Response to Offit's review of Sears

[PaigeC]

I know there have been threads about Dr. Offits review of The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. I was just reading the responses and there is a really good one from Corrinne Zoli that points out that Offit (and others) won't even acknowledge parents' point of view.

It was very interesting. Here is the link, you may have to scroll down and look for Corrinne Zoli's comment.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...3/1/e164#39967

[veganone]

Really interesting! Thanks for the link. I have to say that as a selective/delayed vaxing family, the Sears' book was a godsend. I don't know how we would have figured out where to start without it. We worked out an even more delayed schedule than Sears' suggests with our pediatrician. It is shameful that doctors so often couldn't care less what the parents think and so openly discount our valid concerns.

[tanyalynn]

I had no idea that the journal Pediatrics had an eLetter page that is basically a healthcare provider discussion/debate page. Interesting insight into how professionals view this, and I'm seeing a surprisingly amount of dissent with the party line (given that this, according to the website, The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics).

Thanks for the link!

[applejuice]

Yes, TanyaLopez. Dr. Mendelsohn used to encourage lay people like you and me to read the professional journals to see the debates that rage out of our view; Dr. Mendelsohn died in 1988 and he would love the age of the internet with all of the information and dissent out there in the open for all of us to see! An eye opener for sure.

Did you know that the same debates raged from 1940 onward with doctors arguing over the efficacy of the Pertussis component of the DPT shot in medical, pediatric and microbiological journals? That vaccine was not "re-tooled" until 1996 with the aP portion, only after damaging many 1000s of children.

[applejuice]

I was just reading the responses and there is a really good one from Corrinne Zoli that points out that Offit (and others) won't even acknowledge parents' point of view.

Does Paul Offit have children? Is he a parent? He seems so dismissive of parents' own personal experience with their own children, as if they know nothing about their own child and he knows everything.

Editted to add that I just read his site on wikipedia, and it does not appear that he is married nor that he has children.

[*Erin*]

wow, what an interesting read. thank you for posting that!

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by applejuice

Does Paul Offit have children? Is he a parent? He seems so dismissive of parents' own personal experience with their own children, as if they know nothing about their own child and he knows everything.

Editted to add that I just read his site on wikipedia, and it does not appear that he is married nor that he has children.

He not only has children but he touts that fact because of alleged threats that he has received:

"Among the most egregious things -- I got a letter once railing against my involvement in vaccines and hoping that something serious would happen to me and hoping that something serious would happen to one of my children," he said. "I had people come to the door of my home and harass my wife and kids, so I no longer have my address listed in the phone book."

If the threats are true, it's deplorable. But regardless, be on the lookout. He's been playing the martyrdom card a lot these days . . .

To the OP, What an articulate response. It's as if Zoli pulled the words out of my brain and rearranged them in the most eloquent way possible!!

[bubbles]

Wow. That is a well written and thought out response. It's something I will keep on file. I think the one above it is pretty good too. It is nice to see people respond in intelligent and meaningful ways.