Dr Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule? He made it up
© 2013 Roy Benaroch, MD
Thinking of buying a car? Talk to the people who know about cars. Look in those magazines that rate cars. Try, maybe, driving some different cars around for a while. Or asking people who’ve already purchased one: do you like it? Would you buy it again?
What you probably wouldn’t do is take advice from someone who readily admits that he made it up.
Today, Reddit did one of their “IamA” features, starring Dr. Bob Sears, author of “The Vaccine Book.” This is the guy who created his own “Alternative Vaccine Schedule”, different from the one supported by every genuine health authority in the world. He suggests that parents delay some vaccines, space them out differently, or skip some altogether. One might assume it’s because he has some kind of special insight, or tremendous knowledge, or maybe is just more clever than the rest of us.
Nah. In his own words, when asked about the evidence he relies on to support his alternative schedule, he says:
“There is very little to no evidence.”
This is the entire exchange from Reddit, starting with the question posed by “itsajelly”:
[–]itsajelly 6 points 1 hour ago*
Dr. Sears, what evidence do you have to support your alternative vaccine schedule? Do you think it’s possible it validates parents’ fears about vaccines rather than alleviates them?
[–]DrBobSears[S] 8 points 1 hour ago
There is very little to no evidence. I agree that it’s possible it can validate some parents’ fears, but those parents have probably already chosen to not vaccinate anyway. What I think it achieves MORE often is that it allows parents to go ahead and vaccinate, when they wouldn’t otherwise have done so because they won’t follow the AAP schedule. I think it increases vaccination rates. Anyone who is already naturally opposed to or in favor of vaccination probably is unaffected by my schedule.
[–]itsajelly 2 points 1 hour ago
Thank you for your candid response.
Dr. Sears readily admits he made it up. He goes on to explain that his odd delusions actually increase vaccination rates—as if fear-mongering and pandering actually helps. He could have written a book that rationally explains the evidence, and draws a logical conclusion. Instead, he chose to ignore science to sell more books.
Dr. Bob also claims that “Anyone who is already naturally opposed to or in favor of vaccination probably is unaffected by my schedule.” Tell that to the people catching preventable diseases from unvaccinated children.
The “Alternative Vaccine Schedule” is a sham. It’s been thoroughly deconstructed elsewhere—please see here or here if you really want to get into the nauseating details of how Dr. Bob twisted information, ignored science, and created a pagan idol for unnecessary worry. The man was candid, and I’ll give him props for that. Thanks for the honesty, Bob. In his own words, there is “very little to no” evidence that his schedule is safe or effective. It is, in fact, demonstrably less safe because it exposes children to an increased risk of disease. At the same time, there is no evidence (nor any reason to even speculate) that it is in any way safer than following the established schedule.
Be safe. Rely on science and the people who know what they’re talking about. Vaccinate your child, on schedule, on time.
Explore posts in the same categories: In the news, Medical problems, Pediatric Insider informationTags: immunizations, vaccine safety, vaccines
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
January 22, 2013 at 7:27 pm
and roy.. where is your science to support your belief system?
It is wonderful that people are gradually waking up to some rationale inquiry and question the vaccine myths that have been fed to them for decades. Skepticism towards vaccine safety and efficacy did not give birth in a vacuum. Scientific questioning about vaccination has been with us since Jenner. Whether or not federal “health” authorities, such as the CDC and FDA (Fraud and Death Administration) advocate vaccine safety is not the main issue. Why people are increasing suspicious of vaccines is because of the 10s of 1000s of parents across the country with injured children from vaccination.
Before preaching your belief system… please do some archeological digging into the actual science of vaccination.
January 22, 2013 at 8:24 pm
I had a run-in with Dr. Bob, when he blogged on the Huffington Post, voicing his opposition to California Assembly Bill 2109. The bill was later enacted into law; it requires parents who wish to “opt out” of mandatory school entry vaccines requirements by claiming a “personal belief exemption”, to meet with their childrens’ health care provider to discuss the consequences of NOT vaccinating their children.
Dr. Bob was not too pleased with me when I commented that his deliberately not vaccinated 7 year old patient who contracted measles in Europe, was the “index case” responsible for the huge 2008 San Diego measles outbreak.
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/03/27/dr-bob-sears-vs-seth-mnookin-measles-out/
Thanks Dr. Benaroch, for all your efforts to educate the public about vaccines.
