Alijah Williams
One morning in December last year, 7-year-old Alijah Williams woke up with a sunken face, screaming in agony. Within 36 hours, he was overcome with body spasms and rushed to an Auckland hospital.
It was there that Alijah’s parents, Ian and Linda, discovered their middle child had contracted tetanus, a potentially fatal disease.
Alijah was transferred to intensive care and put in an induced coma on life support, heavily sedated against his body’s convulsions. Fortunately he survived, and on January 8, after spending 26 days in an Auckland hospital he was discharged in a wheelchair.
Despite this positive outcome, Alijah still has spasms and faces a year of ongoing medication and rehabilitation, including learning to eat and walk again.
There’s no doubt Alijah’s terrifying ordeal was one the Williams family could not have possibly foreseen. But the truth is that it could have been prevented very easily.
The Williams decided against vaccinating their three children, believing they had made an informed choice due to concerns and information about adverse reactions.
Now, the couple have publicly acknowledged what happened to their son was a direct result of that decision.
This from The New Zealand Herald:
“It was me that put my son in this situation,” Mr Williams said.
“Parents like us make the decision to not vaccinate on very little factual information about the actual consequences of the diseases – massive pain, disability and death – and a lot of non-factual, emotive information from the internet stating inflated figures on the frequency and severity of adverse reactions and conspiracy theories about ‘evil’ doctors, governments and drug companies.”
“Believing myths about vaccines is not the same as getting the facts. And that is the core problem.”
Alijah in hospital.
The parents have since immunised their other two children, Emias, 9, and Jaiya, 2.
They also wrote to Alijah’s school to warn parents of the dangers of not vaccinating their children.
Mr Williams – a scientist, inventor and businessman – now believes that much of the information the couple used to inform their decision was inaccurate, telling Stuff.co.nz:
“When it came to my kid’s health, I let the hippy win. I should have let the science win.”
The decision of whether or not to vaccinate is quite simply a matter of life and death. As Alijah’s parents discovered, the abundance of research, pseudo-science and pure speculation online and pushed by the anti-vaccination lobby makes it hard for parents to be sure their decision is being guided by accurate information.
Our message? Trust the doctors. Trust the science. It could save your child’s life.
Comments
94 Comments so far
as a pediatrician, this story makes me incredibly sad. when i talk to older colleagues, they reflect on a time when we were unable to prevent serious illnesses such as tetanus, epiglottitis and H. flu meningitis, etc. they are so grateful for ability to save more lives through vaccination.
while i am very sorry for the parents of this little boy and sad for all they have gone through (and will continue to go through), i am more sorry for this child. they admit that their decision was based on pop culture science – an interesting way to make a decision from a father who is, in fact, a scientist. they left the health of their most precious gift to be decided by the internet. in my mind, this is inexcusable. their son will now endure pain, disability, fear, and a completely different life than the one he would have had. while the “sentence” given to these parents by circumstance is harsh, i almost feel as though legal proceedings for child endangerment are warranted here. no amount of advocating for vaccines for other children will give their son his quality of life back.
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How dare you make judgment on those of us who do not vaccinate, this little boy is not dead, it is bad that he got sick but please tell me why you asume vaccines are the answer? I have been epieptic ever since my tetenus vaccine, my decition came from life experiance, I do NOT go around saying people who vaccinate their kids are bad parents, I am NOT against Vaccination i am FOR an informed decition base on both sides
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The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne has an excellent Immunisation clinic, with lots of info, and staff who are very willing to answer questions. A friend has a son with autism, and they worked out an immunisation schedule that she was comfortable with.
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Wow! All parents that are against immunisation should read this.
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My Mum’s brother died when he was 4 of tetanus. He was a gorgeous, healthy little boy and his death broke many hearts. It was obviously many, many years ago. It broke my heart to read this article. RIP BFW.
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These parents should be charged with endangering the lives of their children. There’s plenty of evidence amongst the scientific community to prove that vaccines work, yet these dills keep doing their own “research” on the internet and claim to know more than the medical profession as a whole.
A doctor studies for years, yet these idiot parents thing that an evening of ‘net surfing will give them all the answers.
