Let’s talk about vaccine safety

Last night I attended a screening of the controversial documentary “Vaxxed”. 

Before I go any further, I need to explain the reason I am moved to write about this. It isn’t to add fuel to the debate surrounding the pros/cons of vaccines. That fire has enough spark. I am writing because the message of the movie, the message that we should be discussing, is being hijacked by the media.

Vaxxed is being portrayed as an anti-vaccine movie. Those who have not seen the movie are arguing the merits or dangers of vaccines, depending on which side they are on. That is not what this movie is about. I had assumptions about the documentary before I viewed it. I almost didn’t take the opportunity to attend, assuming that I knew all that I needed to in order to make my decisions regarding vaccinations. And my decisions need to include how to counsel my clients. While I have never been responsible for administering vaccines, I am often asked my opinion, as a health care professional. My opinion, for this discussion, is irrelevant.

So off we went, on a road trip to “the city” to see the documentary that was banned from the Tribeca Film Festival- to see what all the hype was about. We joined a full house at the Angelika Film Center, met some friends there and got ready to hear the anti-vaccine message.

Well, I’m still waiting. The anti-vaccine propaganda that this movie is supposed to be, isn’t.

This movie is about a political coverup of information at the CDC. It is about brave men who have risked their reputations and livelihoods to uncover it. It is about parents who have concerns that aren’t being answered. It is about a whistleblower whose message is being ignored.

Many of us cried through the movie. It touched my soul in a way that is hard to put into words. There is a helplessness and hopelessness about the message of the movie, although I am not sure that was the intent. How could this happen in the US in this century? How can it be that the studies done to prove the safety of a vaccine schedule that is mandated to all of our children are either secret or manipulated? But the real questions that I pose are these- How can it be that we are not allowed to question the safety of vaccines? Isn’t this America? Don’t we have the right to stand up and ask? When did it happen that if we question a government policy we are called names and our integrity is attacked? And what do we do about it?

Back to the message: this documentary is about the measles vaccine and its association with autism. In particular, the focus is on the combination MMR vaccine, given between 12 and 18 months and the possibility that this sets up the increased risk for autism, especially in African American males. It is about that specific combination vaccine, timing, race and gender.

So the scientists who are involved in the movie aren’t trying to get rid of the measles vaccine. There was no argument against the veracity of the need for vaccines. There was no argument trying to disprove the herd immunity theory, or parent’s rights to refuse vaccines. The recommendation by the scientists is to separate the MMR into measles, mumps and rubella, and give separately, after the age of 3. And to continue to study the issue to find out why certain kids have the propensity to develop autism after the inoculation. They are also calling for studies to compare the rates of autism between those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t.

The issue here is the integrity of the CDC. If this agency is to be trusted with the awesome responsibility of guiding the health care policy of our nation, we must be assured of its integrity.

A scientist who was on the project to investigate the link between the MMR and autism has come forward to say that what they found in the study in 2001, wasn’t what they published in 2004. Some data was destroyed and other data was misrepresented in the final report. He was uncomfortable with being a part of the final published paper and was worried about the legal ramifications to himself and his reputation. So he kept data and the related correspondence that he was supposed to destroy. In 2014,  he came forward to confess what he knows. He is lawyered-up and ready to tell his story. He is waiting for a subpoena from Congress, expecting a special investigator to be appointed to uncover what went on at the CDC at the time of the investigation- and SILENCE.

The media isn’t covering the story. Vaxxed was made to spread the message, and it is being ignored. The only attention that it is getting is  a campaign to discredit it, and those who are arguing against it haven’t even seen it. The lack of journalistic integrity is disappointing to say the least.

I have no great solution here. Just a request. See this movie. Leave assumptions at the door and form an opinion about what to do next. If there is even a 1% chance that these points are valid, isn’t it worth investigating? If you agree, spread the word. Let’s stand up and demand a hearing to investigate this matter. The integrity of our health care system is at risk. Prove it one way or the other. Let’s open the discussion, not shut it down with slander and accusation. www.vaxxedthemovie.com