Why Health Advice on 'Oprah' Could Make You Sick

[Guest guest]

This headline was staring at me from my MSN signon screen this morning... I

have not read the entire, very lengthy, article, but I did read through the

vaccine portion. This is from pages two and three of the article here:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/200025?GT1=43002

Live Your Best Life Ever!

Wish Away Cancer! Get A Lunchtime Face-Lift! Eradicate Autism! Turn Back The

Clock! Thin Your Thighs! Cure Menopause! Harness Positive Energy! Erase

Wrinkles! Banish Obesity! Live Your Best Life Ever!

<http://www.newsweek.com/id/199678>

PHOTOS Best Life or Risky Advice? <http://www.newsweek.com/id/199678>

Things you should know about Oprah's health tips

By Weston Kosova<http://search.newsweek.com/search?byline=weston%20kosova>and

Pat

Wingert <http://search.newsweek.com/search?byline=pat%20wingert> | NEWSWEEK

Published May 30, 2009

From the magazine issue dated Jun 8, 2009

[skip to page 2]

In 2007, Oprah invited McCarthy, the *Playboy* model and actress, to

describe her struggle to find help for her young son. When he was 2½, Evan

suffered a series of seizures. A neurologist told McCarthy he was autistic.

" So what do you think triggered the autism? " Oprah asked McCarthy. " I know

you have a theory. "

McCarthy is certain that her son contracted autism from the measles, mumps

and rubella (MMR) vaccination he received as a baby. She told Oprah that the

morning he went in for his checkup, her instincts told her not to allow the

doctor to give him the vaccine. " I said to the doctor, I have a very bad

feeling about this shot. This is the autism shot, isn't it? And he said no,

that is ridiculous; it is a mother's desperate attempt to blame something on

autism. And he swore at me. " The nurse gave Evan the shot. " And not soon

thereafter, " McCarthy said, " boom, soul gone from his eyes. "

McCarthy is now the most prominent voice in a small but vocal movement of

parents with autistic children who are demanding action from the government.

They believe that chemicals once used to preserve vaccines, combined with

the increase in the number of shots kids get today, have created an epidemic

of autism; and that doctors, the government, the media and drug companies

are hiding or ignoring the truth. McCarthy declined an interview, but in a

statement she said, " I understand that vaccines are an important part of

keeping us alive today. My problem is with the ingredients in some vaccines

that can become toxic when introduced to children with vulnerable immune

systems. I want those children to be able to delay vaccines that could cause

them harm. "

It is easy to see why parents like McCarthy have latched onto vaccines as

the culprit. They want answers, and sadly there are few. Studies have found

some genetic and environmental links that may increase the risk of autism,

but its causes are still unknown. The baffling rise in the number of autism

cases has loosely coincided with an increase in the number of childhood

immunizations. Yet researchers have not found a link between the vaccines

and autism. Here is what we do know: before vaccinations, thousands of

children died or got sick each year from measles, mumps and rubella.

But back on the *Oprah* show, McCarthy's charges went virtually

unchallenged. Oprah praised McCarthy's bravery and plugged her book, but did

not invite a physician or scientist to explain to her audience the many

studies that contradict the vaccines-autism link. Instead, Oprah read a

brief statement from the Centers for Disease Control saying there was no

science to prove a connection and that the government was continuing to

study the problem. But McCarthy got the last word. " My science is named

Evan, and he's at home. That's my science. " Oprah might say that McCarthy

was just sharing her first-person story and that Oprah wasn't endorsing her

point of view. But by the end of the show, the take-away message for any

mother with young kids was pretty clear: be afraid.

Oprah told viewers that McCarthy would be available to answer questions and

give guidance later that day on Oprah.com. One viewer went online to ask

McCarthy what she would do if she could do it all over again. " If I had

another child, " McCarthy answered, " I would not vaccinate. " A mother wrote

in to say that she had decided not to give her child the MMR vaccine because

of fears of autism. McCarthy was delighted. " I'm so proud you followed your

mommy instinct, " she wrote. A year later, McCarthy was back on the show for

an episode about " Warrior Moms, " which gave her another opportunity to

expand on her claims about vaccines and autism. Oprah must have liked what

she heard. McCarthy became a semiregular guest on the show, and in May,

Oprah announced that her production company had signed McCarthy for a talk

show of her own.

