Doctor should be praised, not criticized

Regarding the May 25 article “Britain bans doctor who linked autism to vaccine”: I was appalled to read the report of Dr. Wakefield's study on vaccinations causing autism - appalled at how horribly he has been treated and how uneducated the “professionals” are who insist there could never be such a thing.

According to the paperwork my doctor hands to me, the MMR vaccine can cause serious allergic reactions, deafness, permanent brain damage, seizures and/or death. This paper states that it is one in a million. That would mean that it would be very unlikely for me to ever meet such a case.

Could you then explain to me then how it is that I have five close friends whose babies have had serious reactions? Two have severe autism, one had seizures, one screamed for six hours straight, and one died of SIDS, all within hours of receiving scheduled immunizations.

You cannot convince me that this is all mere coincidence. Wakefield ought to receive the highest commendation for daring to buck the system, expose the truth, and spare the lives of innocent children.

Louise Zook

Kalona