Filmgoers in Ashland, Oregon pose for a photo at the Varsity Theater. Ashland was the first city in Oregon to show the documentary. Watching Vaxxed was very eye-opening. Photo credit: Jennifer Margulis.
Reflections on Watching Vaxxed
A Documentary About Vaccine Safety Makes People in High Places Uncomfortable
By Julie Akins, Special to JenniferMargulis.net
June 14, 2016 (Ashland, Oregon)—Standing outside the quaint and collegial Varsity Theater in Ashland, Oregon with a group of mothers discussing their child’s vaccination schedule did not seem like any sort of revolutionary or heretical act.
As a woman long past the time of needing such considerations, it actually seemed a bit uninteresting.
However, I quickly learned that this semicircle of women, some of whom preferred not to have their names noted so as not to appear as “anti vaxxers,” were involved in a line of questioning which seems to make people in high places uncomfortable.
The women were discussing “VaxXed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe,” a documentary film produced by Emmy-award-winning television journalist Del Bigtree and directed by British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield. We had just finished watching Vaxxed.
The film is now on its way to Portland after an extended schedule in Ashland.
“Vaxxed” looks at the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine administered to children less than two years old and its possible links to profound health impacts including autism.
It suggests that either giving the vaccines separately or at an older age (after age three) would be safer.
A CDC senior scientist speaks up
It goes one step further with the recorded statements of a senior scientist. Dr. William Thompson, Ph.D., who still works for the CDC.
In these recordings Thompson explains that he and his colleagues deliberately manipulated the tests which cleared the MMR and its timetable of a causatory role in autism. Brian Hooker, Ph.D., the researcher and autism father whom William Thompson contacted, says in the film that Thompson wants Congress to depose him. This has yet to happen.
While the movie itself suggests a high level of corruption at the CDC, the smaller idea of waiting a little longer or maybe taking the vaccines some time apart does not seems as if it would elicit strong feelings.
Yet it does.
So strong in fact, Dr. Jim Shames of the Jackson County Health Department suggested in an opinion piece in the Ashland Daily Tidings that no one see the film.
It’s too dangerous.
Jim Shames, M.D., tells viewers watching Vaxxed is too dangerous:
Not to believe the Institute of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and countless others is to accept a gigantic level of conspiracy to delude the public. Some of us have worked with the CDC and WHO and can assure you they are dedicated public servants whose motivation is to seek the truth, not to get rich and deceive all of us,” Shames wrote.
Moreover, the top doctor in the rural county on the California border went on to disparage theater owners for allowing the movie to play in there.
To bring this inflammatory film into our community and legitimize the falsehood that MMR vaccine causes autism is nothing short of irresponsible. Rather than peddling thoroughly discredited information to vulnerable parents, we should be strengthening public health, promoting this effective vaccine and reducing the risk to children and the immune-compromised.”
Here’s the thing: I don’t know if the MMR vaccine would be better taken in three separate doses or later in a child’s life, as the filmmakers suggest, based on a reanalysis of the CDC data.
Certainly many parents chose to do it this way. In fact entire countries do, such as Japan.
Censoring the public from watching Vaxxed is irresponsible
My issue comes in saying that theaters should not show this film. And parents should not have the ability to weigh the information on their own.
“They weren’t saying don’t take it. They were saying let’s just look at the safety of this thing,” a mother told me shaking her head. “It’s unbelievable that we can’t even look at it.” She was referring to the failure of health organizations such as the CDC to re-open the study that CDC scientist William Thompson claims is based on fraudulent data.
I am not intending to wade into waters over my head.
I do not know what causes autism or other brain disorders but I do know what causes the decay of a free society.
Being ridiculed, sued and denied an education because you or your parents want to ask questions puts us well on the way.
California recently passed a law eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccines for children in both public and private schools.
It is not irresponsible to see a documentary. Nor is it “inflammatory” for a movie theater owner to show an interesting movie, which raises legitimate questions.
Why silence dissenting opinions?
If we’re going to be worked up about what’s responsible, I might suggest trying to suppress a private business owner from showing a film is irresponsible and “anti- American.”
So is silencing someone who disagrees with you. These mothers worry about anyone knowing their position on vaccinations for fear of retaliation against their families.
The taxpayer-funded public health official calls out those who see the film and show it. Many news organizations don’t want to touch it.
Yet, we’re still all over “creationism” as a legitimate theory and global warming as something controversial—shouldn’t that be more worrisome?
Watching Vaxxed a good idea for everyone
Parents need to question the vaccines, medicines, food, and even clothes they bring around their children. That’s their job. Parents can assess the information and make informed decisions. Some will get it right, some will not. But that’s how all this works in a free country. You get to be wrong but you also get to have access to information and make decisions—however they come out.