McCarthy is not the only guest who has warned Oprah's viewers off vaccines.

Last summer Dr. Christiane Northrup, a physician and one of Oprah's regular

experts, took questions from the audience. One woman asked about the HPV

vaccine, which protects women against a sexually transmitted virus that can

cause cervical cancer. Northrup advised against getting the shot. " I'm a

little against my own profession, " she said. " My own profession feels that

everyone should be vaccinated. " But Northrup cautioned, " There have been

some deaths from the vaccine. " She suggested a different approach. " Where

I'd put my money is getting everybody on a dietary program that would

enhance their immunity, and then they would be able to resist that sort of

thing. All right? "

It is true that of the millions of women who have received the vaccine, 32

have died in the days or weeks afterward. But in each case, the Centers for

Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration investigated the deaths

and found that they were coincidental and were not related to the shot.

" This is a very safe vaccine, " says Wood, a research professor in the

School of Public Health at Washington University and the former head

of the FDA's Office of Women's Health. " Because of the power and influence

that Oprah's show has, she should make an extra effort to be clear. " Neither

did Oprah question Northrup's assertion that women can stop the spread of a

cancer-causing sexually transmitted disease by eating healthy foods. There

is, Wood says dryly, " no evidence that money spent on general health

promotion " will do that. Reached by phone, Northrup herself now concedes she

isn't certain that anyone has died from the vaccine. And she didn't mean to

leave the impression that women should avoid it. " I would say that there is

a chance that they could be injured from it, but I wouldn't say not to take

it. "

The article goes on and on for many more pages...

[Guest guest]

They're just trying to discredit any mainstream, rational voice out there. As

usual -- where are THEIR studies proving these things are safe? I don't see it

in that article.

While I don't take my health advice from ANY mainstream media figure, I don't

think they should be silenced just because they don't agree with everyone else.

I think it's good that they're speaking out and they should point people towards

research and encourage them to think for themselves. But, that's pretty much

forbidden in this country, despite our so-called Bill of Rights.

--Kate

Mommy to Rebekah, 1-26-08

Baby #2 due 7-26-09...it's a BOY!

www.rctdiapers.webs.com

>

> This headline was staring at me from my MSN signon screen this morning... I

> have not read the entire, very lengthy, article, but I did read through the

> vaccine portion. This is from pages two and three of the article here:

> http://www.newsweek.com/id/200025?GT1=43002

>

> Live Your Best Life Ever!

>

> Wish Away Cancer! Get A Lunchtime Face-Lift! Eradicate Autism! Turn Back The

> Clock! Thin Your Thighs! Cure Menopause! Harness Positive Energy! Erase

> Wrinkles! Banish Obesity! Live Your Best Life Ever!

>

> <http://www.newsweek.com/id/199678>

> PHOTOS Best Life or Risky Advice? <http://www.newsweek.com/id/199678>

>

> Things you should know about Oprah's health tips

>

> By Weston

Kosova<http://search.newsweek.com/search?byline=weston%20kosova>and

> Pat

> Wingert <http://search.newsweek.com/search?byline=pat%20wingert> | NEWSWEEK

> Published May 30, 2009

> From the magazine issue dated Jun 8, 2009

>

> [skip to page 2]

>

>

> In 2007, Oprah invited McCarthy, the *Playboy* model and actress, to

> describe her struggle to find help for her young son. When he was 2½, Evan

> suffered a series of seizures. A neurologist told McCarthy he was autistic.

> " So what do you think triggered the autism? " Oprah asked McCarthy. " I know

> you have a theory. "

>

> McCarthy is certain that her son contracted autism from the measles, mumps

> and rubella (MMR) vaccination he received as a baby. She told Oprah that the

> morning he went in for his checkup, her instincts told her not to allow the

> doctor to give him the vaccine. " I said to the doctor, I have a very bad

> feeling about this shot. This is the autism shot, isn't it? And he said no,

> that is ridiculous; it is a mother's desperate attempt to blame something on

> autism. And he swore at me. " The nurse gave Evan the shot. " And not soon

> thereafter, " McCarthy said, " boom, soul gone from his eyes. "

>

> McCarthy is now the most prominent voice in a small but vocal movement of

> parents with autistic children who are demanding action from the government.

