BBB AUTISM SUPPORT NETWORK

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PRESENTS

PARENT GUIDES

Parent Strategies For Parents, By Parents

IMMUNIZATIONS CONCERNS IN ONTARIO

A Note To Our Readers: Welcome to our BBB Guides, a series of documents by parents, for parents on various topics.  When searching the web, we could find little in the way practical solutions to challenges affecting those of us who love someone with autism/PDD.  Our message board, however always contains such fantastic tips offered by our experts: parents of children with ASD.  These are parents of various stages, their children are affected with various severities and they are all different ages.  About half of our contributors have more than one child on the spectrum.

It has to mentioned that some of the posts contained within may contain opinions or theories.  Inclusion of these opinions or theories herein is not to be construed as an alignment or endorsement by BBB Autism Support Network.  When it comes to your child’s health, do your homework and make informed decisions.  We support your right to be informed and aware. 

I hope you enjoy this guide and the rest of the series; and that they are helpful to you.  If you would like to contribute to or have ideas for future guides, please email me at bbbautism@deaknet.com.

Thanks to all our great parent-contributors. It couldn’t be done it without you!

Note: Our children are referred to as first initials only and we don’t include last names. We never publish these comments without permission from the contributor. Husbands/wives are not mentioned by name either.

This information came from Social and Public Health Services (City of Hamilton): http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/sphs/CommDisease/BeWiseImmunize.htm

Public Health Unit Locations across Ontario can be found here: http://www.gov.on.ca/health/english/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.html

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio (Td Polio) Vaccine

Td Polio is a three-in-one needle. It protects people against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. It is used in people seven years or older. Vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and polio is required by law for all children attending school in Ontario (unless exempted).

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one needle that protects against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). It is typically given to children soon after their first birthday and again around the time they begin school (between four and six years of age). Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella is required by law for all children attending school in Ontario (unless exempted).

This vaccine may also be given to adults who are not protected against measles, mumps or rubella. Pregnant women who have been told that they are not protected against rubella, may receive MMR vaccine as soon as they are no longer pregnant.

Infant Haemophilus type B (Hib) Vaccine

Infant Hib vaccine protects children from serious diseases like meningitis caused by the Haemophilus influenzae type b or Hib germ. It is typically recommended for use in infants and children younger than five years.

Even though "influenzae" is part of its name, the Hib germ does not cause influenza or the flu. Hib infections are much more serious.  Before the Hib vaccine was used, the Hib germ was a common cause of serious infections in children. Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children two months to five years of age. Meningitis is a serious infection of the fluid and lining that covers the spinal cord. Meningitis can cause brain damage, learning and developmental problems, deafness and blindness. One out of 20 children with meningitis can die and serious disability (nerve damage, deafness) occurs in about 15 per cent.

The Hib germ also causes a serious infection of the throat near the voice box. This infection is called epiglottitis. This can make it difficult for the child to breathe. The Hib germ can also cause infection of the lungs (pneumonia) and bone and joint infections.

Children under five years are more likely to get Hib disease. Children attending childcare centres are even more likely to catch it. The Hib germ spreads to others through coughing and sneezing.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

The hepatitis B virus can permanently damage your liver. It's the biggest cause of liver cancer worldwide. You need your liver to digest food and remove waste from your body.

There are around 150 cases of hepatitis B reported in Ontario each year. People with the disease often become tired, feverish, lose their appetite, and sometimes get yellow skin and eyes (called jaundice). There may be many more people with hepatitis B. You can get it and not even know it. That means you can infect someone else without knowing.

The risk from hepatitis B is much greater than the risk from the vaccine, however, some people should not have this vaccine.

You won't be vaccinated if you have a fever or anything more serious than a minor cold. Tell your doctor if you've had a past allergic reaction to a vaccine. You should always discuss the benefits and risks of any vaccine with your doctor.

Information on vaccines from Health Canada.

