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• Are Parents 'Victims' of Autism?

  According to researchers from the University of Washington, parents of children with disablities such as autism, suffer from high levels of anxiety, depression, and divorce.  Are parents effectively victims of autism? An interesting article in today's Seattle P.I. profiles a middle-income family with an autistic son that implies the answer is "yes."   Read More... Posted May 05 2008, 08:00 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: parenting, autism, Seattle, immunizations, troubled kids, parents of autistic kids, stressers

• They Say: Everybody's Catching Measles

  Are you sure you want to skip childhood vaccinations? Because in at least seven states, federal officials are expecting more cases than ever in 2008 thanks to several measles outbreaks around the country. The numbers, according to the NY Times: There were 64 cases from January through April 25, more than in all of 2006 and the highest number during that four-month period since 2001. None have yet proved fatal, but officials said they expected the total to keep rising.   Read More... Posted May 02 2008, 05:02 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: vaccinations, immunizations, measles, cdc, they say, measle parties

• Autistic Triplets: What the Hell is Going On?

  The number of children affected by autism has been increasingly rapidly since the early 90s.  And while many of us may be able to shrug off the connection between autism and immunizations, this family with autistic triplets cannot. At 18 months, the Gaston triplets, began showing signs of autism... Read More... Posted Mar 31 2008, 12:29 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 27 comment(s) Filed under: autism, immunizations, thimerol.

• Cervical Cancer Vaccine for Boys

  Mother of two girls, here, so maybe I'm just being a boy-hater when I say, yes, yes, as long as we're vaccinating girls with Gardasil let's go ahead and do the boys too. Gardasil is the newish vaccine that guards against four types of HPV. Two of the HPV viruses are found in 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases and the other two are found in 90 percent of genital warts cases for both boys and girls. Because of the possible dramatic reduction in cervical cancers, some states tried to mandate the expensive three-rounds shot for all girls. Next year, the vaccine may be ... Read More... Posted Feb 24 2008, 09:12 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: vaccinations, Gardasil, immunizations, NYTimes, hpv vaccine, mandate

• Jack 'Em Up With Sugar Before You Vax

  All other vaccination debates aside, I think we can agree that the part about it huuuurts! that I have just caused pain to My Preshus Baybee—and on purpose!—is the worst part of all about keeping our kids immunized. After all, we're wired to keep harm from our kids, and seeing that trusting sweet face suddenly crumple with shock and pain when receiving a shot causes tiny microdarts of badparentitis to shoot directly into our hearts. However, there's an easy solution to easing the pain of vaccination: Read More... Posted Feb 06 2008, 11:25 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: vaccinations, immunizations, shots, sugar

• Shots for Mom and Dad, Too

  Infants and toddlers aren't the only ones who need vaccines. But they're the ones most likely to get them, which is making health officials worry. Despite the development of vaccines that guard against terrible illnesses people can develop as adults, only a teeny tiny number of people are actually getting the shots. Here's what a new CDC report found:   Read More... Posted Jan 23 2008, 05:00 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: vaccinations, HPV, immunizations, cervical cancer vaccine, vaccines, whooping cough, immune system, adult health, shingles

• Hib Vaccine Recall = Shortage

  Planning on having your child vaccinated with the Hib vaccine any time soon?  That may be difficult, since 1.2 million does of the vaccine were recalled last week ans production has been suspended by one the U.S.'s top manufacturers, and doctors are rushing to stock up even as they are advised to delay the previously-recommended timetable if giving this vaccine at the age of 12-15 months. Hib is Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacteria that manifests as several different diseases, including pneumonia and infections of the bloodstream, bones, joints, and lungs. Read More... Posted Dec 18 2007, 07:34 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: immunizations, vaccines, doctors, hib vaccine, shortage

• Vaccinate or Go to Jail

  Parents of about 2300 Maryland schoolkids face fines and possible jail time if they fail to show up to court tomorrow because they have failed to vaccinate their kids. The kids themselves will have to witness their parents being lectured to/yelled at by a judge, and the kids won't be able to leave the courthouse until they've been vaccinated. My 11-year old was just looking over my shoulder just now, which prompted an interesting discussion during which we looked up (for his benefit) the word "draconian".  I've told you before where I stand on vaccinations for my kids, but hello? This is ridiculous. Read More... Posted Nov 16 2007, 07:26 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 18 comment(s) Filed under: kids, health, vaccinations, jail, immunizations, Maryland, prince george's county

• Helping Kids (and You) Handle Immunizations

  Helping your kids through their immunizations is a testing ground for the level of fantasy versus reality you'll sprinkle into their life training.  Will you warn them that it will "hurt"? Or will you claim it will only "pinch"? Will you decry the pain that will eventually subside, or will you tell them to look away?  According to some experts, the best manner for a parent to affect is a matter-of-fact- this-will-be-over-soon seriousness.   Am I the only one who requires Valium and seven helpers to get me through the door? I can't stand the kiddies and their shots.  Especially not the little newies with the pink little feet and the bewildered pained expressions. OY! I'm routinely late with my kids' immunizations (don't worry, they're not in public school), mostly because I have no stomach for the whole business.  Last time, when they were four, I reported that they could expect it to "hurt like hell" at which point they both started crying torrents and I was ordered from the room by more responsible adults. You? Any better tips on helping your kids through? Posted Jun 26 2007, 01:34 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 8 comment(s) Filed under: parenting, kids, preschool, immunizations, shots, kindergarteners, reality

• Autism on the Rise, New Report Says

  According to new statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 150 children have some form of autism, up from previous estimates ranging from 1 in 500 to 1 in 166. The new figures were compiled from school and medical records from children in fourteen states across the U.S.  The CDC has no explanation for the rise in prevalance in autism, now estimated to affect 560,000 children across the country, but this article and others I have read over the years suggest that it is tied to increases in vaccinations.  Specifically, the MMR vaccine given at the age of 15 months seems linked to the onset of autism in many children.  This theory has proved inconclusive, however, and remains refuted by the CDC. At any rate, the sheer numbers now of children and their families experiencing various effects of autism is staggering.  Overall, some 17 percent of U.S. children have some form of developmental disability.  It is time to accept these facts and to move toward social policies of inclusion and acceptance, as well as education and life enhancement not only for the children, but for their caregivers as well.  No longer can these people be hidden behind closed doors, not when they represent almost 1/5 of the population.   Posted Feb 09 2007, 08:19 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: children, autism, families, MMR, immunizations