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Dr. Robert Sears from the respected Sears medical family of birth and baby advocates has some things on his mind. When parents choose not to vaccinate their children, can they get medical help and advice that reflects research evidence, compassion or practical help for non-vaccination or low-vaccination? Its a dilemma. An excerpt of the article:
What To Do
About All Those Non-Vaccinating
Parentshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/
dr-bob-sears/vaccine-health-
what-to-do_b_563334.html
Robert Sears, MD [medical doctor, pediatrician]
May
5, 2010
Today's USA
Today story on the increasing trend of vaccine refusal shared
some interesting information, but fell short of actually providing
useful or workable answers. The article cites a new CDC study that
showed in 2003 only 22 percent of parents refused or delayed a vaccine
for their child, whereas in 2008 this number soared to 39 percent.
For
many years I believe the CDC has been trying to hide the fact that more
and more parents are refusing or delaying vaccines. Why? Because if
compliant parents hear that their neighbors or friends are questioning
vaccines, they might start to think, "Hmm ... maybe I should begin to
question vaccines as well. I think I'll start doing some research and
educating myself about vaccines instead of just taking my doctor's word
for it."
...
...More and more parents are beginning to question the
vaccine schedule -- not just the new vaccines, but the manner in which
so many are being given at a time. ... the CDC doesn't want those
parents who are being good little patients and getting all their shots,
no questions asked, to start wondering why more and other parents are
refusing.
Then the story turns to the measles epidemic that has
"ravaged" the country. While measles can occasionally be severe and
cause a fatality, the fact is that measles has remained the same in our
country over the last decade -- about 100 to 150 cases each year, with
NO increase and NO fatalities! If the CDC is going to convince parents
to stop questioning vaccines, they'll need to come up with some better
arguments than that.
Hey, I know! How about some new and expanded
safety research! The only way non-compliant parents are going to stop
worrying about vaccines is if we can give them the type of safety
research they want: large-scale, prospective, double-blind,
placebo-controlled, long-term research. So, 20 years from now we'll have
that research. But what do we do in the meantime?
Here's what
the AAP says to do in their official policy (found on page eight of the
Red Book, sitting in every single pediatrician's office in the country):
• Treat these parents with respect
• Listen to their
concerns
• Clearly discuss the importance of vaccines and the risks
of the diseases
• If the parents remain non-compliant, the doctor can
serve these patient's needs by (and I quote) "developing a schedule of
immunizations that does not require multiple injections at a single
visit."
• "Continued refusal after adequate discussion (I continue to
quote) SHOULD BE RESPECTED."
The number of
physicians who actually follow the AAP's advice is dismally small. I've
been creating a growing list of Vaccine Friendly Doctor's on my website
who WILL listen and respect these patient's wishes and who will provide
an alternative vaccine schedule for patients who want to vaccinate
differently. But it's slow going. Find
a vaccine-friendly doctor near you I just don't understand why the
AAP would even bother making such a policy if they won't try to get
their members to follow it.
Dr. Offit and many other physicians
like him who believe we should NOT provide alternative schedules are
actually MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE. By kicking these patients out of
their office and refusing to vaccinate these patients in a manner they
will comply with, these doctors are leaving such babies unvaccinated. On
the other hand, sometimes these doctors DO manage to talk (bully) their
patients into starting their little two-month-old babies on the regular
schedule. Most of these parents end up leaving such a doctor and going
somewhere else. ..."
Dr. Bob Sears
www.TheVaccineBook.com
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