Unanswered Questions: Compensated Vaccine Injury & Autism

From NAA NY Metro Secretary Lisa Rudley:

On Tuesday, May 10, 2011, I attended the press conference in Washington DC on the release of “Unanswered Questions from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP): A Review of Compensated Cases of Vaccine-Induced Brain Injury,” a peer-reviewed paper published in the Pace Environmental Law Review.

Many media outlets showed up along with several families. It was a heartfelt experience to personally meet the families who publicly spoke out regarding their experience with the VICP and their children's autism. Mary Holland, Louis Conte, Robert Krakow (pictured), and Lisa Colin, the study's authors, did a tremendous job along with the brave families who spoke out publicly at the press conference. The press conference can be viewed here.

My personal experience with this project began two years ago, as several of us contemplated the “what if” we showed the world that compensated cases in the VICP also had autism and that there were not just a few, but that there were many. The project was launched and the rest is history. As one of the ten parent volunteer interviewers who called families, I found the families extremely willing to share their stories.

Mary Holland, Lou Conte & Lisa Colin stayed on Capitol Hill to hold a congressional briefing on Thursday, May 12th, where only 25 staffers attended. There is much more work to be done but the ball is now rolling!

The announcement below, from Autism Action Network Executive Director John Gilmore, contains many links to media reports on this important event.

Autism Action Network Alert from John Gilmore, Executive Director:
Support the Journalists Who Support Us -Watch the Fox Videos and leave Comments
Most of you are probably aware of the study released Tuesday that found 83 people who were compensated through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, who also have autism as one of their injuries. These people are not supposed to exist according to the government, and the researchers were able to review only a small fraction of the more than 2000 cases compensated by the VICP.

The feds new this study was coming and organized efforts to squelch any media coverage of the story. Fortunately. Fox News covered the story extensively. If you haven’t seen the videos of the news coverage you will find them below. Please watch the videos and then make comments on the web pages. Stations pay close attention to the number of hits and comments their stories receive. The more hits and the more positive comments the more likely they are to do stories like this in the future.

• Dr. Richard Deth and Heather McLennand
• Coverage of the May 10 Press Conference
• Lou Conte interview
• Mary Holland interview
• Kickoff Fox News report
• Dr. Sarah Bridges interview

Thank you to Lisa for this terrific, first-hand account!

"Vaccine Epidemic" Book Launch A Resounding Success

Annemarie Colbin, Kim Mack Rosenberg, and Michael Belkin

Families, advocates, educators, healthcare providers, and friends all gathered in the Tisch Auditorium at NYU School of Law to commemorate the launch of Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children. A seamless program of three panel discussions on advocacy, ethics, and law enraptured the audience. Seldom at one event is one introduced in person to such an array of distinguished authors - eleven authors to be exact. The discussion was emotional, uplifting, there were teary-eyed moments, moments of anguish, but when all was said and done, the message was that of hope.

Mary Holland, Kim Mack Rosenberg, and Louise Habakus moderated the panels in sucession. Panelists included Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Robert Krakow, Gay Tate, Lisa Marks Smith, Michael Belkin, Sherri Tenpenny, Vera Hassner Sharav, and Annemarie Colbin.

We are proud of our own Kim Mack Rosenberg, contributing editor and a chapter author.

The book was released just a week ago, and already it is in its second printing. Listening to the authors, its no surprise.

Sabeeha Rehman

Dr. Oz Town Hall Meeting on The Causes of Autism airing February 17,2011

Today I got to attend a taping of Dr. Oz's town hall meeting on the causes of autism which will air on February 17th at 3 pm. The Dr. Oz staff encouraged parents to speak up and say something if they felt moved to speak and I, with another NAA parent, were able to make comments. Although the program was about possible causes of autism and included discussions about vaccines, the environment and parental age, the main focus of the show became vaccines--even though several medical doctors and scientists said that the link between vaccines and autism has been disproven there were some doctors who spoke about a slower vaccine schedule.

My comment was "Where is the study comparing unvaccinated children with autism to vaccinated children with autism? Until this study is done we can't say that the science has been done."

Another NAA parent commented: "I come from a family of allopathic doctors. My father is a pediatrician, but my son did not start getting better until we started using alternative treatments like diet, supplements, yoga, and cranial sacral therapy."

Although the show did not bring anything new to light about the causes of autism--at least Dr. Oz allowed a dialogue to happen on his show which included Dr. Sears, who advocates for a slowed down vaccine schedule. Interestingly, Dr. Oz also spoke about how he did a slower vaccine schedule for his own children.