Parents do not need information fed to them like baby food by public health officials or anyone else. They certainly don’t need it on their dime and time.
Asking questions, presenting those questions too, is the hallmark of a free society. When that becomes revolutionary we are no longer what we perceive ourselves to be.
About the Author, Julie Akins: Julie Akins is an award-winning television and print journalist based in Southern Oregon. A long distance hiker and lover of nature, she is currently serving as mayor of Ashland.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a 3-part series on #VaxXed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe. Part 2 is a summary of the main points of the film. Part 3 is a re-cap of the community discussion held at the Ashland Public Library. The trailer and a list of cities where VaxXed is showing can be found on VaxxedTheMovie.Com
We recommend watching Vaxxed. In addition to watching Vaxxed, here are 5 more ways to learn about vaccine Safety and #Vaxxed:
1. Read William Thompson’s 2014 press release:
My name is William Thompson. I am a Senior Scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where I have worked since 1998.
I regret that my coauthors and I omitted statistically significant information in our 2004 article published in the journal Pediatrics. The omitted data suggested that African American males who received the MMR vaccine before age 36 months were at increased risk for autism. Decisions were made regarding which findings to report after the data were collected, and I believe that the final study protocol was not followed.
2. Read Dr. Deborah Gordon, M.D.’s opinion piece in the Medford Mail Tribune:
I would like to thank the Varsity Theater for its decision to screen the movie, “Vaxxed.” I would suggest that in reading about the movie, your readers pay attention to whether or not a particular spokesperson has actually seen the documentary.
Quite contrary to the guest opinion featured in your newspaper, the movie does nothing to denigrate, criticize or attribute harm to the measles vaccine. In fact, the movie goes out of its way to suggest that the measles vaccine is safe, effective, necessary and valuable to a healthy child and healthy community.
The distinction missed by your guest’s opinion is between the measles vaccine and its unfortunate replacement, the combined vaccine directed against measles, mumps and rubella in one fell swoop. Previously booted out of Canada and the UK for an associated risk of meningitis, the combined vaccine has been adopted and mandated in the United States for decades. The movie suggests we go back to the three separate vaccines.
The main issue at hand in the movie is the reliability of the CDC. We learn of the existence of a CDC whistleblower, a member of the original team studying the safety of the MMR, who has divulged previously unavailable information about the study — information that contradicts the stated official conclusions of that study. Congress has been asked, as protectors of the health of US children, to solicit the testimony of the whistleblower. So far, no public body nor news organization has expressed an interest in hearing his testimony. Without a hearing, we don’t know if he’s delusional or brave, imaginative or brilliant, pitiable or heroic.
3. Read The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul’s Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health, From Pregnancy Through Your Child’s Teen Years
Dr. Paul Thomas, M.D.’s book about vaccine safety. Includes effective ways to support immunity. The Vaccine-Friendly Plan is a #1 Amazon bestseller.
4. Read 13 Reasons Why The CDC is Right and You Should Vaccinate Your Kids
5. Subscribe to Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D.’s private email list, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and/or LinkedIn
Related posts
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Published: June 14, 2016
Updated: October 29, 2021
On the vaccine panel we had after the run of Vaxxed in Ashland, an ER nurse and former intensive care pediatrics ward nurse was the only pro-vax position on the panel. She referenced the Japan policy, and pointed out that Japan had just as much autism, even though ti separated out the MMR. I suppose she thought this proved that the MMR could not cause autism. I thought it meant that both the MMR together and the M, M and R separately caused the same amount of autism. Not surprising, every vaccine causes harm, and sometimes separating and delaying them just delays the same harm.
It should be easy enough now to declare that toxin exposure causes autism. Many kinds, many avenues, but none worse than vaccines.
I think we really need to revisit the vaccine schedule and space it out, and encourage women to breastfeed for a longer period of time, so during early babyhood (and possibly also toddlerhood) the children receive the protective benefit of their mothers’ immunity through her breast milk. I think it’s too much for a tiny baby’s body to receive these many doses of vaccines. It’s better to let them grow larger, develop more, and then I believe their systems will be able to handle the vaccine better.
Personally, I question why we give the entire battery of vaccines so early? Maybe little babies should remain with their mothers a lot longer, and this will surely stir people up, but why send your baby away to daycare when it’s tiny? If a mother absolutely has to work, the baby should be able to come with her. Being a mom to a newborn/infant/baby is the most important work you will ever do. (This might mean yes, your employer or company would have to get creative and compassionate and be flexible enough to make it feasible. Some jobs can be done as telecommuting, and there are social programs to support mothers who need help paying for food or healthcare.) If a career is put on hold, is that really a tragedy or a blessing? It is heart-wrenching to send your child to someone else in the early months. Don’t suppress the emotions. They are real, and painful, and your routine of lattes and whatever is done in front of a screen, or classroom, or courtroom, or whatever.. can wait. It’s more important for the mother to take care of her own baby during its most crucial development and bonding stage, and families (or good friends) should step forward and help the mothers more. Mothers can hang out together and help one another. We don’t have to go it alone. (La Leche League makes a world of difference in a new mom’s life. So do new mom/baby meetings.) This current state of our general culture is sorely lacking in basic family/friend support for new mothers. I don’t mean legislated, necessarily–I just mean cultural encouragement.
