US: Parents' groups concerned about possible adverse reactions to vaccinations

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Parents' groups concerned about possible adverse reactions to vaccinations

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

As they gather their books and head back to school this fall, kids big and

small will roll up a sleeve for childhood vaccinations.

For the vast majority the dreaded shot will be a quick prick; they'll walk

away with a Band-Aid and crucial protection from such dangerous diseases as

rubella and tetanus.

But some parents' groups are raising concern that adverse reactions to

vaccinations could cause long-term damage in children, including learning

disabilities and autism. Among them is Rosemary S. Veseth, a mother from

Malta whose son was diagnosed with autism shortly after a vaccination 16

years ago.

Most medical experts say the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

Negative reactions of any type are rare. And the evidence linking

vaccinations to such problems as autism is generally considered

inconclusive.

" In the 11 years that I've been employed at the Health Department, I'm not

aware of a serious complication with the vaccinations, " said Trixie ,

disease prevention services manager at the Cascade City-County Health

Department. Thousands of shots were given over that time.

But severe reactions do occur.

The federal government has a compensation system for victims and their

families, called the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, through

the Department of Health and Human Services.

The program has paid out more than $1.5 billion to at least 1,200 people

hurt by vaccines since it began in 1988. But critics say it's difficult to

get money out of the government for compensation.

Raising questions

Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the National Vaccine Information Center

based in Vienna, Va., said that most families seeking federal compensation

are turned away. She feels " betrayed " that the government program is so

difficult to qualify for.

Fisher helped form the nonprofit group in 1982 to help the parents of

children believed to have been injured or killed by vaccines against

diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.

Back then, " nobody had ever heard of a vaccine reaction, " Fisher recalled in

a telephone interview. " Vaccines are not 100 percent safe and effective. "

Fisher acknowledged that health officials and the drug industry quickly

dismiss the issue of side effects from vaccines, and that some people

consider her a crackpot. But she believes her group and other activists have

given parents more information.

" There is a huge change in awareness, " Fisher said. " Bring it on. I am not

afraid of the criticism. "

Fisher said her group thinks parents should make educated decisions about

vaccines.

" We don't tell parents what to do, " she said.

Fisher noted more American children have been diagnosed with disorders such

as autism, attention deficit disorder and asthma in recent years.

" I'm not saying it's all due to vaccines, " Fisher said.

But she believes a vaccination harmed her oldest son.

After a severe reaction to his fourth diptheria-pertussis-tetanus

vaccination in 1980, at age two-and-a-half, he developed multiple learning

disabilities and attention deficit disorder.

" He was the brightest of my three children as a baby, " said Fisher, whose

experience led her to co-found the nonprofit.

" To hell and back "

Proving that vaccines directly cause problems in children isn't easy. But a

number of parents believe problems encountered by their children after

vaccinations are no coincidence.

Veseth's son received a shot to prevent diphtheria, pertussis and

tetanus in 1990 in Laurel. He was four years old at the time.

" After the shot he took a dive like you wouldn't believe, " said Veseth, who

now lives in Malta. " He had lost his speech totally. He was babbling. It was

almost like a nervous breakdown. "

Soon enough, doctors diagnosed the youngster with autism. One doctor

theorized the boy may have been predisposed to autism, and some trigger set

it off. Veseth thinks her son may have reacted to the shot.

" We've been to hell and back, pretty much, " said Veseth. " I believe it's

damaging the neurological systems of some children. "

These days, Veseth said her son is " very creative. " He goes to work every

weekday at Dairy Queen in Malta and does recycling at a workshop called MOI.

" For somebody with autism, he's doing quite well, " his mother said. " He's a

very nice young man. "

But 's mother cannot help but wonder if that shot years ago may have

precipitated her son's troubles. She doesn't oppose vaccinations, but feels

strongly that more research needs to be done into side effects.

So does Fisher, who would like to see studies comparing unvaccinated

children with two other groups; those who receive all the recommended shots,

and kids who receive a smaller number of vaccinations.

Fisher said scientists have resisted such a study, arguing it's unethical to

withhold potentially live-saving vaccines from children.

Veseth noted certain religious groups refuse vaccinations and children of

those faiths could be study subjects.

Fisher cites studies that indicate children who do not take vaccines have

fewer cases of asthma. Modern children, protected by vaccines and

antibiotics, may be suffering from what falls under a " hygiene hypothesis, "

she said.

Today's kids are so clean and free of disease, their immune systems don't

work properly, she said.

American young people " should be the healthiest children on the planet, "

Fisher said.

So why aren't they?

" I will not stop asking this question until it's answered, " she said.

Vaccines and autism?

The Autism Society of America says autism appears to be passed down in

families. It also cites a 2001 conclusion by the Institute of Medicine that

evidence indicated the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination does not cause

autism disorders. But experts conceded they could not rule out the

possibilitythat MMR vaccine could have contributed to autism troubles in a

small number of children.

Fisher argues brain inflammation " has been associated with vaccines from the

beginning. " She says it's no stretch to think damage to certain young brains

is still happening.

Her family has a number of autoimmune diseases, including food allergies and

rheumatoid arthritis. Fisher thinks her son may have been predisposed to

problems.

Side effects from vaccines may be unusual, but Fisher argues it's wrong for

the country to ignore injured families because most children don't have

problems.

" Why should we be sacrificed? " she asks. " Why should these children be

written off? Every single life is valuable. "

Fisher said health officials and vaccine makers apparently consider the side

effects " the price of doing business. " But she said that she and other

parents of injured children " are not going to go quietly into the night. "

Fisher wishes researchers would try to identify children who could be harmed

by a vaccine before it is given.

" If they would only find out who's vulnerable, " she said.

Parents in Montana can refuse mandatory shots for their children for

religious and medical reasons, such as if a child has previously reacted to

a shot.

Every state except Mississippi allows exemptions for religious or medical

reasons. Fewer than half of the states also allow exemptions from shots for

philosophical reasons. Mississippi allows an exemption for medical reasons

only.