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Guess I Touched A Nerve!

Okay, I admit I’m not the very best blogger out there. I would love to have more comments and discussions on my posts but hey, you all are busy folk. I am too. It’s okay. But I’ve gotten kind of used to the peacefulness that is my site and admit right here and now that I don’t check my inbox as often as I might. So imagine my absolute shock when I found some 30+ comments about an article I wrote over 3 months ago. Yes! So much activity that the platform stopped accepting comments! Can you believe it? What article did it? This one. My provaccine rant. And guess which group somehow found it and came pouring out of the woodwork to call me a nutter? Yep, the antivaccine community. Ooh, touchy, that group.

Now I truly can’t be bothered to respond to 99% of what was said because it was erroneous, hysterical and just plain odd. I would however like to address a couple points. The first is that my name is actually Lara Zibners. It would be lovely if you could spell it correctly while calling me a baby killer. I’d really appreciate it. Secondly, I am an ER pediatrician. Yes, I am actually a real doctor. But I don’t provide routine immunizations in my line of work. Therefore I can’t make money off them. And thirdly, I do find some of the conspiracy theories interesting but I will stand by my beliefs and state firmly and publicly that vaccines are not the government’s attempt to depopulate the world.

Oh and they don’t turn you into a newt either. (That comment made me giggle.)

Now I could get angry and sit here and write a whole post about the safety and efficacy of vaccines but I’ve already done that many, many times. My kids are fully immunized and I don’t actually know any pediatricians who don’t vaccinate their own children. This doesn’t mean they absolutely don’t exist, however, but I’ve tended to work in solid, respected, research and evidence-based environments so I’ve not actually come across one.

But instead of getting mad, I’m actually thrilled. Because in the midst of all the angry weirdness shone through a few voices in my defense, people thanking me for speaking out. It seems the antivaccine community got a little rope and went about hanging themselves, at least for a few readers.  The one comment that made all this absolutely worth it for me was this one, by a expectant mom who had been undecided about vaccinating her new baby:

I’m going to be a mom soon and my friend posted this link on her wall. I’ve always thought she was unique in her craziness, but it looks like she has lots of friends with crazy in common.
Reading the comments from parents against vaccines posted here reveals a very angry bunch. All they have is name-calling and false claims. You all appear very delusional.
Sorry guys, I know you believe with all your heart that vaccines are EVIL, but you are clearly nuts. I think I’ll go with the doctors on this one. Thanks for opening my eyes to a realm of crazy that I thought was limited to just one wacky friend. I was considering exploring the other side, but now I know I don’t have to waste my time.

And there you have it. I am happy to have the name calling and the personal insults and the rude comments about my intelligence, education and professional worth hurled at me if even one baby’s life is saved. Oh and if I get to learn awesome new phrases like “batpoop crazy.” Hey, I didn’t say it. But it’s still awesome.

 
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I AGREE WITH YOU DR. LARA ZIBNERS!KUDOS to you!

It is not about a parent and how they “feel” it is about the child and what is best for society as a whole!


Those ANTIVAXERS will never ever get it….

    – Mommy2angelplus2 (09/20 07:51 PM)


I loved your book, and I love your outspoken pro-vaccine stance, and you’re getting more and more attention in the pro-vax community on Facebook. Good work. Crazies be crazy, facts be facts.

    – Vaccinated and Awesome (09/20 10:29 PM)


I did all the research before getting my children vaccinated (I have Crohn’s Disease and with another idiot linking Crohn’s and autism with the MMR, I thought I ought to do some reading) amd couldn’t find anything written by REPUTABLE scientists disapproving of vaccines. Both my girls are fully up to date with all the vaccines and will continue to be - kudos to you for getting the nutjob fraternity up in arms! Keep going with the writing and rants x

    – Lisa_J_D (09/21 03:30 AM)


We see a pediatrician (three in the practice actually) and they don’t vax their children and they respect our choice.

I think the anger comes from parents who have seen their children injured by vaccines, yet nobody seems to acknowledge them. They are cast aside like liars or crazy parents. Vaccines aren’t for everybody, and they certainly are safe for every child.