If the science so overwhelmingly says that there is no link between autism and vaccines, why would Dr. Oz slow down the vaccine schedule for his own children?

Until they actually find the cause of autism, vaccines will remain a cause for the many parents who have seen their children spiral downward after routine vaccinations and the many doctors who treat children and see evidence of harm.

Books to read for more information:

• Age of Autism: Mercury, Medicine and a Man-made Epidemic
• Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children

posted by KB

NAA NYM Rallies to Oppose Forced Vaccinations - Sept. 29, 2009

One Voice
“Stop the Shots!”
“Stop the Shots!”
“Stop the Shots!”
The crowd chanted, making their voices heard, raising their banners.
At the steps of the East Capitol, they gathered – parents, families affected by autism, advocates, lawyers, doctors, nurses, therapists, scientists, leaders, followers...
They came - to the steps of the East Capitol – from Upstate New York, from Downstate New York, from New Jersey, from North Carolina, from where they came, it didn’t matter.
They spoke with one voice, rallying to the cause of Freedom of Choice.
Freedom from forced vaccinations.
Freedom of informed consent.
Freedom to choose what is injected in your bodies.

The Rallying Point
This historic gathering of over 700 healthcare workers, advocates, and families affected by autism spectrum disorders was sparked by an unprecedented regulation promulgated by Health Commissioner Daines to invoke the Emergency Preparation Act 2009. This act requires healthcare workers and pregnant women to be vaccinated with the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine by November 30, or risk losing their jobs. Under this regulation, there is limited to no recourse for vaccine injuries or death sustained as a result of these mandated vaccines.

Forced vaccination!
Risk losing their jobs!
Is that constitutional?

That was the rallying point.
And it was awesome!
Massive turnout. Over 700 people crowded on the steps of the Capitol and the plaza, raising their placards and posters, waving stars and stripes, handing out posters, signing the petition, donating to the legal defense fund, and chanting: “Give me liberty!”
And waiving signs:
“Freedom of Choice should be mandatory”
“My Body, My Choice”
“Got Consent?”
And the sun shone on them.

The media lined up the circle, videos rolling, cameras clicking.

They Speak for the People
The line-up of speakers was remarkable and energizing. Kevin McCashion, President of We The People, Albany Chapter, roused the crowd with his passionate appeal for freedom. Doctors, nurses, and therapists expressed their outrage at the government’s decision to deprive individuals of their right to informed consent. Scientists challenged the safety, efficacy, and lack of sound research to support this decision. Lawyers challenged the constitutionality of forced vaccination. And advocates appealed to the crowd to stand up for their rights, and to fight for their rights.

People’s Voices
Today it is the doctors, the nurses; tomorrow it will be the school teachers…That is medical genocide… we are not living in a totalitarian nation- yet. Gary Null

I won’t tell you what to do, you don’t tell me what to do. Louise Habakus

Promote a goal of healthcare that promotes health, and not public sickness. Mary Coyle

The answer to 1984 is 1776. We are endowed by our creator and not the government. Kevin McCashion

It is like selecting one religion for us. Vaccine is not the only option..Seasonal flu is not an emergency. Alan Philips, JD

How to avoid the flu? Wash your hands. Judy McQueen, RN

Just because the FDA approved it, doesn’t mean it is safe and viable. Deb Gerhardt, RN

Stand up for your rights…contact your legislators, work with the Autism Action Network and National Autism Association’s New York chapter…stay out of my body, stay out of my kid’s body. John Gilmore

Face-to-Face
Gary Null, PhD, Ralph Fucetola, JD, John Gilmore (activist), Michael Schachter, MD and Heather Walker (Healthcare student and activist) met with the Department of Health officials, and Gary Null reported back on the outcome, at the rally. A copy of the “letter petition” was hand-delivered to the Secretary Deputy Saunders for Governor Paterson.

We have only just begun
A remarkable start to a long journey. It won’t be easy, but together we can overturn this and make history, or rather, preserve our history of freedom.
Let’s make it happen!

This rally was organized by Heather Walker, activist and healthcare student, We the People, Albany chapter organization, with help from the Autism Action Network, Life Health Choices, and many New York state nurses.

Sabeeha Rehman


See Photo Album.