Call the ministry INFOline at 1-800-268-1154 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
In Toronto, call 416-314-5518
TTY 1-800-387-5559.

 EXEMPTION FORM:

Our immunization is done through our local health unit. Armed with all my info from you and ready for a fight I called, they said come get the conscience exemption form. I did, it was a no brainer, had it notarized and that was that! No explanation other than he has autism. Maybe whomever you need to give the form to could supply you with the form to begin with?

Juli

You may get a form that will exempt your child from immunizations for medical, religious or conscientious reasons from Social and Public Health Services by calling 905.540.5250. This form must be signed by a Commissioner and returned to Social and Public Health Services.

Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990: http://www.gov.on.ca/health/english/forms/pdf/7470-64_.pdf (thanks to Di for providing this link!)

WHO CAN NOTARIZE YOUR EXEMPTION FORM?

Does anyone know who can notarize this document?  Is there anyone other than a lawyer who can do this?
Liz

DH's answer
 In Ontario, a "Commissioner of Oaths" is someone who can sign these kind of forms. It is a designation granted by the Province and a stamp does have to be applied along with the signature. It does not have to be a lawyer, per se. If one is looking for a "Commissioner of Oaths" you are most likely find one in the yellow pages under Notaries - Public or possibly Commissioner of Oaths.

By the way, some practitioners do not charge for this service, but some do.

By Lucy

Liz, I think most banks have a notary public. If not try looking in the phone book.

good luck...
Lynn D

THIMEROSAL IN CANADA?

I am trying to understand something here. I've had a mom contact me frantically about the dangers of vaccination and I want to be sure I am giving the correct info.

My understanding is that it is the preservative thimerosal in vaccinations that is the problem. It is also my understanding that there is no thimerosal used in Canada.

I'm a little confused. If this is the case, how are vaccines (particularly the MMR) effecting kids in Canada?

Liz

The evidence is that autistic children have a dysfunctional system that cannot clear their bodies of heavy metals. The ones most children are exposed to in greatest amount is mercury through vaccinations, silver dental fillings (49% mercury), foods like fish and grains, and in more sources than I have time to name.

Ten percent of women have enough mercury in their system to harm their fetus, and add to that, mercury levels 100 times what is considered safe for an adult in just one series of vaccinations.

There are also other heavy metals that are children are exposed to every day like lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. These are all toxic to the brain. These heavy metals not only attack the brain, but also the immune system and digestive system. And, even though mercury has been removed from vaccines, they have replaced it with aluminum which is also a neuro-toxin that has been implicated in Alzheimer’s.

A good book to read to find out all the latest biomedical evidence and treatments is called, "Children with Starving Brains." by Dr. McCandless MD. (a DAN! doctor)

by Holly K.

Is the Flu shot safe for our ASD kids?

Just wondering. I was going to get the whole family inoculated in the fall, as the kids had the flu really bad last year. But after reading about immunization shot on this message board, I wonder if it's safe for my little guy with ASD.

If anyone knows, could you please let me know?

Thanks
Lee Anne
 

Well... 

If your question is "is the flu shot thimerosal free?" the answer is no. Only pediatric vaccines fell under the voluntary request from the FDA to the pharmas to remove thimerosal from production. The flu shot is not a pediatric vaccine, although they will readily jab small children with it. 

If your question is "will the flu shot give my kids the flu?" the answer is possibly. The flu shot is the single most reported vaccine for adverse reactions, with the principle complaint (other than sore arm) being that it actually induced the flu. (The second most reported vaccine for adverse reaction is pertussis, which can actually be very, very serious in the severity of the reaction. The FDA in their infinite wisdom corrected this however by tightening up the window of eligibility for reportable reaction.

The Hep B was on its way to becoming the most reported vaccine for adverse reaction, with the severity falling in between the flu shot and pertussis. However the CDC took care of this by altering the scheduling of the Hep B from early adolescence to giving it to babies before they leave the hospital at birth, thereby squelching the patient's ability to tell the dr. that it made them sick.)