I think every parent has the right to investigate for themselves and make a decision that they are comfortable with. For pediatricians and other doctors to speak condescendingly to parents who are genuinely concerned about vaccines is insulting and unprofessional.

At the end of the day we all want the same thing - our children to be protected. Some of us think that you can’t get protection via vaccine, others think you can.

http://vaxtruth.org/2011/09/meet-timmy/

    – Shanon (09/21 09:58 AM)


I guess if you want some attention, write about vaccines.  But the people who wrote on your wall about how wonderful vaccines are came directly out of the pages where parents with vaccine injured children post.  We have a constant stream of trolls that come through and find ways to combat everything we say.  Many are paid pharma reps - and they are paid to come on posts such as this and talk about how wonderful vaccines are.  The truth is, if you actually had done your homework, you would find there is very little good about vaccines.  I asked you how much research you personally had done on this topic and you didn’t respond.  Why don’t you actually do what many doctors have done and dig in?  Spend about a year doing the research.  Those that do never come out of it believing that vaccines saved anyone.  And if you are so sure about your position, I welcome you to come to our group and talk to the parents whose children have been harmed.  You have my email address, send me an email and I will give you the details.  But please, stop discrediting these people.  Keep in mind that the pro-vax crowd also posts as if they are anti-vaxxers, pretending to be crazed lunatics believing that the reptilian freaks are out to get us - in order to discredit us.  But of course, you wouldn’t know that would you, since you haven’t really looked into any of this past the surface..  You just post from an authoratative position and you only have a fraction of the story.  Wake up and quit posting nonsense

    – No Vax No WAy (09/21 10:17 AM)


Test

    – Jim Hanas (09/21 11:20 AM)


I agree.  Some parents are so tired and rightfully so after taking care of their children whom they know have been damaged from vaccines.  It is difficult in everyday life for many to not have their voices heard and understood in situations that are so much less important and close to a person’s heart.  (And, no, just because it is an emotional topic, with good reason, doesn’t mean the parents have no real experience or knowledge to back up their claims).  I say shame on this doctor and all others who exploit the parents and all the other parents who are trying to expose vaccines for what they often are - dangerous and illness-creating.  How about going head to head with all the people who have a whole lot of experience and knowledge and oppose what you think—in a calm and longer-term setting?  A facebook page or a blog here and there with subsequent comments are insufficient, at best.

Oh and I have worked in highly respected research areas and I no longer vax my children.  I also am quite familiar with leading pediatricians who have come out of major research university and practitioner settings who At the Very Least, question vaccines.  Likely too afraid to say what they think completely in a public forum.  I don’t blame them at all for that.  They need to continue their careers after the realization these vaccinations are not what we’ve been trained to think they are… and pay their bills… and feed their families.  Once and a while a courageous one breaks free completely to educate the public… too bad then they are condemned for it by all their peers.  THEY are heroes (along with the children and parents who have been struggling with post-vaccine illnesses).

    – Katherine (09/21 11:50 AM)


Really, No Vax No Way, the best argument you come up with is that the pro-vaccine comments were planted by ‘pharma shrills?’ Pathetic and delusional. If that’s the case, where’s my check?

    – IJustGotMyFluShot (09/21 01:37 PM)


IJustGotMyFluShot ~  I am wondering based on what research and package inserts you are getting the flu shot.  Maybe the insert that reads there is no research that claims it prevents the flu?  Oh Lord, hopefully not the kind that spreads it around… 

To the one who claims above they have crohns.  Perhaps if you read thoroughly to understand the body/health and speak to professionals who clearly comprehend, why such illnesses make you and potentially your future lineage susceptible to consequences of vaxxing, you would choose differently.  Simply looking for ‘reputable’ people the way you stated it doesn’t seem like much work was done to complete a decision-making process.  I would be careful in making such important decisions.  It takes time. 

And, I wouldn’t be trusting people who focus more on their egos and wealth than actually taking time to help people to health and wellbeing.  (And yes, that includes the many MANY docs who zip you in to their office for the sniffles and out the door with unnecessary pharmacuetical tickets in hand). Maybe instead meet and surround yourself with the incredible amt of people in the world thriving w/o trips to the conventional doc, unless an emergency happens.  Those people are eating well, exercising, and avoiding unnecessary intervention…however.

