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From: fred@mot.UUCP (Fred Christiansen)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Immunizations causing handicaps
Message-ID: <283@mot.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22-Sep-85 16:48:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: mot.283
Posted: Sun Sep 22 16:48:17 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Sep-85 02:44:02 EDT
References: <959@mtuxo.UUCP>
Organization: Motorola Microsystems, Phoenix AZ
Lines: 35

The DPT immunization is recognized as causing, with a certain unfortunate
frequency, a number of handicaps.  Phil Donohue had one of his "exposes"
on it a few years back, and Senator (Representative?  i forget) Paula
Hawkins has had an investigation.  The Center for Diseases Control in
Atlanta also keeps a record.  Mental retardation and convulsions are on record.
	It is the Pertussis component which is unstable and causes the most
problems.  It is possible to get only a DT shot.  However, simply avoiding
a Pertussis (whooping cough) immunization is, in turn, somewhat risky.
The materials we have received indicate that England tried dropping the P
component for some time and observed an uncharacteristic upswell in the
incidence of whooping reports, including fatalities.
	Our daughter's allergic reaction occurred after her second shot.
This is typical of allergic reactions, where the first exposure sets you
up and the second gets you (my doctor relatives explain this in much
fancier terminology/"medicalese").
	As requirements go, you may have difficulty getting your children
into school with the required immunizations.  One option is to wait until
that time.  You are not required to do so earlier than that.
	Due to our experience, many folk have expected us to be very anti-
immunization.  This is not so.  Diseases are rampant, and one must be armed
to do battle with them.  Immunizations are some of the "weapons" to use.
I would recommend becoming informed of the risks of the diseases, weighed
against the risks of the immunizations, with timing aspects (early in
child's life or later) factored in.  Think things over, give it your
best shot, and live with the consequences.  More than likely, everything will
work out fine.
	Given our daughter's reaction, there is certain evidence that had we
not had our daughter immunized, then exposure to the disease might well be
fatal.
	Cheers!  Life is fantastic!
-- 
<< Generic disclaimer >>
Fred Christiansen ("Canajun, eh?") @ Motorola Microsystems, Tempe, AZ
UUCP:  {seismo!terak, trwrb!flkvax, utzoo!mnetor, ihnp4!btlunix}!mot!fred
ARPA:  oakhill!mot!fred@ut-sally.ARPA             AT&T:  602-438-3472


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