Important Information on Primary Immunodeficiency and Autism Letter published in the Schafer Report, Aug 06  (this is not me Ashley, another mom)     Since Monday, when I told my daughter's doctor about primary immunodeficiency, they have scrambled to get us to an immunologist and an infectious disease doctor. Suddenly the theory that she has suffered an adverse event from a vaccine, that may have contributed to her condition, currently diagnosed as autism, is credible. I did mention to various doctors that I knew there was something abnormal with my immune system, as I had been hospitalized 23 times in the past 13 years for bacterial infections requiring IV antibiotics to clear. This should have been a red flag for PI.      I have contacted the CDC's Immunization Safety Office, and the only valuable info they will give me is that individuals with primary immunodeficiency should not receive live virus vaccinations. The following is an email response I received yesterday from a MPH (master of public health) within the CDC's immunization safety office. This is after I mentioned that the only info she had given me refers to primary immunodeficiency being a contraindication for live virus vaccination. Notice she does not give any info regarding live virus vaccines that are currently in the US recommended childhood vaccination schedule.               If a child is immunocompromised, a live vaccine    can result in serious illness or even death. Examples of    illnesses that live vaccines can cause: Yellow fever    vaccine poses a theoretical risk of encephalitis in an    immunocompromised person.  Smallpox vaccine could cause    disseminated vaccinia in an immunocompromised person and    live polio vaccine (which is no longer in use in the US)    has resulted in chronic progressive poliomyelitis in an    immunodeficient child.          For more detailed guidance you may want to seek    out an immunology or infectious disease specialist since    clinical situations are often unique.        I am so frustrated, that after months of telling doctors about my immune problems, my daughter's vaccine reaction, it took me bringing up something backed from the CDC for them to say, "well, it is possible". If she does in fact have PI, and should not have had even one single live virus injected into her, what then, can happen if she has 4 live viruses at once? What if chelation works by eliminating the source of immune interference (mercury), allowing children to fight the persistent infection that presents itself as autism? Could this be why some children do not respond to chelation? Is it because they have an inborn immune malfunction, such as PI, and cannot fight the persistent infection of the brain and csf by whatever virus or bacteria has invaded it?   My daughter's primary physician was not too familiar with primary immunodeficiency, other than the most severe forms, and was unaware that ALL children with primary immunodeficiency are contraindicated for live virus vaccination. And I thought doctors lack of knowledge of autism was disgraceful, this is just utterly disgusting.      - Monica Bice      Primary Immunodeficiency Side Bar    The World Health Organization recognizes more than 150 primary immune diseases which affect as many as 50,000 people in the united States. This includes Bruton's Disease, Common Variable Immune Deficiency, Selective IgA Deficiency, and Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (boy-in-the-bubble disease). Some disorders, such as Selective IgA Deficiency can be quite common, occurring as often as 1/400 individuals. Others, such as Severe Combined Immune Deficiency, may be as rare as one individual affected per million. It is thought that only 50% of those living with a form of primary immunodeficiency are currently diagnosed.       The 10 Warning Signs of Primary Immune Deficiency*    1. Eight or more new ear infections within a year.    2. Two or more serious sinus infections within a year.    3. Two or more months on antibiotics with little effect.    4. Two or more pneumonias within a year.    5. Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally.    6. Recurrent deep abscesses in the skin or organs.    7. Persistent thrush in mouth or on skin, after age one.    8. Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections.    9. Two or more deep-seated infections such as meningitis,    10. A family history of primary immunodeficiency.    *Courtesy of The Jeffrey Modell Foundation and the American Red Cross. More info can be found at:  www.immunedisease.com   www.primaryimmune.org www.jmfworld.