It’s flu season again. The time I most dread. Having a child with autism and asthma, I’m always terrified of making the wrong call. I can never get the mercury free version (it’s always too hard to get, never available) and my son’s doctors always tell me I’m worrying about nothing. But I’ve learned to question. What if they’re wrong? What if my son has a sensitivity to Thimerosol (the preservative in the vaccine that has small amounts of mercury in it). I know I’m actually allergic to Thimerosol, as I can’t even use contact lens solution with the stuff without making my eyes puff and swell in retrobution. Putting the stuff through my little kids’ veins is even more terrifying.
But then getting the flu and all the child deaths from influenza we hear about each year is equally terrifying.
So what’s a parent to do? Here’s a few links to different sides of the story and what’s going on about the debate in different places around the world… I’ll be adding more as I find them, but I’d love to know what others think about this and what do they do? I will say, last year when I discovered this information, we braved it out and I didn’t give the vaccine to either of my kids. We waited it out and I tried to keep my kids out of public places, like malls, etc. during the worst winter months (not too hard, since I’m not a big fan of malls to begin with).
Anyway: here’s some info:
Ped Med: Mercury Differences Raise Concern
Recent research shows the type of mercury the government relied on as
a reference in setting safety standards for children’s vaccines differs
significantly from the type that was actually present in the shots — and
still remains in some of them.
http://tinyurl.com/yyd665
| A fifth seasonal flu vaccine gained federal approval Thursday, further boosting the record levels of … version contains thimerosal, a preservative made with a derivative of the toxic metal mercury. | |
| http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15144137/ |
| The FDA said it was in discussions with those manufacturers to increase the supply of thimerosal-free flu vaccine. There also are minute amounts of mercury, as thimerosal or phenylmercuric acetate, in roughly 45 eye ointments, nasal sprays and nasal … | |
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15405274/Ask for No-Added-Mercury Vaccines – DrGreene.com  Read a brief article informing the public of the availability of a safer flu shot. … doctors start ordering flu vaccine during the spring … preservative-free flu vaccine was made available — for those who ask for it. A small amount of a form of mercury called … www.drgreene.com/21_1597.html |
CALIFORNIA PEDIATRICIANS REQUEST EXEMPTION FROM ANTI-MERCURY VACCINE
LAW
“Children under three in California are being denied access to
influenza vaccination because of inadequate supplies of Thimerosal-free
vaccine.”
http://www.sarnet.org/lib/merc-exemption.pdf
SANOFI-PASTURE ASSURES NO SHORTAGES OF MERCURY-FREE VACCINES FEB. 2006
“Our no preservative formulation will be available until it is fully
committed.”
http://www.sarnet.org/lib/Sanofi.pdf
SANOFI SAYS PLENTY OF MERCURY-FREE VACCINES TO KS STAR NEWSPAPER
“While we have on several occasions sold out all of our
preservative-containing (mercury) vaccine in the last several years, we have
never sold out all of our preservative-free vaccine.”
http://www.sarnet.org/lib/Sanofi.pdf/KCSTAR-MercVax.htm
The Mercury Poisoning Side of the story:
http://www.generationrescue.org/index2.html
Please note, I’m not personally advocating any of this stuff. I just think knowledge is power and everyone should make this decision for themselves. I would love to know more URLs and info on this issue if you have them and want to send them my way. Please send them to Bonnie@autisticgenius.com
And here’s where I give you a plug to please visit my Online store www.autisticgenius.com where I create and sell products that empower families, friends and the general public with pro neurodiversity messages and celebrate the Autistic Genius. No puzzle pieces, no “cure me” stuff here, and definitely no pity parties. Just positive power all around. Great for Christmas or Hannukah gifts if I might add 
4 Comments
November 5, 2006 at 2:39 am
[...] So what’s a parent to do? Here’s a few links to different sides of the story and what’s going on about the debate in different places around the world… I’ll b … Very nice article. Thanks to author.Link to original article [...]
April 3, 2007 at 2:27 pm
In 1987, since I worked in a high risk job, I decided to get the flu shot sue to urgings from my parents and bosses. Never mind that I had rarely gotten the flu before.
Within hours of the shot I was more ill than I had ever been in my life. I lost the ability to walk, ran a high fever, and turned yellow.
My boyfriend carried me to an emergency care facility where they actual asked, “Is she normally that yellow?” When they were todl I had received the flu vaccine just hours before, they started whispering and moved me to a back cublicle. They became very hush-hush. They made me think it was just a fluke.
I remember being so weak and sick that at one point I thought that I might actually die, and I made my peace with God. It took me months to feel human again. I didn’t realize it wasn’t a fluke until my son was damaged by vaccines. God, I wish I’d realized the truth sooner.
May 15, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Shrek3 Far Far Away needs a new king, and unless Shrek can find someone else, he’ll be stuck with the figazavar…
April 22, 2009 at 7:02 am
After reading through this article, I feel that I need more information on the topic. Could you share some resources ?