"Private Practice" right now...

[Breathless Wonder]

Episode involves autism, no-vax, and a child with measles.

Of course, there is a huge drama over the other patients being exposed, and the one doctor called unvaccinated children walking time bombs.

[nia82]

I just heard from the East coast how that whole episode goes. I used to watch that show. I won't anymore.
I don't want to copy & paste the recap in case some of the other West-coasters still wanna watch it to get a serious heart attack and throw their dinner at the tv!

[Jadzia]

I think tonight's very special episode of Private Practice was brought to us by Merck.

[Paeta16]

I see the previous post on this was moved but I wanted to comment here anyway....

What a load of BS! Scare tactics anyone? That worst case scenario and forced vax made me absolutely sick! I am so glad my DH wasn't watching it with me b/c our 20 month DD is not vaxed for MMR and I don't want her to be anytime soon (if ever) but DH disagrees. I am sure this would have scared him silly.

Stupid ill-informed pharmaceutical funded media!

[Mom2J]

Originally Posted by Jadzia

I think tonight's very special episode of Private Practice was brought to us by Merck.

Holy scaremongering Batman! That was some piece of work!

[Breathless Wonder]

Please don't move this- it is not about the SHOW but about the show's subject, and hopefully a broader discussion of the show and the media and vax in general, but I was waiting to expand it until the west coast had seen it.

[Jen78fl]

I watched this also.. I was thinking the drug companies/CDC might have had something to do with it! I guess it does make me wonder though, do most people die from measles or is this uncommon? I know people used to get it all the time! Anyway some parts of this episode really did irritate me, like saying there is no link between vaccines and autism, and then the dr vaccinating the child without permission.. That was horrible. I am not sure if they were trying to show the point of view from the doctor and the parent, but it didnt seem very fairly portrayed to me...

Anyway, there is something I am wondering about.. Why is it that there werent so many cases of autism in the past when the MMR was given? Is it maybe not the MMR vaccine in particular, but the combination of all the vaccines together, since they have added so many, that could be contributing to the rise in autism? I dont think I will ever get the MMR for my daughter but would be curious to hear some opinions on this.. Thanks all.

[shimmerMom]

It was an awful episode. I knew from the minute that child was diagnosed him would die from the "Dreaded" measles. : Isn't it illegal to vax a child without consent?

Also if they had already been exposed would a vax even work?

I hated the whole episode, I don't think I'll watch anymore.

[elvenom]

I Saw Privat Practice Too :-(

I saw the episode too and it scared the hell out of me! My son is 4 and not vaccinated for anything. Of all of the vaccines the MMR one was always one of the scariest to me. But, while i think the episode was CRAZY, I am sure that there are some children out there who HAVE died from complications from measles. While it may be a low number, it can happen to anyones child right? Mine, yours?

My son is pretty healthy and last year he had the croup, which went away and came back as pneumonia. Before we figured out what was wrong with him he had a very high fever and was lethargic. Now from a kid who is rarely sick to pneumonia---I WAS A BASKET CASE! Just seeing him so weak and tired and not knowing what was wrong, it broke my heart.

So the question I ask myself now is are the chances of him getting complications from measles greater than the chances of him experiencing life altering side effects from the vaccine? I am not sure, and I am doing my research. Because I remember the feeling I had when he was sick with pneumonia and I just cringe. He was nowhere near close to death, but for the short time that we did not know what it was, it was pure agony. And I guess part of me is willing to take the chance with the vaccine if it means he is spared that level of sickness. I am not sure..just thinking out loud.

Simone

Ps does anyone know if the Measles vaccine is available by itself?

[*mama moose*]

I knew there was a reason I stopped watching this!! Why did it have to come on after Grey's and make me sit and watch?!

Anyways, I agree, this is fearmongering and it is wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if the CDC or a drug company had some ($$$) say in this plotline.

How disturbing. :

[MarineMommy]

Originally Posted by elvenom

I saw the episode too and it scared the hell out of me! My son is 4 and not vaccinated for anything. Of all of the vaccines the MMR one was always one of the scariest to me. But, while i think the episode was CRAZY, I am sure that there are some children out there who HAVE died from complications from measles. While it may be a low number, it can happen to anyones child right? Mine, yours?

My son is pretty healthy and last year he had the croup, which went away and came back as pneumonia. Before we figured out what was wrong with him he had a very high fever and was lethargic. Now from a kid who is rarely sick to pneumonia---I WAS A BASKET CASE! Just seeing him so weak and tired and not knowing what was wrong, it broke my heart.

