TV Show Causes Controversy

Reported by: Jane Flasch
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Updated: 2/01/2008 9:41 am
(Rochester, N.Y.) - The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) expressed fears that the premiere episode of “Eli Stone” will keep parents from getting their children vaccinated.

In the show, the title character wins a $5.2 million lawsuit by proving that a child developed autism because of a vaccine.

Many advocates for autistic children say there is a link between the mercury in some vaccines and autism.

But the AAP says the show feeds a fear over something that's not true.
 
The University of Rochester is behind the most recent study released January 31.

Fear of Vaccines   
Chelsea Bartlett got her second DPT vaccine. The first, which she received as a young child, caused a severe reaction.

Chelsea’s mother Pam said, "As a parent, you're not sure. There's a lot of concern about vaccines…you have to put your trust in your doctors."

John Polchowski also had an adverse reaction after each DPT. He never fully recovered, and was diagnosed with autism shortly thereafter.

John’s mother Tricia said, “At the time we didn't realize there was regression, but now we see it. We just had the gut instinct that something was wrong."

Tricia doesn't go as far as to suggest the vaccination causes autism. She believes she passed an allergic reaction along to her son involving the vaccine ingredient chimerical, which contains mercury.

Chimerical is no longer in vaccinations, but before 2001, millions of children received it. Five separate studies show no link between the vaccine and autism.  Now UR has concluded its own research.

Their study tested South American children, who still receive vaccinations containing thimerosal, to find their mercury levels.

Researcher Dr. Michael Pichichero said, "There's not nearly enough in the blood and it doesn't stay long enough and it goes out completely through the stool…and looking at the kidney we see no evidence of damage whatsoever."

ABC calls the show "entertainment," but Pichichero fears many will view it as fact. 

The group Safe Minds is trying to get the federal government to outlaw mercury in medicines and vaccinations. It has also written a letter to ABC in support of the program.

More than 4,000 families nationwide are suing the vaccine manufacturer.
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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of 13WHAM-TV || Rochester

egraupman - 2/4/2008 12:21 PM
fiftysix44 - you can go to the website nvic.org Did she have the Gardasil vaccine recently. This is causing a lot of problems. A friend just emailed me, she works for a pharma co and gets all the industry alerts. Merck is seeking to get federal approval to give the GARDASIL vaccine to boys. It is sick. 46,000 cases of oral cancer/ year but the #'s don't show how many from HPV virus or how many cases are from smoking. AND no death totals. Every year 12,000 women get cervical cancer, 3000 die. Out of the 12,000 most do not get routine pap smears. We give millions of young girl a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease with extreme adverse effects for 3000 deaths??? Does this make sense? $250-300 per vaccine - this makes sense.

fiftysix44 - 2/3/2008 12:39 PM
To egraupman, please tell me more about the autoimmune, rheumatoid, and ADHD/ADD evidence. My sister's college age daughter is undergoing a lot of testing right now that points toward those problems.

rz123 - 2/1/2008 1:40 PM
My problem is with the vaccines for ailments that are NOT life-threatening to most people. They keep heaping more and more vaccines into these tiny bodies. I am pro-vaccine, if it is for a life-threatening illness. For example, I am so angry that the government is forcing me to take my child to be vaccinated for chicken pox! My kids are healthy, and a week of discomfort is not something that I am willing to vaccinate them against. I understand if a child is immune-compromised, but not for my kids! The thought of willingly injecting all those chemicals into my baby, without truly knowing the long-term effects is sickening. I am furious that we, as Americans, are being FORCED to do that to our children. It is completely against my beliefs as a parent. I will not do it anymore. Enough is enough. Pharmaceutical companies are too involved in politics for the government to make their recommendations solely with our kids in mind. There is way too much lobbying on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, and our kids are paying the price. How do you think the pharmaceutical companies get their long-term research data? It's from our children.

egraupman - 2/1/2008 10:39 AM
Outstanding Question: Is the atypical manipulation of the immune system with more and more vaccines in early life setting some children up for chronic disease and disability? Is less better?

egraupman - 2/1/2008 10:32 AM
Thermerosal is still in the flu vaccine. 32 vaccines by the time childrena are 5. No long term studies on vaccines. Bovine, poultry, fetus, formaldyhide and seriuos neurological agents in our vaccines. 1 out of every 150 has Autism Spectrum. Millions more with ADHD/ADD, juvenile rhumetoid arthiriis and autoimmune disorders at an all time high. Should we turn our heads. Pharma companies making legislative decisions which include the inability of families to sue for damages if a child is vaccine injured. Our country is the highest immunized country in the world and we still have one of the highest infant mortality rates!

taxablechump - 1/31/2008 8:49 PM
This isnt a legal issue, and burden of proof does not fall upon the accuser....as a health issue, this deserves to be looked at and the advocates for immunization should prove that mandated vaccines are completely safe. That they would try to shut down a broadcast is censorship and raises all kinds of red flags.... Just how many hold interest in the phamaceuticals that produce the vaccines ?
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