{"id":31881,"date":"2025-02-17T16:40:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T22:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wholehealthchicago.com\/blog\/?p=31881"},"modified":"2025-02-17T16:40:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T22:40:38","slug":"protecting-yourself-and-your-child-from-the-dangerous-anti-vaccine-cult","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wholehealthchicago.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/17\/protecting-yourself-and-your-child-from-the-dangerous-anti-vaccine-cult","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Yourself (and Your Child) from the Dangerous Anti-Vaccine Cult"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I wanted to pull this Health Tip from the archives of the 1,600 (give or take a few) on file since I started this back in 1994. I had written it in response to the vociferous anti-vaccination community which I knew had been funding completely false research, spreading really dangerous misinformation, and causing untoward damage to the health of children. It was really rather disgusting how they were all living healthy adults because their own parents had the common sense to vaccinate them as children but now they were willing to risk the lives of their own kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then, March 2019, one real anti-vaxxer was Robert Kennedy, Jr., who founded the anti vaccine group, Children\u2019s Health Defense, and made over 100 speaking appearances, linking vaccines to autism. The other was Joseph Mercola, D.O. of mercola.com, with a net worth of $100 million from supplement sales, whom generously funded anti vaccine research. Mercola has one million subscribers and 14 million visitors monthly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then, nine months later, in January 2020, COVID arrives in the U.S. Hard to believe it was five years ago last month. By the end of 2023, there are 103,000,000 cases of COVID in the U.S., and by the end of 2023, 1,130,000 Americans will have lost their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although COVID vaccine was developed very quickly (\u201cOperation Warp Speed\u201d), Mercola and Kennedy are voted #1 and #2 \u201cCOVID Claptrap Superspreaders\u201d by McGill University Office for Science and Society<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of unnecessary deaths caused by \u201cwarning people away from COVID vaccines\u201d has been estimated at 50,000, mainly white, Southern Republicans. Mercola became even more wealthy with an assortment of COVID \u201ccures\u201d now sold worldwide. Planning for the future, he even has a book, \u201cThe Great Bird Flu Hoax<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s net worth pales at a paltry $15 million when compared to Mercola, but he is our new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Since President Trump just laid off 10% of the CDC (Center of Disease Control) and the same of the NIH (National Institute of Health), it\u2019s sort of a perfect storm: \u00a0fewer scientists just at the time of first reported human cases of bird flu and the anti vax Kennedy in charge of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, back to what I wrote preCOVID, in defense of vaccinations. I have edited it down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immunizing Your Kids<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least once a week someone asks my opinion on mandatory immunization, I suppose because WholeHealth Chicago is so widely known as an alternative medical center. Most often, the inquirer is pregnant and she\u2019s read something about the (totally disproven) link between the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine and autism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another question is whether vaccines contain mercury, in the form of the preservative thiomersol, followed by queries about a possible link between mercury and autism. I tell my patients that while there\u2019s been no thiomersol in childhood vaccines since 1999, there has been a steady rise in the diagnosis of \u201cautism\u201d throughout the 21st century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This actually has nothing at all to do with vaccines but rather pediatricians, child psychiatrists and psychologists being better educated in autism as a wide spectrum of symptoms. And, more recently, that the \u201cspectrum”, once considered male predominant, is now close to 50:50, women being skilled at camouflaging their ASD symptoms better than men.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now considered the single most damaging public health hoax of the 20th century, responsible for tens of thousands of deaths worldwide, was that of former physician Andrew Wakefield\u2019s 1998 article published in the British journal Lancet <\/em><\/strong>linking MMR vaccine to autism. He was actually a gastroenterologist and had created a new disease which he called \u201cautistic enterocolitis\u201d, and planned to make millions from a diagnostic test kit. Unbeknownst to the Lancet <\/em>editors, Wakefield had been receiving funding from anti-vaccine groups. And because this idea was such a hot topic, Wakefield received a tsunami of media attention that resonates to this day in the form of doubts from the pregnant patient sitting across from me in my office.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-Wakefield Infection Rates Skyrocket\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Wakefield, childhood immunization rates fell around the world and infection rates of the three potentially fatal childhood illnesses rose dramatically. Once Wakefield was investigated, his data was proven to have been manipulated and false. Later, his medical license was taken from him, and he\u2019s no longer allowed to practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakefield produced, directed, and stars in, \u201cVAXXED: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe<\/a>\u201d, <\/strong>a pseudo-documentary laden with scary misinformation. \u201cVaxxed\u201d was recently yanked from Tribeca Film Festival by festival director Robert DeNiro (father of an autistic child) because \u201cwe do not believe it contributes to the discussion”. The film\u2019s sequels, \u201cVAXXED II: The People\u2019s Truth\u201d <\/strong>was produced (you guessed it) by Robert Kennedy, Jr. and \u201cVAXXED III: Authorized to Kill\u201d <\/strong>released last September, partially funded by Kennedy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among other things, the film erroneously accuses Blue Cross of giving doctors financial kickbacks for immunizing kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In actual fact, the alleged kickbacks are simply a standard reimbursement for the cost of the vaccines themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persistent Opposition and Immunization\u2019s Global Reach <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very vocal opponents to childhood immunization persist in their endeavors on websites and in chat rooms around the world. Interestingly, organized opposition to vaccination began with the very first smallpox shots in 1798 and in one way or another has never let up. When you read the history of anti-vaccine movements, the tenor is much less about safety and much more about government control. The phrases used by the opposition are similar to those employed against