So the question I ask myself now is are the chances of him getting complications from measles greater than the chances of him experiencing life altering side effects from the vaccine? I am not sure, and I am doing my research. Because I remember the feeling I had when he was sick with pneumonia and I just cringe. He was nowhere near close to death, but for the short time that we did not know what it was, it was pure agony. And I guess part of me is willing to take the chance with the vaccine if it means he is spared that level of sickness. I am not sure..just thinking out loud.

Simone

Ps does anyone know if the Measles vaccine is available by itself?

I think the show did what they intended it to do. Scare you. I just read a post by Peggy O'mara. SHe stated that the cases of measles between 2007 and 2008 were 131. 63 of them were in unvax'd children. 68 were in vax'd children. Even if you vax for measles, you can still get it.

[elvenom]

Originally Posted by MarineMommy

I think the show did what they intended it to do. Scare you. I just read a post by Peggy O'mara. SHe stated that the cases of measles between 2007 and 2008 were 131. 63 of them were in unvax'd children. 68 were in vax'd children. Even if you vax for measles, you can still get it.

Yep, you are right. I know..but it something that is always in the back of my mind. then I think about the side effects and try not to think about it .Then it comes up again and I struggle again. Its so hard. I know he can still get it. Do you know if Attenuvax (the single does of measles vax) is available anywhere? Thanks for your reply.

[MarineMommy]

I have heard of people spliting up the MMR. I am sure you can find it somewhere. I guess it just takes a lot of searching. If it's something you want, start searching. Just call every ped office until you find one.

I know how you feel about the feeling okay then feeling scared. I was that way too for a while when I decided to stop vaxing my 3 older dc and not vaxing #4 at all. What really helped me was learning about how we become immune to things. Here is a video by Mary Tocco that is really awesome. http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...15212287981735


Everything will be okay!!

[VickiJosaphat]

I will NEVER, Watch this show again.. I am soo angry right now. fear mongering at its highest!

[neetling]

I couldn't believe it when he vaccinated the other son while the mom was yelling NO!

[carriebft]

Originally Posted by MarineMommy

I think the show did what they intended it to do. Scare you. I just read a post by Peggy O'mara. SHe stated that the cases of measles between 2007 and 2008 were 131. 63 of them were in unvax'd children. 68 were in vax'd children. Even if you vax for measles, you can still get it.

That is not true/ not totally true. only 11 had known status as vaccinated. A large number were of 'unknown status'. And another group were not old enough for vaccination.

Among the 131 measles patients, 123 were U.S. residents, of whom 99 (80%) were aged <20 years (Table). Five (4%) of the 123 patients had received 1 dose of MMR vaccine, six (5%) had received 2 doses of MMR vaccine, and 112 (91%) were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Among these 112 patients, 95 (85%) were eligible for vaccination, and 63 (66%) of those were unvaccinated because of philosophical or religious beliefs

SO:
6 vaccinated completely
5 vaccinated partially
63 unvaccinated for rel/philo reasons
17 unvaccinated for age reasons
50 of undetermined status

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5733a1.htm

99% of these cases came from 3 outbreaks which can all be traced to unvaccinated status.

[Romana]

Originally Posted by elvenom

I saw the episode too and it scared the hell out of me! My son is 4 and not vaccinated for anything. Of all of the vaccines the MMR one was always one of the scariest to me. But, while i think the episode was CRAZY, I am sure that there are some children out there who HAVE died from complications from measles. While it may be a low number, it can happen to anyones child right? Mine, yours?

I guess the question is more to do with what risks you find acceptable or unacceptable. Life is full of risk. Sure there's the vax vs. unvax question specifically for these diseases. Then there's driving with your child in the car. Which is riskier? I don't know for certain, but I bet driving with your child in the car is more risky that the risk of catching and dying from measles and more risky than the risks posed by the vaccine.

How do you accept one risk yet reject another? And when choosing between two very low risk scenarios, how is it that at the same time, you can be comfortable doing something much more risky, statistically, to your child's wellbeing?

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to show that your risk either way (vax or no vax) is low and almost certainly lower than other risks you take with your ds' health/life on a regular basis. Try to put it in that context to help you drain away quite so much emotion, and approach it in a more logical, rational manner. It might help you feel more comfortable with your choice (vax or nonvax).

[JesiLynne]

Sigh, I knew I didn't watch this show for good reason.

Personally, I was kinda bummed when the measles broke out here and my kids didn't get exposed. The media and health officials treated it like plague was running rampant, but most of the ppl I have talked to who have had it, say it was not really any big deal, unless you are elderly and have never had it.

[Twinklefae]

Ick. We don't have cable so I didn't watch, but there was an episode of ER just like this years ago, so I had to comment!

[nichole]

Most of the people who die from measles are very malnourished. They simply do not consume enough calories to produce a fever and fight the virus.

I'm sure it has happened, but I don't know of anyone personally who has died of measles. I really don't think it happens in healthy people.