While no one disputes the desirability of having the safest vaccines possible, Ms. Fisher disseminates  information that seems to question the value of all vaccines.  Far from just advocating safer vaccines, Ms. Fisher seems to reflexively oppose all immunizations irregardless of benefit.

Ms. Fisher claims her oldest child was injured after his 4th DPT shot.  It is unclear whether her claim was ever verified, or whether she received compensation for this alleged injury.  What is clear is that Ms. Fisher chose not to initially vaccinate her two younger children, both of whom then contracted whooping cough. 

As Ms. Fisher herself describes it: "I watched as my five-year-old daughter's face turned white, Her lips turned blue, and her eyes bulged out of her head during a paroxysm of whooping cough that I thought would take her life." (1)

This experience may have been what led Ms. Fisher to have her two younger children vaccinated.  It is also noteworthy that her son Chris, who was allegedly injured by DPT immunization, is still well enough to attend college.  His purported injuries involved earaches and respiratory infections, common childhood ailments unrelated to immunization. (9)

Ms. Fisher co-wrote with Harris Coulter "DPT: a shot in the dark" which claims the DPT vaccine is responsible for mass episodes of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and encephalopathy.  Over 10 years of additional clinical experience and research have not supported the claims made by Fisher and Coulter. (2,3,4,5,6,7) (partial list)

In the 1990's there have been well over 300 studies worldwide done on the topic of SIDS.  NONE of these studies have found vaccines to be a factor in SIDS whatsoever!

Scientists worldwide have found many other factors to be involved with SIDS, foremost of which is infant sleeping position.  The simple process of placing infants on the back rather than their stomachs has resulted in a huge drop in the incidence of SIDS.  (8)

Thus far research has overwhelmingly demonstrated a complete lack of association between SIDS and vaccines.  Neither Coulter nor Fisher have addressed the lastest research.   One of the most profound recent studies refuting the vaccine/SIDS connection was published in August, 1999, and concluded:
"Epidemiological evidence indicates infants immunised against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) are at decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)." (10)

Ms. Fisher and Mr. Coulter owe the public an acknowledgement of their errors.

REFERENCES:
1.  A.Allen, Injection Rejection, New Republic, 03/23/98, Vol. 218 Issue 12, p20
2.  JD Cherry, 'Pertussis Vaccine Encephalopathy': It Is Time to Recognize It as the Myth That It Is.  JAMA.  263:12; 1679-80
3. EA Mitchell, Immunisation and the sudden infant death syndrome New Zealand Cot Death Study Group.  Arch Dis Child.  73:6; 498-501.
4.  Jonville-Bera.  Sudden infant death syndrome and diphtheria- tetanus- pertussis- poliomyelitis vaccination status.  Fundam Clin Pharmacol.  9:3; 263-70.
5.  JL Gale.  Risks of Serious Acute Neurological Illness After Immunization With Diptheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine.  JAMA.  271:1;  37-41.
6.  MR Griffin.  Risk of sudden infant death syndrome after immunization with the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine.  N Engl J Med.  319:10; 618-23.
7.  MR Griffin.  Risk of Seizures and Encephalopathy After Immunization With the Diptheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine.  JAMA,  263:12 ;  1641-5.
8.  M Funayama.  A review of recent studies investigating the relationship between sudden infant death syndrome and (sleeping position).  Nippon Hoigaku Zasshi.   48:6; 439-51.
9.  Calling The Shots After her son's turn for the worse, Barbara Loe Fisher presses for safer vaccines
Nick Charles Rochelle Jones in Washington, D.C.
11/22/1999 People Magazine
10. Essery SD; The protective effect of immunisation against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) in relation to sudden infant death syndrome. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 1999 Aug, 25:1-2, 183-92