January 22, 2013 at 8:41 pm
@R Gale
A search of PubMed will turn up the evidence you seek. CDC and AAP provide good summaries of it.
The reason that reluctance regarding vaccines is on the rise is not because parents have vaccine-injured children. There are several reasons: 1) Parents confused correlation with causation, blaming vaccines for coincidental illnesses; 2) anti-vaccine groups, such as the misnamed National Vaccine Information Center, Age of Autism, SaneVAX and others actively work to undermine confidence in vaccinations; and 3) others actively oppose and spread fear, uncertainty and doubt because of political, ideological or religious reasons.
Perhaps you should think about some of the things you’ve heard or read about vaccines that convince you to be skeptical of them and examine the sources. Is it based on true readings of published science, or is it a misrepresentation? How much of it is based on people’s stories, which are prone to all manner of bias?
January 22, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Thanks for writing this, Dr. Benaroch. I wonder if you saw what Dr. Bob had to say about the Institute of Medicine report last week:
http://www.facebook.com/thinkingmomsrevolution/posts/137275623098456
and today’s take at the misnamed “Health Impact News”
http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/institute-of-medicine-concludes-vaccinated-versus-unvaccinated-research-not-needed-the-vaccine-schedule-is-safe-as-is/
January 22, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Thank you, doctor, for speaking up. I wrote about Dr. Bob just the other day, and what he had to say about the IOM report.
http://autism-news-beat.com/archives/2136
January 22, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Next time I get someone lauding dr bob, i’ll send them here. Great post, thank you.
January 23, 2013 at 2:36 pm
I read Dr. Bob’s book. I didnt interpret it as an anti-vaccine book at all. The book appeals to parents who are questionning vaccine safety and the wisdom in giving our children SO many vaccines and giving several at one time. For the CDC to advocate a “one size fits all” approach, they are alienating parents who choose to vaccinate in a different way and the alternate schedule could be used as a guideline to those folks who aren’t comfortable just following without asking if the schedule is in their child’s best interest I think some people reading his book may choose not to vaccinate at all. Perhaps his information will at least make them think twice. I don’t give my child anything blindly without questioning the necessity of it and what the possible cons might be regardless of what the CDC says. Common sense dictates all parents asking the questions of what effects the preservatives in the vaccines will have on their childs’ developing system. Pretty sure the toxic substances would be cause for concern if parents knew exactly what was in there.Bottom line–parents who are totally comfortable not asking these questions and vaccinating according to the schedule are not going to gravitate to his book. His alternate schedule (regardless of how he came up with it) may make the folks who are leaning away from vaccines to reconsider.
January 24, 2013 at 8:00 am
I knew the 2008 measles outbreak was started by an un-vaxxed child who picked up measles in Europe; I didn’t know it was Dr. Bob Sears’ own patient. That makes his statement, “Anyone who is already naturally opposed to or in favor of vaccination probably is unaffected by my schedule” especially mendacious. Non-vaxxing or under-vaxxing or delayed-vaxxing puts ALL of our children at risk.
January 24, 2013 at 8:07 am
R Gale’s comment started with an odd sort phrase: “and roy..” I thought maybe a first comment got spam-filtered or something, but this comment is all that this person posted.
Anyway: for anyone sincerely interested in the science, a great place to start is at the CDC page for vaccine recommendations, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/ACIP-list.htm. Well-organized links to the most-recent general and specific recommendations will take anyone to very well-referenced, extensive information. For instance, the link to “general recommendations” sends you to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6002a1.htm?s_cid=rr6002a1_e, with 239 solid references. This material might be a bit dry in places– have some coffee ready. But if you want to know why this or that is recommended, here’s the info you want to be looking at.
January 24, 2013 at 8:13 am
adc, Dr. Sears “information,” as he so candidly admits, is stuff he made up with “little or no evidence.” Perhaps that appeals to people looking to have their unfounded fears validated. Would they be as pleased with his advice if they knew he admitted that it is not based on any evidence? I doubt most people would be happy to learn that their trusted source makes things up.