There are a good # of docs, however, who don’t want to lose their business by admitting many interventions are harmful instead of healthy… but at least they will allow you to make your own informed decisions.  They will say some things are bad however and will not overprescribe.  If you are more comfortable still making regular visits… I’d go for that kind if you don’t want or have a more holistic practitioner to visit.

Oh, and no need for most docs to be shills! Cha.Ching Cha.Ching Cha.Ching.  And if you are lucky enough to get a popular blog or radio spot~ ego stroked to boot ~ and more cha.ching!  Less threat of being fired too. 

Now that’s the kind of job security and satisfaction many only dream of…..<cue chorus of angels>

    – Katherine (09/21 02:39 PM)


And the crazy is out in force…again.  Pharma shills, radio spots, cha ching…

It grows tiresome.

Again. If those are the best arguments they’ve got, I’ll stick with science, thanks.

Thanks again, Dr. Lara, for speaking out so strongly. Your patients (and your girls) are lucky to have you!

    – Another Reasonable Mom (09/21 08:56 PM)


My apologies, reasonable mom.  Perhaps that was a bit too theatrical for your ears. (re. cha ching)

The fact of the matter is:  greed, social and professional pressure to conform, attention, and pure laziness often override reasoning.

Theatre and psychological analysis completely aside, however, one can simply not be a reasonable person if you do not look across all the data, global public health history, the nature of illnesses and disease, vaccination research to date, adverse events (we know of), environmental research to date, development across the lifespan (from conception on), epigenetics, rise in mild to serious illnesses and death including those in pediatrics, and much much more and conclude that vaccinations are GOOD.

So fellow mom if you have done all that for the extreme amount of time and effort it takes, as well as sat with the parents of the vaccine-injured children—ears-wide-open— and respected medical and research professionals who also question vaccines, then you just may earn that title and I will tip my hat to you.

    – Katherine (09/21 09:11 PM)


Thanks for two great posts!  As a parent that also does public health research on VPDs, I appreciate any physician that will stand up to the parents putting not only their children but their neighbors’ children at risk.  I was at a pediatric medicine conference last year, and there was a nice panel discussion of how to deal with these parents in pediatric practices.  Even the “natural” clinic representative fully supported vaccines, but it seems many physicians are torn between alienating clients by trying to really educate them about vaccines, and standing by while misinformed parents put their children’s lives at risk.  It isn’t an enviable position.  Seeing as how these folks only seem to listen to unsubstantiated claims on the internet, celebrities, and a few medical professionals trying to turn a profit off fear-mongering, every effort by reputable, legitimate practitioners to explain where the medical and/or scientific community really stands on this “issue” helps.  Keep up the good work!

    – Science Mommy (09/22 01:22 AM)


Antivaxers are often quite hilarious.

It turns out the combination of stupid, gullible and paranoid is much funner than it sounds!

You couldn’t make this stuff up…

    – Chuckles (09/22 03:57 AM)


In general, anti-vaxxers are either a) confusing correlation with causation, thereby dreaming up all sorts of adverse reactions that actually don’t exist, or b) failing to evaluate relative risk, or both.
  The second at least is based in reality; there ARE adverse reactions that do occur. However, the likelihood of them happening is very small (and many of them are reactions that would occur, and probably even worse, if the child contracted the disease).
  What if one child has a severe adverse reaction to a vaccine, where thirty thousand children do not? Is it worth it? The answer is yes. We have the luxury of trusting our gut instincts and being all hand-wringingly “what if it was your child” about this, because we don’t NEED to fear measles and polio (yet). But all we have to do is look back a couple of generations to see how the people who actually experienced (and watched their loved ones die from) these supposedly not-so-bad childhood diseases felt about them. We don’t need to go down the same hard road they did to learn these lessons, but thanks to anti-vaccine campaigners, it might happen. If only they were the ones who would pay the price, instead of children and other vulnerable populations.

    – Mark (09/22 06:43 PM)


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