They should be thrown in gaol.
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I’m sorry but any retard who basis their opinion on internet research needs to be slapped, their are all sorts of book and info out there for you to read if you are not vaccinating because of something off the net then get a life!
No real person is going to base their decision on stuff off the internet!
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Please don’t use the “R” word. It is offensive to many people including myself
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Get over it Quokka. What is the difference between “retard” and “intellectually challenged”?
Absolutely nothing, and retard is easier to type and spell.
IT’s only a word. Ever heard that old saying about sticks and stones?
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The difference is that these parents did not have an intellectual disability. They were negligent.
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Yes – the saying goes – sticks and stones will break my bones and words can break a heart.
Words are powerful things. I politely explained that using this word in this context offends many including myself. Sometimes if people don’t spend a lot of time around adults and children with disabilities they are unaware of the impact of these words. Perhaps you would like to visit a special school and use that word to describe children and find out for yourself.
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Sorry, it’s a common word used in my family alot better than using other words, the fact that i have an autistic child causes my to turn a blind eye to that word used at anytime unless my son is being teased or bullied then all hell will break loose!
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I’m a bit confused with your comment. Are you saying that your family members use this word freely but if someone used it in a bullying context against your Autistic son, you would be angry? Why are you using this word at all? It is a total contradiction. I have a daughter with cerebral palsy and find the word “spazz” to be highly offensive. I would never use that word in any context. Having a son with a disability…you should know better! Do unto others…………..
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Really, It makes no difference to me at all, If someone bullys my son then it does!
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As a parent to a child on the spectrum, I would think you’d be less likely to throw around such terms – I know I am!
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I lost you mid-sentence there Jessica. You wrote…
“…their [sic] are all sorts of book and info out there for you to read if you are not vaccinating because of something off the net then get a life!”
Are you suggesting that if you want to not vaccinate, you should get your anti-vax info from books instead of the ‘net? If not, then can you clarify your point please?
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There are books written by ex doctors and scientests that can explain vaccinating and reasons to not vaccinate you can find any book you want, if you are going to get all your info Only from the internet then that is silly cos it would be like self diagnosing from the net! I think it’s really up to the parents esp if they are responsible people! If you choose to not vaccinate then you shouldn’t go running to the doctor everytime your child gets a cold or something? learn how to help them yourself, but do it safely!
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Perhaps you should focus on peer reviewed material. (if you don’t know what that is you don’t deserve an opinion). Any moron can write a book.
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A true sign of intelligence is admitting when you got it wrong and making an effort to fix it.
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It’s a bit late when you’ve crippled your kid though.
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Very interesting article on this very issue
http://www.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/parenting-and-families/do-you-know-a-prik-20130111-2cko9.html
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It is reasonable that the parents admit their culpability in this, but it is not reasonable that they be made to shoulder all the blame. In my mind much of the blame should be aimed at people who publish misleading and deceptive material about vaccines on the Internet and in the media. Almost without exception, these anti-vaccine propagandists are unqualified cranks, who are articulate enough to turn rubbish into something believable, at least to the less educated.
For many years, the cranks, quacks and ratbags have gone unchallenged, but times are changing. No longer are doctors, nurses, scientists and laymen content to remain above the conversation, but are actively campaigning against anti-vaccine charlatans. The biggest anti-vaccine association in Australia is the deceptively named “Australian Vaccination Network” who is being challenged by the not-deceptively-named group called “Stop the Australian (anti-) Vaccination Network,” or SAVN.
We are based on Facebook and you can follow our campaign, contribute to the discussions, and participate at https://www.facebook.com/stopavn.
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I should ass that I have deep respect for the work you’ve done in this area Mr McLeod. Thanks.
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“ass” = “add”
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So-called regulators, around the world, need to start acting. They seem to take a hands-off approach to regulating health. Take the TGA, for example. When (if ever) was the last time they prosecuted anyone for making false health claims? And when (if ever) did they take a pro-active approach to regulation rather than relying on complaints?