January 24, 2013 at 3:55 pm
When you’re name is as prominent in the parenting world as “Sears” is and you put something in a “book” then parental math looks like this: sears+published in a book=truth. Which is why this is so frustrating
January 24, 2013 at 7:51 pm
“Sears” has become a trusted name, if for no other reason than familiarity. I doubt many families know their relationship with a shady multilevel marketing company, or that their “trusted advice” is far from the pediatric mainstream. I think this quote of Dr. Bob’s is quite telling: he knows he has no evidence, and doesn’t mind saying it, because so many of their followers don’t seem to care.
BTW Oz is also a nimrod and quack-lover. Who has also sold far more books than me!
January 24, 2013 at 11:56 pm
[...] Dr Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule? He made it up. [...]
January 27, 2013 at 1:13 am
Maybe the brilliant Dr. Roy will now explain why the CDC reports that 1 out of every 6 boys has a learning disability, or why 23 million Americans have chronic autoimmune system disorders, or why many schools no longer allow students to bring a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into the classroom.
January 27, 2013 at 8:36 am
From the tone of his post, it’s clear that Tom K is convinced that vaccines are somehow the cause of these ills, and that somehow Dr. Bob’s alternative schedule is safer.
Vaccines are the most-studied, safest medical interventions we’ve got. No other medicine or procedure undergoes anything close to the rigorous study required for vaccine approval. Of the candidate possibilities of causes of Tom K’s listed problems, vaccines are the least likely. Nonetheless, a subset of vaccine haters will continue their cult-like preoccupation with vaccines as the cause of all evil. There is no amount of science or explanation that will sway these people.
Ironically, their singular focus on vaccines continues to distract from the study of other factors, delaying progress and ensuring that more people get sick and stay sick longer. But whether you believe it or not, science is still true.
EDIT: I found this story today, about progress towards a vaccine to prevent (or, perhaps if caught early, to treat) type 1 diabetes. There are also vaccines in development to prevent and treat a variety of cancers. Progress! Preventing and treating disease! This is good stuff. I don’t know how the antivaccine propagandists are going to spin this stuff. Let’s see.
February 8, 2013 at 10:06 pm
I know a parent who probably would have chosen not to vaccinate but because of Dr. Sears’ book does give her child all the vaccines, but one by one–never the Pentacel or more than one shot on a day–because of that belief that it’s too hard on the child’s developing immune system to respond to more than one vaccine. She uses his alternate schedule. I will never understand why people think this, though. I see germs everywhere! Today my daughter and I went to the grocery and I always think of it there because they have those sanitizing wipes for the cart. But you have to think not just of all the customers touching your cart but also all the people who stocked the shelves as well as what’s in the air. Don’t you think that in winter going out would get us exposure to some influenza and a bunch of different rhinoviruses and some other stuff? I don’t see why people think it would be such a strain to get a 5 disease vaccine when we naturally get exposed to things all the time.
February 9, 2013 at 9:27 am
J, well said. Vaccine-phobia is an emotional “belief”, and emotions aren’t always easily swayed by facts. Sears’ books incite the emotional response, so he can sell more books.
Sadly, these issues have been very well studied, and parents seeking reassurance and truth can find plenty of support for the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. But there’s so much manufactured fear and misinformation out there, it can be difficult for parents to sift through the nonsense.
February 11, 2013 at 11:37 am
Dr. Roy – outside of Sears’ claims about vaccines, do you know of any good literature that examines the food products he endorses? E.g. the Happy Baby line, YoBaby yogurt, etc.?
I agree with everything you’ve written here and now I’m just nervous about Sears in general. I realize you’re probably not interested in an out-and-out war with the guy/company but I’m just curious if you know of any other documented investigations.
Thanks, Matt
February 11, 2013 at 6:57 pm
I don’t know much about Happy Baby or YoBaby. I do know that the Sears family at least used to be interconnected with Juice Plus, a line of vitamins that are sold via a shady multilevel marketing scheme: http://www.mlmwatch.org/04C/NSA/juiceplus.html.
EDIT: a quick google search shows that there’s still quite a bit of advertising-style material on the “AskDrSears” web site, with letters “signed” by Bob and Bill and Jim Sears, including their personal testimonials. So, yes, it’s fair to say that there’s a promotional relationship there.
April 13, 2013 at 8:28 am
[...] the dangers of vaccines. I think of the mentions of “alternative vaccine schedules” in Dr. Sears books I borrowed from the La Leche League library. The implication of those and the websites I saw [...]