water fluoridation, designated smoking areas, and mandatory seat belt use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that except for seriously underdeveloped countries, mandatory immunization requirements exist worldwide. This is not an American thing. The government health departments of various countries may have slightly different immunization schedules, but virtually all developed countries will not let a child attend school if he or she arrives without immunization documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, in every country where immunization was suspended (such as occurred after the MMR hoax) there was a documented rise in infection and death. Here in the U.S. the 2014 Disneyland measles outbreak<\/a> triggered a sixfold rise in measles. It began with a single unimmunized tourist walking through the crowds. The virus quickly spread around the country, exclusively infecting those who had not been immunized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One issue I have with opponents of immunization is they\u2019re too young to remember the physical and psychological devastation these illnesses once caused: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Mumps could leave a child permanently deaf or sterile.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Although apparently a mild viral infection, a pregnant women catching German measles (rubella) might give birth to a blind or brain-damaged child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Diphtheria and measles could kill, and did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Polio was the terror of my own childhood. A kid could be fine on Monday, catch polio that afternoon, and be crippled for life a few days later.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herd Immunity and Illinois Law<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understand that not only is your child protected by these immunizations, but with everyone immunized the disease itself can disappear altogether. There is virtually no smallpox anymore. Polio is almost gone as well. The term for this is \u201cherd immunity”, which is the protection of an un-immunized person because everyone else is immune. And while herd immunity is highly useful in protecting anyone with a compromised immune system, parents choosing not to immunize their children are relying on everyone else\u2019s children to protect their own. There seems something solipsistic about this.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here in Illinois (and in California), the otherwise egregiously incompetent state legislature passed some of the most stringent mandatory immunization rules in the country, making it very difficult for an anti-vaxx parent to avoid the system. Formerly, the most common way people got around immunization was to get a religious exemption from their physician, and a quick note could do it. Now parents are required to complete a more complex form that must be signed by both parents and physician. Parents need to state a reason for the exemption for each individual vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, before the form is completed parents also need to sign a statement verifying that they have been informed of the dangers of each illness their child is no longer protected from, that they have an understanding of herd immunity (i.e., they\u2019re relying on other responsible parents to protect their child), and that the child might be denied admission to school (even with the religious exemption).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What anti-vax parents are often surprised to hear is, \u201cI hope you\u2019re prepared to home-school your child.\u201d\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pediatric Docs Oppose Non-medical Exemptions\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics <\/strong>said, \u201cWe believe there should be no religious or personal exemptions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, finding a physician to sign an exemption form may be quite difficult. Because (just like parents) pediatricians want what\u2019s best for the children they care for, getting a doctor\u2019s signature on a form that renders a child vulnerable to illness may be well-nigh impossible. As a doctor, I would not want to be held responsible for a measles outbreak because I\u2019d signed an exemption for a child who carried the virus into his classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there are still some anti-vaxx physicians out there, and yes, if you go online you probably can find one, but are you really willing to place your child at risk because of your politics?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of Chicago\u2019s top-notch pediatric practices simply will not accept any child whose parents refuse vaccination. They won\u2019t sign the exemption form because they don\u2019t want a possibly infectious (and potentially dangerous) child in the waiting room with babies who have not yet completed their vaccination programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, \u201cautism\u201d sounds scary, but most mildly autistic people have developed so many compensatory social skills they are completely unaware of their diagnosis. Always remember the vaccine-autism link was a hoax. Yes, the needle coming at your infant\u2019s behind looks in your eyes like a tenpenny nail. Yes, your daughter will wail when stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when all the kids come to your house for your daughter\u2019s birthday looking so wild and healthy, you\u2019ll know that none of them is at home in an iron lung (polio), dealing with deafness (mumps), covered with a nasty rash (measles), or choking for breath (diphtheria).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, if you\u2019re up for it, you can read the many responses to this Health Tip that were written back in 2019. Remember, as you read this and the responses, COVID will be six months down the road. Kennedy at the time of writing was an anti-VAX nutcase; five years ahead he\u2019s the Secretary of Health. Mercola at the time made millions, now makes even more. We are setting the stage of unpreparedness for another pandemic. Life on the edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be well,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Edelberg, M<\/em>D<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wanted to pull this Health Tip from the archives of the 1,600 (give or take a few) on file since I started this back in 1994. I had written it in response to the vociferous anti-vaccination community which I knew had been funding completely false research, spreading really dangerous misinformation, and causing untoward damage […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2087,"featured_media":31883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2897,2895,2896,2892,2893,2894],"tags":[2889,2890,1990,2891,2888],"class_list":["post-31881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-covid-19-pandemic-response","category-misinformation-fact-checking","category-parenting-childcare","category-public-health","category-science-medicine","category-vaccines-immunization","tag-anti-vax-misinformation","tag-immunization-matters","tag-public-health","tag-science-over-fear","tag-vaccine-safety"],"yoast_head":"\r\nProtecting Yourself (and Your Child) from the Anti-Vaccine Cult<\/title>\r\n<meta 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