A Shot in the Dark [Paperback]

H. Coulter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1991

Traces the developmnet of the DPT vaccine, describes its risks, and lists warning signs that a child may be sensitive to it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avery Trade; 1 edition (May 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089529463X
• ISBN-13: 978-0895294630
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 163 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Relevant in DTaP age, October 18, 2004

By 

NC Reader "NC Reader" (NC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Shot in the Dark (Paperback)

I heard about this book soon after my daughter had a vaccine reaction in 2002. I figured the contents might not apply to me since my child got the DTaP vaccine (with acellular pertussis) instead of the no-longer-in-use DTP with whole cell pertussis. I finally decided to read it in late 2004.

I couldn't believe how very relevant and applicable the book is to my situation in 2004. Yes, this book IS STILL VERY RELEVANT in a world where DTP has been replaced by DTaP.

How is it still relevant?

In my case, my child had inconsolable high pitched screaming for 6 hours straight after her 4 mo. shots. As explained in the book, high pitched screaming is a known and well-documented adverse effect of the whole-cell pertussis component of DTP. My child did not get DTP but instead got "the safer" DTaP, and yet this reaction still occurred. There were also longer term side effects that this book would categorize as neurological. My infant stopped making eye contact for over a week, and my previously vocal and communicative infant stopped cooing for nearly 4 weeks!! How I prayed every day God would give me my baby back!

When I reported the longer term side effects to my doctor, she dismissed it as "anecdotal" suggesting there is nothing in the data to support that a lack of eye contact or loss of cooing could be caused by any vaccine. I couldn't believe the disrespect and disregard for my report of the facts of what had occurred. This book offered some relief and support in this regard because I know now that I am not alone. And this is unfortunate. Other parents of children who have vaccine reactions are treated similarly by their pediatricians.

I concur with asking the question posed by the author, exactly when did the medical community switch from listening carefully to reports of symptoms from parents and patients and begin to listen only to published reports from controlled studies - most of which are funded by organizations with a conflict of interest? Something is very wrong with a system that denies and dismisses the valid reports of concerned parents who have witnessed changes in their child post-vaccination.

In my case, prior to reading all I could get my hands on about vaccines, I was ready to agree with the doctor that my daughter should continue with all other vaccines eliminating only the pertussis vaccine. Then, just before the next round of shots were given, a last minute record review indicated that the leg that had swollen up like a goose egg was not even the leg where the DTaP was administered!! Polio and Hib went into that leg!!

So what a quandry for this parent, indeed! Which toxin caused the swollen leg? Which toxin/vaccine/component caused the loss of eye contact? Which caused the cessation of verbal cooing and the ongoing restlessness and the changes in sleep patterns? Was it acellular pertussis? Or was it diptheria, tetanus, hib, or polio? Or could it have been some ingredient in the vaccines, a preservative or adjuvant material? Could it have been carryover materials from the human fetal cells or animal cells used in manufacturing? No one will ever know. Nor will answers ever come as long as the medical community continues to deny that vaccine reactions occur.

The last sentence of the book reads, "The time has come to become educated about vaccines."

I completely agree with the author on this point and think others will too after reading this book and others on the topic of vaccine safety.

100 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do not fail to read this book!, January 6, 2001

By 

Amy J - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Shot in the Dark (Paperback)

This book is a MUST read for parents and parents-to-be. If it has ever even occured to you that the medical system is not infallible, this book will open your eyes to a reality that most people would prefer to ignore. Vaccinations DO cause temporary and permanent damage to children every year in this country, and many of the diseases against which we are vaccinated are not as frightening as the damage caused by the vaccinations themselves.

This book focuses solely on the DTaP vaccination. There are many case histories of children who were permanently brain damaged and even killed by this vaccination. In some cases more than one child in a family has been permanently injured. In others parents have had to fight in court to retain custody of their younger children when they refused to vaccinate them following severe reactions in their older children.

The companies that manufacture vaccinations are making millions of dollars per year. When a child has a permanently debilitating reaction to a vaccine, the manufacturer is not even held financially responsible - the government uses our tax dollars to compensate families through an official program called the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Would this program even exist if it weren't obvious that vaccines DO cause damage in some instances?

This book gives great information about the kinds of children who are more likely to react to vaccinations, including those who were born prematurely or with a low birth weight, those from families with allergies and food sensitivities, and those who had family members experience vaccine reactions. It also describes in great detail the kinds of reactions one can expect from vaccinations - and which ones should not be considered "normal" despite what your pediatrician's office may tell you. If your child has received some vaccinations already and you feel uncomfortable about any symptoms he or she exhibited in the days following, READ THIS BOOK before you allow any further vaccinations. MANY children who were eventually permanently injured exhibited reactions to earlier vaccinations that were ignored or considered unimportant until hindsight provided the obvious answer.

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pertussis Vaccine side effects are real and have been hidden, June 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Shot in the Dark (Paperback)

I am an RN, and have been taking care of a child with seizures, and brain damage for over a year now. The parents gave me his history.
The theory was that the seizures and developmental problems, which started after 3 months of age in an otherwise totally normal child until that time, were caused by the pertussis vaccine.

There was never a way to prove his problems were due to the vaccine, although all tests on the child and parents were negative as to any cause.
I cared for this child for a year before I read the book.

I was amazed at the similarity of his history with that of many other children in the book, and when I finished reading the book, there was no question in my mind that this child's problems were due exclusively to the vaccine.

Anyone considering parenthood,are pregnant, have newborns,are grandparents; owe it to themselves to read this book.

Be informed of the side effects so your child won't be one of the statistics. There are other alternatives, and also the new acellular vaccine is available now, but only to those who ask until the old vaccine is no longer available.