS. She had 4 vaccines on March 7, 2006, I found her non-responsive in her crib on March 9, 2006. Long story short, we filed a claim with the Vaccination Compensation Program (the no-fault fund put in place to protect the pharm. companies and hush parents of children who’ve been harmed or killed by childhood vaccinations)…they felt a need to award us $175,000 for death of our daughter. NOW, THEY DIDN’T ADMIT THE VACCINES KILLED OUR DAUGHTER, THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO! BUT THEY FELT A NEED TO PUT A PRICE ON HER HEAD, my question to all of you is WHAT ABOUT ALL THE PARENTS WHO FALL ON THE DARKER SIDE OF THE AUTISM VS. VACCINATIONS DEBATE, THE SIDE WHERE BABIES ARE DYING FROM VACCINATIONS? Still think they’re safe? Oh, I know the argument, there’s only 1% of babies that may die from childhood vaccines. Do the math, FOR GOD’S SAKE, SHOULD ANY OUR BABIES BE EXPENDABLE? Sadly, I’m not dealing with AUTISM, my baby is dead.
Comment by Do'C — 25 August, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
“Respondent denies that [xhe] suffered the onset of a vaccine-induced encephalopathy within hours of her vaccinations, and denies that her death was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.”
They denied it.
“Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation”
In very rare cases, deaths occur, but your daughter’s death and subsequent compensation has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH AUTISM that I can see. I am glad that your case met the criteria, and that you were entitled to compensation.
Compared to the diseases they prevent, yes.
1%? Not even close.
No one I know would ever suggest that ANY baby should be “expendable”, whether it be from adverse reaction to a vaccine or an infectious disease.
I extend my sincere sympathies regardless of cause of death (stated in an autopsy or claimed by the parents). I can’t imagine losing a child, period. I hope your futures treat you all well, although I’m not too concerned about that, as it’s readily available online that there is very likely some good teaching of kids going on from your family.
Comment by ANGRY MOTHER FROM NJ — 26 August, 2008 @ 5:53 am
WOW, you are a bitter parent of a child with AUTISM as stated by your cruel comments with regards to my daughter’s death. It is public information not by my doing, but, I have no regrets with regards to settling with a government that thinks it’s ok to inject babies with things like aluminum and formaldehyde. I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW HOW MY DAUGHTER DIED VOID OF HOW YOU MIGHT SEE IT. ACCORDING TO OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR BABIES ARE EXPENDABLE. BE GLAD YOUR DEALING WITH JUST AUTISM & CALL IT A DAY.
Comment by ANGRY MOTHER FROM NJ — 26 August, 2008 @ 7:41 am
BTW,
Thank you for giving my “ANGRY MOTHER FROM NJ” response top billing on your forum here. I’ll stop at nothing to continue to let everyone and anyone know that vaccinations killed my daughter.
PAYMENT=ADMISSION OF GUILT
Comment by Do'C — 26 August, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
I’m not sure what you thought was cruel. I extend my sympathies for your loss regardless.
And I don’t think you should. That’s what the VICP is in place for. Vaccines are not perfect, but they are better than the alternative numerous deaths and injury by endemic disease in the long term. I’m gald there is a system in place for parents in your situation that seeks to minimize the burden on both parties in such proceedings. That is not to suggest that the system is perfect (or “fair”) either. Just my opinion.
Aluminum or formaldehyde being inherently evil? We could discuss the importance of adjuvants in effective vaccines or dose/effect relationsips, but I don’t think you’d be interested. In your situation, and with your beliefs about circumstances, I might not either.
Angry mother, your comments are welcome here, so far. If you are able to restrain yourself with regard to the use of ALLCAPS, it would be appreciated.
I disagree. I can certainly understand the emotion behind this opinion, but I don’t think the “government” communicates any support for such a statement.
Like everyone, I “deal” with all kinds of things, and my family is quite diverse. It’s fairly presumptuous of you to assume that I have not dealt with similar loss, however, I choose not to discuss that here.
Comment by isles — 26 August, 2008 @ 10:34 pm
Angry Mother,
I think you misunderstand the purpose of the VICP. It is to set a low bar for the payment of vaccine injury claims - in most cases, one does not have to prove causation in order to collect from the program. Consequently, the fact that a payment was made does not necessarily mean there was causality.
I recommend you find a more constructive method of grieving.
Comment by Ms. Clark — 26 August, 2008 @ 11:34 pm
The loss of one child is a tragic thing. If people don’t vaccinate their children, many, many, many more than one child will die, even unborn children will die, or be left severely disabled. There is no way we can make the world 100% safe all the time for everyone so that no child ever dies, though it would be wonderful if there was a way.