> They believe that chemicals once used to preserve vaccines, combined with

> the increase in the number of shots kids get today, have created an epidemic

> of autism; and that doctors, the government, the media and drug companies

> are hiding or ignoring the truth. McCarthy declined an interview, but in a

> statement she said, " I understand that vaccines are an important part of

> keeping us alive today. My problem is with the ingredients in some vaccines

> that can become toxic when introduced to children with vulnerable immune

> systems. I want those children to be able to delay vaccines that could cause

> them harm. "

>

> It is easy to see why parents like McCarthy have latched onto vaccines as

> the culprit. They want answers, and sadly there are few. Studies have found

> some genetic and environmental links that may increase the risk of autism,

> but its causes are still unknown. The baffling rise in the number of autism

> cases has loosely coincided with an increase in the number of childhood

> immunizations. Yet researchers have not found a link between the vaccines

> and autism. Here is what we do know: before vaccinations, thousands of

> children died or got sick each year from measles, mumps and rubella.

>

> But back on the *Oprah* show, McCarthy's charges went virtually

> unchallenged. Oprah praised McCarthy's bravery and plugged her book, but did

> not invite a physician or scientist to explain to her audience the many

> studies that contradict the vaccines-autism link. Instead, Oprah read a

> brief statement from the Centers for Disease Control saying there was no

> science to prove a connection and that the government was continuing to

> study the problem. But McCarthy got the last word. " My science is named

> Evan, and he's at home. That's my science. " Oprah might say that McCarthy

> was just sharing her first-person story and that Oprah wasn't endorsing her

> point of view. But by the end of the show, the take-away message for any

> mother with young kids was pretty clear: be afraid.

>

> Oprah told viewers that McCarthy would be available to answer questions and

> give guidance later that day on Oprah.com. One viewer went online to ask

> McCarthy what she would do if she could do it all over again. " If I had

> another child, " McCarthy answered, " I would not vaccinate. " A mother wrote

> in to say that she had decided not to give her child the MMR vaccine because

> of fears of autism. McCarthy was delighted. " I'm so proud you followed your

> mommy instinct, " she wrote. A year later, McCarthy was back on the show for

> an episode about " Warrior Moms, " which gave her another opportunity to

> expand on her claims about vaccines and autism. Oprah must have liked what

> she heard. McCarthy became a semiregular guest on the show, and in May,

> Oprah announced that her production company had signed McCarthy for a talk

> show of her own.

>

> McCarthy is not the only guest who has warned Oprah's viewers off vaccines.

> Last summer Dr. Christiane Northrup, a physician and one of Oprah's regular

> experts, took questions from the audience. One woman asked about the HPV

> vaccine, which protects women against a sexually transmitted virus that can

> cause cervical cancer. Northrup advised against getting the shot. " I'm a

> little against my own profession, " she said. " My own profession feels that

> everyone should be vaccinated. " But Northrup cautioned, " There have been

> some deaths from the vaccine. " She suggested a different approach. " Where

> I'd put my money is getting everybody on a dietary program that would

> enhance their immunity, and then they would be able to resist that sort of

> thing. All right? "

>

> It is true that of the millions of women who have received the vaccine, 32

> have died in the days or weeks afterward. But in each case, the Centers for

> Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration investigated the deaths

> and found that they were coincidental and were not related to the shot.

> " This is a very safe vaccine, " says Wood, a research professor in the

> School of Public Health at Washington University and the former head

> of the FDA's Office of Women's Health. " Because of the power and influence

> that Oprah's show has, she should make an extra effort to be clear. " Neither

> did Oprah question Northrup's assertion that women can stop the spread of a

> cancer-causing sexually transmitted disease by eating healthy foods. There

> is, Wood says dryly, " no evidence that money spent on general health

> promotion " will do that. Reached by phone, Northrup herself now concedes she

> isn't certain that anyone has died from the vaccine. And she didn't mean to

> leave the impression that women should avoid it. " I would say that there is

> a chance that they could be injured from it, but I wouldn't say not to take

> it. "

>

> The article goes on and on for many more pages...

>

>

>

>

>