 If your question is "will the flu shot make my child more autistic or damage him/her further" the answer is how lucky do you feel...

My family has never received the flu shots and until they hold a gun to my head we will not be receiving it in this lifetime. We catch the flu, we suffer thru it, and we get better. The deaths attributed to the flu are almost entirely limited to those people who have very compromised immune systems, live in squalid conditions, have another medical issue like HIV or are suffering from profound malnutrition. At this point in time my family has none of these factors. Ironically, those who do have these factors are not to be given the flu shot, as they are the ones most likely to suffer adverse reactions. Catch 22...

 Good luck to you,

Dad

Necessary Evil?

My youngest child has several health issues, asthma being one of them. If she got the flu, hospitalization would be a big possibility. A few of the others (including me) have asthma as well.

Most years we get the flu shot. We didn't last year...there was a shortage! I have noticed that we were pretty healthy the years we got the shots.

So far the only reaction any of us has had was the sore shoulder I had...the nurse stabbed a ligament in my shoulder when she injected me.

My father has some major lung issues, but he does not get the shot. He seems to be sensitive to it, and gets a bad case of the flu every time he gets it.

It is always a difficult decision to allow your child to get any injection. You have to weigh the risks with the benefits. Our family finds the flu shot to be more on the beneficial side, so that is our choice.

Gabrielle

Exemption from immunization

I need to have N immunized by August 30 or have him exempt. I don't have a lot of information on why I don't want him immunized, I just know that I don't, mostly out of fear, gut feeling, etc. and the fact that after his last shot he slept 16 hours and stopped talking. What do I need to know here? Bev, you mentioned something before about having his titer levels checked? What does that mean? if the antibodies are there he doesn't need the shot? Is the DPTP the bad one or is it the MMR or either depending on whether there is mercury? Has anyone else received an exemption? What did you say?

Help!
Juli

exemptions/titer levels
 

We had the titer level done for all the vaccines L has had. That checks the immune status (blood test). We found that none of the vaccines L had taken (well except for one - the measles one which was sky high). This means that he has selective antibodies, a definite immune system dysfunction, which is common with autism.

It is good to know their immune status; because for example if L steps on a rusty nail, I know he needs a local tetanus shot.

If you find the immunity for Measles, mumps and rubella is fine, and then you don't need another MMR shot. Something like 85% of kids first MMR shot gives them the immunity, 5 year olds get the second MMR shot to cover the 15% of kids whose first shot didn't "take". So that means 85% of kids get a second MMR shot even though they don't even need it.

There is an exemption form that is right here on BBB, my friend just printed it out a month ago. Haven't had time to find it, apparently it just needs to be signed by a dr. or a P.Eng. I need it too, so if you find it before I do, let me know, I have the same deadline as you Juli.

Or if you find the titer level shows MMR immunity, then that gets you off the hook. You don't need a second MMR shot.

Bev

IS this something a pediatrician can test for?

Just curious or do I have to go to a DAN doctor or some other specialist?
Lynn

Your Pediatrician can run titers for you

Your pediatrician can run the titer on your child. When I enrolled in college (12 years after graduating high school) I couldn't locate all my vaccination records, so they ran titers on MMR and my levels were fine. I had the mumps as a child so I had the antibodies from having the actual disease. I also had the antibodies from my vaccinations for the other 2 diseases. I will be having my son's checked before I allow him to get anymore vaccinations!
Pam

I got an exemption for my son.

It's easy if you can ignore the guilt trip they will probably give you. I just went down to the county health department and asked for a vaccine exemption form for my son. Then when the school asks you for the vaccination history, give them the exemption form. What ever you do, don't let anyone talk you into getting him vaccinated. If you ask a doctor who specializes in autism most see a definite link to vaccines in autism.

Holly K.

Two fold autism problem...