I feel strongly enough about this that frankly I do not care anymore if people dislike me or get riled up for me speaking what I believe would make a difference. Look at the cultures where people are most content and you see people of all generations supporting each other in all stages of life, emotionally, financially, and as extended family. We need to return to that, and get away from the Brave New World. It is cold and stark. I guess I’m an Earth Mama. Don’t we live on Earth?
When is sanity going to come to this debate? I applaud you for bringing an honest and balanced perspective in this issue. And I sincerely hope you don’t get character assassinated. Sadly it is a classic sign when you think for yourself and examine the evidence that you will enrage the powers that be.
I, too, am deeply grieved by the tragedy in Samoa. I, still believe, however, that bodily autonomy is very, very important. Each of us must be free to choose, even if we choose wrongly. For some of us, the risk of vaccination is more dangerous than the risk of the disease itself. It is imperative that we retain the right to delay or deny vaccines.
Oh, “free society” outcry, and the ridiculousness of “thinking for yourself” in populations uneducated so much that they can’t distinguish correlation from causation.
Texts like this one are the prime example of not understanding humanities and the impact stories have on people as opposed to reading findings scientific method provides (rarely done by non-professionals).
Being for free distribution of lies packaged as opinions and experiences.. that’s what it is.
And only thing actually spreading freely in society you imagine are deseases.
You all disgust me.
Signed, person from European country that had most vaccine preventable deaths in Europe in recent outbreaks, whose heart is breaking for Samoa’s people.
Hi, Aleksandra.
I agree that a lack of education, or at least breadth of knowledge, is a significant problem in modern discourse, but distinguishing correlation from causation is hardly the crux of it.
You see, many people appear to believe that declaring “correlation does not equal causation” somehow negates the possibility of causation, when it is in fact critical to establishing causation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Hill_criteria
Declaring that they are not the same is sort of like declaring that water is wet. It should be obvious to anyone. A “duh,” if you will.
Other requirements include plausibility, coherence, experiment, analogies, and reversibility—all of which, by the way, have been demonstrated in scientific papers investigating the links between vaccines and negative medical outcomes.
This is an excellent site for beginning one’s education on the science you might have missed: http://vaccinepapers.org/.
Given your country’s “vaccine-preventable deaths” you might be particularly interested in a series of studies overseen by Peter Aaby of Denmark, on the effect of the introduction of infant vaccination in the African country of Guinea-Bissau. Aaby was involved in the vaccination push in the 1980s, and his group had maintained meticulous records. No one analyzed those records until very recently, however, when Aaby’s group discovered—to their horror, naturally—that vaccinating these infants actually RAISED the infant death rate in Guinea-Bissau by at least a factor of two.
“Evidence of Increase in Mortality After the Introduction of Diphtheria–Tetanus–Pertussis Vaccine to Children Aged 6–35 Months in Guinea-Bissau: A Time for Reflection?”
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00079/full
I, for one, am exceptionally glad I still have access to such information, despite the fact that Google and Facebook are deliberately making it very hard to find.
Thanks for stopping by here, Aleksandra, and taking the time to comment. Does it have to be either/or? Is it possible that we are all deeply concerned about Samoa and people suffering from infectious diseases **AND** concerned about the hundreds of thousands of parents who now have brain damaged children that may or may not have been because of over-vaccination in our country? Can we educate people and not coerce them? I appreciate your comment and I’m hoping you will share some of the findings that you have found most helpful in shaping your understanding about these debates. I think we’re on the same side: the side of children’s health and the health of all humanity.
“So for all the flaws in human nature, it contains the seeds of its own improvement, as long as it comes up with norms and institutions that channel parochial interests into universal beliefs. Among those norms are free speech, nonviolence, cooperation, cosmopolitanism, human rights, and an acknowledgement of human fallibility, and among the institutions are science, education, media, democratic government, interntational organizations, and markets.” –Steven Pinker, Enlightenment Now
Alexsandra,
Sorry you’re so angered from afar. I encourage you to watch the most recent taping of Del Bigtree’s The Highwire and see for yourself that even vaccine scientists admit they have no idea what vaccines can do to a person, short term and most definitely long term.
