Jenny McCarthy and Oprah Winfrey shine the spotlight on autism.  Jenny watched the soul drain from her son's eyes after he received the MMR vaccination.

Jenny McCarthy’s recent appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show put the spotlight on a growing parental fear:  autism.  Jenny’s 2 ½-year-old son Evan was diagnosed with autism soon after he received his MMR vaccination.  Soon after the shot, Jenny says she watched the soul drain from his eyes.  Many parents, including Ms. McCarthy, are beginning to explore the possible connection between autism and vaccines.  Today, approximately 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism, a number that has exploded from 1 in 500 over the past 15 years.  The resulting desperation has increased the numbers of activist parents exponentially.

     Jenny enlisted the help of fellow actress Holly Robinson Peete, whose son R. J. has been autistic since 1999.  Holly was able to treat R. J. through diet and modeling behavior therapies, which have also helped Jenny’s son.  The removal of gluten and wheat products from the diet has proven effective for many autistic children.  Modeling therapy involves the parent repeatedly demonstrating normal interactive behavior that the challenged children will hopefully absorb.  Methods such as these can be successful, but steps must be taken to prevent the onset of autism.  

     The CDC still clings to the fading notion that there is no provable connection between this dreaded disease and the shots a child receives during his early years.  While the connection has not been proven empirically, the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming.  Some vaccinations are likely necessary for the health of the individual and even more likely to be necessary for the health of the community as a whole; however, the bombardment of inoculations the average child receives over the course of his first five years of life is absolutely ridiculous.   

     With dozens of new compulsory vaccination initiatives sweeping the nation, what are concerned or hopeless parents to do?  Educate themselves.  That is the key to survival in today’s ever changing world of science, technology and corporate hegemony.  The growing mix of capitalism and science can be damaging or even lethal.  Case in point:  Vioxx.  The best advice is old advice:  believe none of what you hear and very little of what you read.

by Jaye Drummond

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