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We’ve been visiting/interviewing pediatricians of late, and they all know the hot-button question with every new parent is always the same… What to do about vaccinations?  One pediatrician finally framed it in a way that really hit home for both of us: think of it as a parallel to the science vs. creationists “debate.”  And yes, you can read that envisioning finger quotes.  “The debate is over,” he said.  Since then we’ve been trying to arm ourselves with facts and data instead of conjecture and theory.

Amy Wallace recently wrote an article for WIRED on the anti-vaccine movement — An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All.  She is posting some of the deep, emotional reactions to her story (some of it bitter and hateful) at her twitter account: @msamywallace.  She’s posting stories 140 characters at a time, which is not always the easiest way to read a narrative; so I’m reposting one of the stories here.  (Amy, if you see this and would like me to remove it please comment or ping me on twitter @quepol.)

Posted this morning, 10/27, starting with this tweet:

But for every acidic email, I’ve gotten four so heartfelt they would make you cry. Like this from a mom in Redmond, Washington: She writes,

Our oldest son, now 10, was diagnosed at age 3. He showed some signs of autism from a very young age. Autism will never kill my child. But many diseases targeted by immunizations sure could. The autism community burns time, resources, and, most importantly, credibility, chasing toxic ghosts. These resources instead could and should be spent on research – not just for cures, but for interventions to help kids and adults with autism live and thrive. But helping a child with autism learn to do an everyday task such as brushing teeth, or helping an adult on the spectrum secure a job bagging groceries won’t land you a spot on Oprah’s couch.

Finally, as a parent of a child on the spectrum, I find the anti-vaccine crowd pushes a false choice that is ultimately demeaning. The anti-vaccine crowd is saying it’s better to risk one’s child dying of a preventable disease than it is to have child with autism. These folks have never spent a day with my son. He has taught me more about parenting and life than any typical child ever could. Autism is NOT a death sentence, although many would have you believe this is the case. And that is truly a shame.

(Emphasis mine.)

If you are more interested in facts than theory, this accompanying WIRED piece is a great place to start: How to Win an Argument About Vaccines. Our pediatrician also recommended the book mentioned in Amy’s article: Autism’s False Prophets.

P.S. The Battle of Chickamauga is believed to be the 2nd largest battle during the Civil War.