April Renee and Dr. Andrew Moulden “Educate Before You Vaccinate” Presentation

April Renee, Dr. Andrew Moulden and Lisa Rudley

April Renee and Dr. Andrew Moulden delivered a very important, powerful message to our community in their presentation to the NAA-NY Metro Chapter on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. April stated that vaccination injury is real and is happening to many children and adults. April stated that she lost her beautiful daughter Casi to vaccine injury 10 years ago, and that Casi died from bacterial meningitis that was brought on by vaccine-induced immune dysfunction. April shared with us her knowledge and research on vaccines and informed us of our rights when comes to vaccinating. Her mission is to educate the public on vaccines. April’s website is www.vacinfo.org

Dr. Moulden, a Canadian doctor who views vaccine injury and micro-vascular strokes as being the same affliction. He states that the reduction in blood flow to the vessels is seen following a vaccination. He presented numerous pictures of children and adults with strokes through facial paralysis. Dr. Moulden compared the actual disease-induced strokes to the vaccine-induced strokes. We were all left in awe by his depiction of vaccine-injuries. He is working on a protocol to assist in re-establishing the blood flow back to the vessels that caused the stroke. Dr. Moulden is currently an expert-witness for vaccine-injured plaintiffs in the United States Vaccine Court. His website is www.brainguardmd.com

--Lisa Rudley

Green Our Vaccines Rally

A personal story of the rally.

by Sabeeha Rehman

WE DID IT!!!!!

The Green Our Vaccines Rally was beautiful.

Khalid drove Tom Gomez and me to White Plains. Tom was at my apartment 2 am. We left at 2 am. After getting to the Courthouse and not being able to find the entrance, and after several call, we located our group. Khalid dropped us and drove back. I was praying that he make it back o.k.; weather was bad and visibility was worse. We waited in Lisa's car until the others came. And that is where I met Nancy Gardello, who had just volunteered to chair the Events Committee. She is an amazing person! We are very lucky to have her on board. Then it was, "lets go" and we ran over, with our umbrellas, braving the rain and waited outside the courthouse for the bus. Lisa and Natalie had brought water, breakfast bars, goodies, and anything you can think off to keep us comfortable. We piled into the bus and took off at 3:45. And then we froze. The temperature had to be sub-freezing in the bus, and outside it was dark and raining. The driver had to keep the temperature low for a number of reasons, but thats another story. I was dressed for a hot day and had no more than a light cotton windbreaker on me. Khalid called me around 4:30 to let me know that he was home. At 5:00 we got to the NJ pick up and promptly got lost. We went all the way in the wrong direction, and several calls later, found our way to the park-n-ride and picked up our NJ friends. And then Lisa started distributing her goodies for breakfast and everyone lightened up. There were children in the bus, fast asleep. Bless them! We walked down the aisles, making acquaintances, sharing experiences, exchanging cards, and chatting all the way. Even I was chatting. Natalie, the organizer, gave out green poster boards and we posted our children's photo on each poster board. Just that weekend, Saadia had given me 4x6 of Omar's.We hit traffic getting close and into DC and got to the Washington Monument at 9:30 am. We stepped out into the hot air and instantly thawed. It had stopped raining and the sun was shining on us.

Amy and Mary had taken the sensible train ride, leaving at 5am. So they spent $100 a piece, but they got all that sleep.

From that point on, it was sheer heavenly. People in green tee-shirts saying 'Green Our Vaccines' were all over the place. We were immediately directed to the site, and all the way, volunteers in green tee shirts were waving us along. I wasn't sure how we would meet up with Amy and Mary. But as soon as we got to the end of the line, there they were, Amy and Mary. And then John Gilmore shows up. We couldn't have planned it better. Cameras were whipped out, and we were posing with our posterboards. The place was lined up with moms and dads with their posters, childrens' photos all over the place, and Green-Our-Vaccine shirts, and posters that said, Too Many Too Soon". We couldn't spot Jenny or Jim, but hey, we were there, and thats what counted.

Louis Conte handed out Green Flyers to New Yorkers, on two bills in the Assembly. We started calling out, "New Yorkers?", and when the hands went up, we handed them the flyer. At 10:00 am promptly, the walk began. We walked out of the monument grounds, onto the boulevard which had been closed to traffic. The cops on their motorcyles were escorting us, and the Press was following on the sidewalks. At one point, I walked up to the Press Photographer, put my poster in front of his camera and said, "Take his picture. This is Omar. He is my grandson, and he was injured by Vaccines'. The camera-man stopped, the reporter stopped, and in the next instant, I was being interviewed. "How old is he? When was he diagnosed? Are you angry? etc etc." And then I waved goodbye and ran over to join my team. In my haste, I didn't ask which network they were covering - darn it!