First of all, there is a link between autoimmune/allergy disorders and autism. Autoimmune disorder are disorders where the body perceives itself as a foreign invader and attacks itself. An allergy is where the body's immune system goes into overdrive to combat a foreign invader.

Autistic children have what is called immune dysregulation, some over reactive and some under reactive. The theory is, when given a dangerous virus through a vaccination, the child's immune system may under react and they can acquire a low grade chronic infection. Another finding is that 58% of autistic children studied have myelin basic protein (MBP) antibodies. This means that their body's immune system is targeting the myelin sheath or protective covering for the brain's neurons.

Many people think that the problem may begin with an early infancy or prenatal exposure to heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, etc. These toxins seem to disrupt the body's immune system, intestinal system, and nervous system. The source of these can be from vaccines (once 50% mercury-watch out they did not recall them, they just stopped putting the mercury in in 2001, so some doctors are still giving children dangerous levels of mercury in an ingredient called thimerosal), silver dental fillings (50% mercury) is another source, predatory fish like tuna, batteries, cosmetics, shampoos, mouthwashes, toothpaste, soaps, electrical devises and relays, resides in grains, insecticides, pesticides, paints, and petroleum products.

The EPA found that 10% of women have enough mercury in their system to have the possibility to harm their fetus. Add to that a mercury exposure that can be over 100 times the safe limit for an adult given in one round of vaccinations to a child under the age of two.

And if you think you are safe because they took out the mercury, they have replaced it with aluminum, the neurotoxin that is found in high levels in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Holly K.

PS If you want to learn more about the biomedical research and treatments. There is a new book that is coming out in September called "Children with Starving Brains." by Jaquelyn McCandless, MD, grandmother of autistic granddaughter. This book has been read and recommended by my DAN! doctor.

LINKS:

Health Canada: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/

"Children with Starving Brains" by J. McCandless: http://www.autism-rxguidebook.net/DesktopDefault.aspx

Canadian Immunization Guide: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/cig-gci/vaccine_e.html

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Online Publications – Immunizations: http://www.gov.on.ca/health/english/pub/pub_links/pub_immun.html

If information contained here becomes out-dated or is incorrect, kindly contact us at liz@deaknet.com.

OTHER BBB PARENT GUIDES AVAILABLE

CONTAINS PRACTICAL INFORMATION BY PARENTS FOR PARENTS Available on request, e-mail liz@deaknet.com and ask for: (now available in PDF format)  

1.      Halloween

2.      Epsom Salts (long version)

3.      Epsom Salts (condensed)

4.      Pros and Cons of telling your ASD child his/her diagnosis

5.      How we advocate for our children

6.      Guide to holidays and large family gatherings

A notice to our readers...

The founder of this document and the BBB Autism support club contributors are not physicians.

This document may references books and other web sites that may be of interest to the reader.  The founder and contributors make no presentation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on any of these web sites or in the books, and specifically disclaim any liability for any information contained on, or omissions from, these books or web sites.  Reference to these web sites or books herein shall not be construed to be an endorsement of these web sites or books or of the information contained thereon, by the founder or contributors.

The founder reserves the right to make decisions as to whether contributions are appropriate with respect to content, length, etc.  We will not publish offensive material using foul language, or contributions that are inflammatory or disrespectful to decisions by other parents (i.e. therapies). We do not generally accept contributions if they are ads for private service agencies/clinics. We reserve the right to edit content, but will inform you in advance if we are going to do this. J

(c) BBB Autism – September 2002

This E-News is the intellectual property of BBB Autism Support Network.

Permission to reproduce and hand out is granted, provided the document is displayed in its entirety.  Other permissions may be requested by email: liz@deaknet.com.  The purpose of this copyright is to protect your right to make free copies of this paper for your friends and colleagues, to prevent publishers from using it for commercial advantage, and to prevent ill-meaning people from altering the meaning of the document by changing or removing a few paragraphs.  

Note: BBB Autism Support Network would like to thank the parents who contributed to this document.