Pam Wilder, 34, gave birth to her second child last week. After doing some research, she has decided to forgo standard childhood vaccinations for her daughter until she's 2 years old.
Although her pediatrician recommends them, the Fort Mill woman said she believes the number and frequency of shots advocated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is too many and too soon.
"It is their recommendation that I vaccinate, but they are willing to work with me," said Wilder, who said she believes vaccines contain chemicals that may overload a baby's immune system and could lead to disorders such as autism.
It used to be uncommon for a parent to refuse vaccinations, intended to protect children and adults from coming down with nearly eradicated diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough and others. But in the last two months, Rock Hill area pediatricians said they've seen an abrupt increase in the number of parents who are either declining to have vaccinations given to their children or asking for a change in the schedule to eliminate or delay some shots.
One of the most common reasons: Their fear about the possibility of a highly publicized but scientifically unproven link between childhood vaccines and autism, a complex early childhood brain development disorder.
Parents questioning doctors
Rock Hill pediatrican Dr. Hal Copple with Palmetto Pediatrics said that in the last two months, about a third of the parents in his practice who have children of vaccination age have declined shots or asked for changes in the schedule.
Copple, who said he typically sees more questions from more educated, affluent parents, said they often ask him why is it necessary to give vaccines for diseases that are no longer around. "The diseases we vaccinate children against can be serious and can cause brain damage and death," Copple said.
Pediatrician Dr. Deanna Threatt with Rock Hill Pediatric Associates said in the last two months, about one in 30 of parents in her practice whose children are of immunization age refuse vaccines or ask for a change. Threatt said the number is higher in the practice's Fort Mill office, where most patients are private pay or have insurance.
Threatt said many parents have become concerned about autism after watching celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy speak against immunizations on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and hearing about lawsuits involving vaccine-injured children. Some have read "The Vaccine Book" by Dr. Bob Sears, she said.
Dr. Carlos Paxtor, a pediatrician at Sunshine Pediatrics in Rock Hill, said the practice sees two to three parents each week who decline shots for their child or want a change.
Paxtor said his office began seeing the trend about a year ago. "Parents see television programs that refer them to Internet sites that advocate the refusal of shots," said Paxtor.
Mooresville, N.C., family physician Dr. Anthony Castiglia said most of the parents with vaccination-age children who visit his practice opt not to immunize their children.
Castiglia, who is with Advanced Integrative Medicine and specializes in alternative medicine, said today's parents are more educated. "People are not just believing doctors anymore, they are researching information and challenging doctors," he said.
Outbreak of serious diseases
Rock Hill pediatricians say they are concerned that if parents don't vaccinate their children, they could see a return of once-eradicated diseases, possibly in epidemic proportions. Paxtor said at least 80 percent of people must be immunized to prevent a resurgence.
But Castiglia, who challenges the vaccine stance, said children don't need vaccines to protect them against these diseases. "The most important thing is to have a good immune system and do it naturally, not to do it with vaccines," he said.
A recent nine-state outbreak of measles and a national increase in the number of whooping cough cases has been blamed on a drop in vaccine coverage, said Adam Myrick, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
