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Vaccines and public concerns

My daughter, Quincy, was injured by a vaccine.  She was a perfectly healthy, happy child and within six hours of her 2-month DPT she began seizing uncontrollably.  The result of that singular incident changed her life and our lives forever.  Because of this, I have devoted myself to holding the government and the pharmaceutical companies responsible for safer vaccines…vaccines that do a better job of protecting our communities from communicable, infectious disease while at the same time not harming our otherwise healthy children.  Until there is a commitment to providing vaccines with as close to 100% effectiveness with zero risk  as possible I will continue my work.  We, as parents, have every right to demand that the bar be raised much higher when it comes to many, many vaccines we are being told to give to our children.  Today I serve as a consumer representative to the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV) and as a vaccine safety expert and a consumer representative on the Vaccine Safety Work Group (VSWG) of the National Vaccine Advisory Commission.  Both positions allow me a voice heard by decision makers at Health and Human Services.  It is a difficult task, as my views as a consumer represenatative are generally balanced by multiple representatives from health care, the pharmaceutical industry, and government and my story is not one that is popular.  But, I firmly believe that change will occur and I hope I will continue to be given the opportunity to shape that change.  Although I will not use my blog to persuade your opinion about vaccines in one way or the other, I will use this forum as a way to inform people of the opportunities available to give their own input into the process.  There are many divisions within the government that are working on the issue of vaccine safety and they all, at one point or another, will request public input.  I truly believe in this process and in the importance of people voicing their concerns.  Next week I will again make the very long journey to DC to attend the quarterly meeting of the ACCV.  This meeting is open to the public and allows opportunity for public input.  Specific meeting information, including directions or the toll-free teleconference number, can be found by clicking on my ACCV link.  Additionally, the VSWG will hold a series of public meetings in November, December and January that will seek public input into the Immunization Safety Office 5-year Scientific Agenda.  If you have an interest in participating please find information at the HHS-National Vaccine Program Office website (found by clicking this link).  And, finally, my role is to represent the consumers, people just like you who are raising children and struggling with your own questions about vaccines and their safety.  Feel free to contact me directly to provide input or ask questions and I will be sure that your concerns are heard and your questions are answered to the best of my ability.

4 Comments to Vaccines and public concerns

Arlene Knappe Shuster
November 9, 2008

We are so proud of you! God has given you quite a challenge and you have risen to the cause! Reaching beyond serving your own family’s needs to the world at large is what life is truly about. You have set the bar high for the rest of us. God bless you, and your supportive husband. What a role model you are for your own children.

A big appreciative hug,
Cousin Arlene

Tawny
November 9, 2008

What kind words, Arlene…thank you very much!! I do believe each one of us can make a difference and that we must always strive for positive changes within our communities and our world. It’s wonderful to have such terrific support!

nhokkanen
November 10, 2008

Thank you for providing vaccine safety information and advocating that public health bureaucrats “raise the bar.” Parents don’t need false reassurances or underwhelming claims that the benefits outweigh the risks. We need research and postmarket surveillance. At the very least, someone to take parents’ vaccine injury reports seriously in order to treat these children medically and prevent further injuries.

Tawny
November 10, 2008

Thank you for your support and for understanding the issues surrounding vaccines and vaccine safety! This is definitely a battle…it has been and it will be for some time to come.

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