For example, we see ads on our TV screen every night for a magnetic bracelet doohicky that will supposedly help fix your aches and pains and give your more energy and stuff. I find it hard to believe that no one working within government, either TGA, ACCC or and Fair trading authority, has seen the ad, yet the claims continue to be broadcast and the product to be sold. I can only assume, therefore, that the claims must be true and the product worth every dollar they charge for it.
So, if a magnet in a bracelet is a genuine medical device, who are we to question the similarly fantastical claims of the anti-vax lobby? Maybe homeopathy really is an alternative to vaccination, like the AVN say.
I don’t believe this is the case – but if govt authorities aren’t taking action against these very public claims, then maybe I’m wrong and maybe parents who follow the advice of the anti-science brigade are, in fact, making wise choices for their families. Because if it really was life-threatening nonsense, our elected officials would do something about it, wouldn’t they? Like they do with speeding and drink-driving and seat belts and helmets.
Or is it a question of respecting faith?
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The magnetic bracelet hype is as ridiculous as the amber bead necklaces/bracelets for teething babies and toddlers, although possibly not as dangerous.
Qld health has at least made a policy regarding these necklaces/bracelets and we are obliged to warn parents about them. Then, of course, I go to my chemist and see the wretched things displayed right next to the cash register.
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It’s one area where I do tend to agree with the anti-vaxxers. Many pharmacists are clearly in it for the money, not for the good of our health.
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Pharmacies are businesses, and the owners need to make a profit or the pharmacy will cease to exist.
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The profit motive doesn’t excuse them selling pretend medicine to gullible customers.
“Calling it your job, sure don’t make it right”.
If there’s a problem with the business model, then it needs to be addressed in an ethical manner. But, as I said above, I lay most blame at the door of the authorities who we should rightly expect to regulate medicinal products on the basis that they actually have medicinal properties.
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People think that the claims re. A lot of these ‘alternative’ treatments are legit because they’re in a chemist. They also forget that the people working in the chemist are sales people, not al of them are pharmacists, and give their advice more credibility than it often should have
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My wife is a doctor and had to witness a young kid die from tetanus a few years back. He lived in a remote region in another country where vaccination was uncommon.
It was a horrifying death. The uncontrollable spasms of advanced tetanus while a child is in the process of dying is not something anyone should ever see, especially when there is an extremely safe and effective vaccine readily available. There is no excuse. Period.
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I’m so sorry for this family and wish Alijah a speedy recovery. Also, it’s great to see the comments are pretty civil so far.
Just wanted to add that many selective vaccinators opt for the tetanus shot even if they decide against all others. It’s precisely because a healthy body often can’t fight tetanus the way it can handle other diseases like chicken pox and the flu, which are now on the US childhood vaccine schedule an proposed for other countries.
It’s not as black-and-white as All Vaccines vs No Vaccines and many parents go to great lengths to find medical professionals who support delayed vaccination schedules and/or single vaccines instead of multiple vaccines like the 5-in-1.
The sad reality is that there is a great scarcity of doctors who are willing to discuss vaccines beyond the pamphlets, even with those of us who are very open to vaccination and are simply asking the questions we would ask about any medical procedure. It’s easy to feel shunned for simply asking which brand of vaccine is used, and for a few minutes to go over the package inserts to understand the full implications of the info.
Unfortunately we are often left only with the internet and the countless hours spent deciphering the medical literature, reading the individual case studies on VAERS to decide for ourselves if they are vaccine-related incidents, and trying to sort the facts from the rhetoric (on both sides of the argument).
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Sadly very few people can actually interpret the package inserts – so just misconstrue the information in them anyway.
Even fewer understand that VAERS is a passive reporting system and that it cannot be used to decide if a reported reaction is vaccine related – regardless of how many hours are spent studying them.
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Nice story. Glad the young fella was ok in the end.
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For all of you lambasting the scientist dad on not apparently being a very good scientist, consider the fact that there are still trained scientists who do not believe in climate change.. or evolution!
That aside, tetanus is an awful, awful disease. That poor kid.
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“…consider the fact that there are still trained scientists who do not believe in climate change.. or evolution”
…and they too are lambasted for not apparently being very good scientists.