Also, no one is happy about outbreaks, but you must dig to find how the outbreak originated. Most of the time you’ll find it was associated with the vaccine itself or recently vaccinated individuals.
And the people you’re calling uneducated are mostly parents of children whose lives were turned upside down after they trusted their doctors and “did the right thing”. We were all on your side at one time. We then watched our kids suffer after receiving vaccines and had our whole worlds change. So then we quickly dove into years of research to get to the point most of us are at now. We know that proper lifestyle choices and building up an immune system are far more effective than any vaccine.
How about you read this: (about how vaccines can actually spread measles).
https://jcm.asm.org/content/jcm/55/3/735.full.pdf
And then you read this: (about how the MMR doesn’t work).
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/58/9/1205/2895266
And then maybe you read all 97,379 adverse event reports associated with MMR on this database that shows stats from VAERS.
https://medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php
And if you get bored, here is more about the whistleblower case where Merck is being sued for fraud over the MMR vaccine:
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/merck-whistleblower-case-proceeds-toward-a-resolution/
Signed, Ex-vaxxer, not anti-vaxxer, RN whose child was injured by vaccines, and who unfortunately only did her homework after the fact, sorry to disgust you, I still love you, only here to help. Smooches. #wedid
“How about you read this: (about how vaccines can actually spread measles).
https://jcm.asm.org/content/jcm/55/3/735.full.pdf”
This categorically does not show how vaccines can spread measles. Did you even read it? You need to identify which strains are vaccine and which are wild type in an outbreak so you know which people to treat. The *only* reason a vaccine strain is identified is when someone is recently vaccinated. News flash: there will always be children at the age of MMR vaccine requirement who will be in the public during an outbreak, and if they present the measles-like rash (no, this is not measles, it is a literal immune response to the vaccine, it does not present any further than a rash and it does not transmit, *ever*) then they will be tested.
Here is a systematic review, the literal highest grade of review by an independent organisation that encompasses all fact, history, anecdotes, evidence and science and shows that in the history of the vaccine it has never once transmitted measles to another human.
Not once.
Ever.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27083423
“And then you read this: (about how the MMR doesn’t work).
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/58/9/1205/2895266”
I’m utterly convinced you are not reading your own links, they are quite literally arguments that show how effective vaccines are. Out of hundreds of people in that outbreak that were vaccinated, a few had failed to seroconvert and develop immunity from the vaccine. This happens to a very, very small percentage (as is shown by the few out of hundreds and hundreds of people), and is entirely consistent with the vaccine’s efficacy rate of around 97%.
“And then maybe you read all 97,379 adverse event reports associated with MMR on this database that shows stats from VAERS.
https://medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php”
Again, if you looked at your own link you would realize it goes to a dead page. Even if it did go to the reports, VAERS is self reporting and does not need to establish causality in order for someone to report it. That’s why we have people claming they turned into superwoman from a vaccine, gun shots from a vaccine, there’s even a guy who reported tripping over and falling on the way to getting his vaccine.
“And if you get bored, here is more about the whistleblower case where Merck is being sued for fraud over the MMR vaccine:
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/merck-whistleblower-case-proceeds-toward-a-resolution/”
Linking to an antivax site is absurd, but I guess it’s all you have when what you claim isn’t reality. William Thompson was simply critical of how a study was published, not the contents of the study. His words were taken out of context entirely and he subsequently came out and clarified this, and reaffirmed his pro-vaccine stance, here is a quote from him:
“I want to be absolutely clear that I believe vaccines have saved and continue to save countless lives. I would never suggest that any parent avoid vaccinating children of any race. Vaccines prevent serious diseases, and the risks associated with their administration are vastly outweighed by their individual and societal benefits.”
“Signed, Ex-vaxxer, not anti-vaxxer, RN whose child was injured by vaccines, and who unfortunately only did her homework after the fact, sorry to disgust you, I still love you, only here to help. Smooches. #wedid””
Your child is not vaccine injured, stop using an easy scapegoat for how your child is and love them as who they are.
Also, throwing in that you’re a nurse only highlights your ignorance. It’s called a false appeal to authority just because you work in the medical field. You are not an immunologist, you are not a toxicologist, you are not in any vaccine related field and – as you have demonstrated here – have no clue on how to critically assess whole information to come to a clinical and rational view.
Perhaps she should watch “The Highwire” from today (Jan.9) where the WHO admits to there being a lack of safety studies, that they don’t know how adjuvants work and they don’t know if multiple adjuvants and preservatives cause systematic problems because they’ve never studied it. They made a number of alarming admissions. The show was brilliant as always and worth the watch. I would bet footage of this meeting which was the Global Vaccine Safety Summit from Dec. 3, 2019 will not be available long because it would be very damaging to the vaccine program.