We need to live in the real world, where we need to realize that germs don’t care if they slaughter innocent children and where parents can’t sue if a child dies of a case of wild measles, but fortunately they can sue if a child dies from a vaccine, or even appears to have died from a vaccine.
Comment by ANGRY MOTHER FROM NJ — 27 August, 2008 @ 5:55 am
Understand that a diagnosis of SIDS was just not something we excepted. The only way felt we could prove the vaccinations were the cause of our daughter’s death was to file the claim and see how the government responded. You can dissect everything I say here, but in the end, they chose to award us a settlement. You can make statements all day long like “appears to have died from vaccines” or “payment does not necessarily mean causality” the last time I checked, our government wasn’t just handing out money on a whim. Instead of making the arguments that it’s ok if some babies die from the vaccines why not argue for safer vaccines that insure NO baby will die from being vaccinated. I’m not against vaccinating, I’m against ANY child dying from being vaccinated. Aluminium and formaldeyhde in any capacity are unacceptable. We are told we can’t give our babies eggs, whole milk, certain meats, fruits and vegtables before they are 12 months old yet it’s safe to inject them with the garbage contained in the vaccines? What about the babies who might be allergic to egg products but are still being forced to take a flu shot? I CAN SEE BY THE INSENSITIVE NATURE OF THE COMMENTS POSTED HERE THAT NONE OF YOU AS EVER LOST A CHILD. Sadly, I’m more in touch with the real world than any of you will ever be. I’m starting to doubt that any of you even have children.
Comment by mike stanton — 27 August, 2008 @ 6:33 am
Angry Mother seems consumed by grief and anger at the death of her daughter. Who can blame her? I have no idea how it feels to lose a child and all I can offer is my deepest sympathy.
I do not expect she is ready for any sort of rational discussion about vaccine safety right now. But it is a fact that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has been declining throughout the period when the vaccine load has been increasing.
There is no evidence of a connection between vaccines and infant deaths. While I do not begrudge families financial compensation for their loss it is unfortunate that, because the vaccine court wil settle a claim if it thinks it is plausible, the burden of proof is so low that vaccines are being blamed when there is no data to support the claims.
So vaccines are percieved to be dangerous. Vaccination rates fall. And before long children will start to die from vaccine preventable diseases. Who will compensate them?
Comment by ANGRY MOTHER FROM NJ — 27 August, 2008 @ 8:07 am
Please, show me the scientific proof with regards to your statements Mr. Stanton. It would be a great relief for me to see the hardcore evidence that shows the decline in SIDS with regards to babies who died shortly before being vaccinated and were told SIDS was the cause of death. I don’t doubt that our government uses SIDS as a catch-all for all babies who supposedly die of SIDS between the ages of 2-4 months (the highest instances of SIDS deaths occur at this time) let’s get the numbers of actual babies who were vaccinated shortly before a SIDS death…Please provide some real scientific data here. That would be so very helpful in my continued effort at channeling my grief.
Comment by HCN — 27 August, 2008 @ 9:59 am
We understand you are angry, and we know that reason is not something you are willig to accept in your grief.
Please, yes… we are sympathetic… but we are also sympathetic to the parents of these children who got pertussis:
Year____Cases___Deaths
2004____25827__ 27
2005____25616__ 39
2006____15632__ 16
The death figures for 2004 through 2006 are from this slide set:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/Slides/Pertussis10.ppt#9 … Slide 9. Of the 82 deaths from pertussis during 2004 through 2006, 69 were of infants under the age of three months, while the remaining 13 were older than three months.
Please understand that everything caries a risk. There is a recognized risk with vaccines, but there is even a greater risk with pertussis and haemophilus influenzae (and yes, I’ve met someone whose first child died from the meningitis caused by actual disease tha the Hib vaccine is for).
Comment by HCN — 27 August, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Angry Mother said “Aluminium and formaldeyhde in any capacity are unacceptable.”
Then you shall not use pickles with alum, anything in aluminum cans nor any fruit. Fruit has naturally occuring formaldehyde.
Also, some baking powders contain aluminum salts.
Comment by Do'C — 30 August, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Link
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Comment by Kev — 31 August, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Angry Mother, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. What you are going through is a nightmare.
But, please try and see that because people may disagree with your opinion, that doesn’t mean we are being cruel or bitter. Its a fact for example that breast milk contains Aluminium. Between 50 days to a years breast feeding would give a baby the same amount of Aluminium as it would receive from the whole of the paediatric vaccine schedule.
Once again, my sincere condolences on your terrible loss.