We then stopped by in front of the HHS building and protests rang out. We turned our poster boards to face the building and stood there, protesting. It was exhilarating! A 1.3 mile later, we turned in towards the Capital grounds, and the dome, looming above the green pastures, and thousands of us filing into the grounds, was a breathtaking view. All these parents and grandparents had made it there, took time off, drove and flew long distances, and were there to make a statement for their children. A stage had been set up and the rally began. It had gotten hot and the volunteers were giving out water bottles. Umbrellas brought for the rain, now shielded us from the sun.The first speakers were physicians, one of them from the American Academy of Pediatrics, all in support of cleaning the vaccines, and customizing their administration to the needs of the child, more intervals, etc. Robert Kennedy Jr. spoke at length, and addressing the Press he challenged them on their handling of the vaccine issue. He said to them that each time a piece of research comes out, you (the press) ask CDC for their opinion; you should be reviewing the research and drawing your own conclusions; its not rocket science. He then took each research material, relayed the spin that the CDC had given, and laid out the facts, setting the record straight. Jim Carrey in my opinion, gave the best performance. I call it a performance because it takes star quality sometimes to package an issue. His appeal was factual and emotional. He said that our children are messengers, are special, and their message to us is to make us change agents and clean the world. They were brought here for a reason. Through them we have learnt to love; they have brought a unique gift to us, and it is our calling to open these gifts and share them. Jenny was the last speaker, and she was herself all the way. She always inspires. This time, her speech was scripted, but it was moving nevertheless. At the end, she asked us all to hold up the photos of our children for the Press to see, and as all hands went up, with the photos of children smiling down on us, the music played, and I cried.

And then it was over. It almost felt anti-climatic. It felt like unfinished business. I wanted to hold on to the moment, relish it, cry a little more, and just sit there on the grass, enveloping the feeling. But we had to re-group, assemble, find our bus, so we got into action. Amy and Mary were to join us on the bus on the return trip.

Lisa Rudley, God bless her, and gone off to see her congresswoman with a few others. We made calls, rounded everyone up, hailed our bus, and piled in. Then we made a few rounds in the bus until Lisa and company caught up with us. Then we were off.

Lunch boxes popped open, and we were munching and chatting. People were talking about the rally, about the bills in the Assembly, about the bus trip to Albany next week, about their experiences with Autism, and the bus was buzzing. Lisa filled us in on her conversation with her legislator, and something she said, made me think, "Legislation is as important as Treatment".

When we got to NJ, we were beat. Lisa asked the bus driver to pull into a rest area and it was like heaven, to take a break. I just happened to glance up on the TV screen in the rest area, and there it was, or rather, there we were, "Green Our Vaccines Rally". I yelled out to all the others. They were all lined up in front of Starbucks. None of us had had our coffee that day. Those who caught my eye, I didn't know their names. So I yelled, "Rally, On TV," and pointed up to the TV. By the time a few ran up, the moment was gone.

By this time, I wasn't looking forward to a bus ride all the way to White Plains. We were planning to take the train back to New York from White Plains. Mary and Amy miraculously came up with Plan B. They are so practical and innovative. Two ladies sitting next to them offered to drive us in their mini-van from the NJ drop off point at exit 8A to the New Brunswick Train station. We could then ride straight into Penn Station. Bless them! There were 4 of us, Tom, Amy, Mary and me. So we got off at South Brunswick, said our goodbyes, and drove off to N.Brunswick. It was a long drive and for them to have taken us out of their way was very very nice of them. I was watching the clock. There was a train at 6pm and the next one at 6:41. If we could catch the 6pm, that would be great. We made it to the station at 5:45 and then we raced up the steps, up the escalator, to the machines. $10.50. Must be wrong. Over to the counter. $10.50 Got our tickets, and then the announcement came. "We apologize......6:15". No problem, at least its not a drive to White Plains. The train got us into Penn Station at 7:30, and it was 'goodbye' and 'see you' and 'get home safe'. I took the cross-town bus and walked in at 8:00 pm.

Khalid was waiting, wanted to know all about the rally. My daughter-in-law called, wanted to know all about the rally. Now I am at work, talking to everyone about the rally, and not getting any work done. Emails are coming in, thank you to the organizer emails, Thank you for coming emails, Norene volunteering for Program Committee email, Nancy wanting to move on with the Events Committee email, bills to support emails, bills to oppose emails........

Our work has just begun.