What to Do about Vaccine Damage

by Kelly Dorfman, MS, co-founder of DDR

Suspected vaccine damage presents two problems. First, it is often hard to know with certainty that vaccines are the culprit. Rarely is the injury visible overnight and, without an immediate cause/ effect, physicians are loath to agree with suspicious parents that a child was damaged. Second, even if vaccines caused a problem, no agreed-upon course of action exists.

The most popular medical response to symptoms that might be from immunization damage is the use of prednisone or anti-seizure drugs. Prednisone, a steroid drug, shuts down the malfunctioning or over-active immune system. It is used to treat a large range of immune problems, such as severe allergic reactions, with the hope that when it is discontinued, the immune system will remain calm. Anti-seizure drugs treat the brain-wave abnormalities that can appear after viral or bacteria injury to the brain.

Both types of drugs have extensive side effects but are the most common treatment for immune system dysfunction. The advantage of these drugs is they allow doctors to treat the symptoms of injury, without understanding the cause. This is also their great disadvantage. Thus, we have only ideas and theories about what to do if vaccine damage is suspected. Some experimental treatments are listed below.

Gentlest Experimental Treatments

Homeopathy: Practitioners of this branch of natural medicine have developed a system to immunize the child against the immunization. Homeopathy utilizes non-detectable amounts of the actual dangerous substance to deactivate the problem. For example, homeopathic DPT may be part of a treatment regime for a DPT reaction.

• Pros - Non-toxic. Relatively inexpensive.
• Cons - Very hard for non-practitioners to understand. Sounds weird. May not work well if years have passed since exposure.

The Gluten-free/Casein-free Diet: By eliminating the complex proteins of gluten and casein, thereby reducing pressure on the immune system and the gut, some children have recovered from vaccine- induced regressions.

• Pros - If used as soon as damage is noted, can be dramatically effective. Non-toxic. Relatively inexpensive. Most effective when notable bowel issues are present.
• Cons - Time-consuming. Difficult to execute, especially with other children in the house. Probably not useful in cases of profound injury.

Gut Repair: "Autistic enterocolitis" (coined by Dr. Andrew Wakefield) may be a form of measles vaccine injury. Measles virus may cause brain and/or bowel injury in susceptible individuals. Extra nutrients, good bacteria, healthy diet and other digestion enhancers (see "The Leaky Gut"), provide healing factors for gut repair.

• Pros - Generally good idea for anybody.
• Cons - Does not necessarily repair brain tissue damage.

Intensive Nutritional Supplementation: Nutrients that are thought to cross the brain/blood barrier are given in large enough amounts to encourage and aid in brain tissue healing.

• Pros - Safe, non-invasive. Associated with some dramatic improvements.
• Cons - Not very specific. Many nutrients do not reliably cross the brain/blood barrier. Brain tissue difficult to repair. (Some doctors contend it cannot be repaired - only worked around - once injured.)

More Intensive Experimental Treatments:

Gamma-globulin infusions: These work like a transplant for an overwhelmed immune system.

• Pros - Associated with some of the most dramatic improvements in severely injured children. Tests available to screen potential candidates.
• Cons - Very expensive (at least $1,000 per treatment done monthly, often for a year). Frequently in shortage and not available. Few doctors willing to do treatment. Small risk of contamination, as it is a blood product. Given by injection over several hours.

Transfer Factor: This is a more specific immune system enhancer designed to correct an individual child‘s specific injury. Not to be confused with new transfer factor supplements available over the counter. Widely available transfer factor is, generally, concentrated colostrum.

• Pros - Very promising. According to initial study, 50% of children in regular classrooms, one year into treatment.
• Cons - Almost impossible to obtain.

Secretin: This substance may heal the gut lining quickly when used with the gluten-free, casein-free diet and supplements. Also has receptor sites in the brain that, when activated, appear to increase language. May be one way to approach Wakefield‘s autistic enterocolitis.

• Pros - Best and sometimes dramatic response among youngsters with bowel symptoms. Some side effects, such as temporary hyperactivity.
• Cons - Uniformly negative and inadequate follow-up hospital studies of secretin‘s efficacy. Very unreliable in children without bowel symptoms such as chronically loose stools. Two reported cases of children having severe allergic reactions when infused.

Concerned parents who are experimenting with alternative treatments for their vaccine-damaged children are pioneers in unexplored territory. Although sometimes criticized by relatives and medical professionals, they deserve our heartfelt appreciation.

[Initially published in New Developments: Volume 6, Number 1 - Summer, 2000