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I don’t have children, but I wouldn’t dream of not vaccinating my horses against tetanus. Seems I’m more concerned for my animals than some people are for their kids.
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While I think this is a brilliant story to run, I honestly don’t think anything changes the mind of anti-vaccers. In fact, they’d probably think this family was a big pharma plant. My mil used to work reception for a chiropractor. Apparently one of their clients have a kid with autism aged about 10. Despite none of the clients or staff knowing the child before he developed autism they all now believe that the booster vaccination this child received at 18 months caused his autism….
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Then they are seeing a very irresponsible chiropractor. I work with chiropractors who have been in practice for over 30 years and would never blame vaccinations for growth and development issues unless it was fully supported by scientific evidence. They do, however, believe in the delayed immunisation schedule, allowing a young immune system to strengthen for a little longer before bombarding it with new vaccines (as happens in other countries e.g. Japan). They never push this belief on anyone, only articulate it if asked their opinion. A responsible practitioner of any discipline would not let their personal opinions overshadow their healing work and put doubt in the minds of their clients.
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Unleess of course the baby dies because the vaccine was delayed – then the same chiropractors who are unable to actually provide any evidence for the value in leaving babies and children exposed by delaying the schedule will not be the ones living with the decision
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Hellburger – why do you think that the paediatricians, immunologists and public health specialists who create the vaccination schedule don’t know more than you, or the rest of us, about babies’ immune systems?
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“…chiropractors who have been in practice for over 30 years and would never blame vaccinations for growth and development issues unless it was fully supported by scientific evidence.”
“They do, however, believe in the delayed immunisation schedule,…”
What evidence are they relying on to demonise the standard vaccination schedule and what message does their recommendation send to parents who are already concerned about the safety of vaccines?
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Is it any coincidence though that the time when children maybe starting to show signs/ clues that something is not right i.e autism is about the same time as vaccinations are given.
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I assume you’re suggesting it is a coincidence, in the same way that boys start growing facial hair at about the same time as they get their driver’s licence.
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Hi Suzie, it’s also around an age where kids start walking and talking, so any “developmental challenges” are also more likely to present themselves. My son reached all his milestones on time, but didn’t show any signs of autism until some regression around age three. From meeting a lot of mums in this club, this is pretty common. Autism shows itself differently and at different life stages all the time.
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I think the chiro needs to see a doctor themselves, you cannot catch Autisum it is a genetic problem usually not caused by vacc’s or whatever! I have a son with a form of autisum and it was not caused by anything other than genes!
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And he’s a scientist????
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So sad for the child and family. I hope they all recover.
However, it’s interesting that the same parents who don’t believe the doctors who tell you to immunise your children, run to them immediately their non-immunisation stance falls to bits.
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Often thought the exact same thing myself.
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despite the poor outcome it is nice to see the family speak out and try and help others from making the same mistake. It is a powerful story and one people who have not vaccinated can relate to. Thank you Mr Williams
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Wow – notable silence from the anti-vax community! Props to this family for admitting they made an error, and for doing what they can now to repair it. I do wonder how do most anti-vaxxers justify their choices when this sort of thing happens?
Must admit, I was unaware how serious a tentanus infection could be. I just thought it caused lock-jaw. Glad I and mine are all vaxxed up.
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FYI anti vaxers… reading some other “hippy mothers blog on raising her children” is not research… perhaps run a Cochran Review and then maybe you can say you have done a little research…
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I’m glad to hear that Alijah is recovering. I find it interesting that his Dad is a scientist himself but he chose to disregard the scientific evidence and medical research in this case. That said, good on him for admitting that he made the wrong decision. That can’t have been easy but hopefully will make other parents think twice about their choice to not vaccinate.
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Interesting article. So far all the comments are in agreement. I bet by the time I log in this afternoon the shouty posts will have arrived with their overuse of exclamation points warning us sheeple not to be tricked by big pharma. Sigh.
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Don’t forget the CAPITAL LETTERS that 100% PROVE THEIR POINT!!!!!!
It’s 1.13am, and they still haven’t arrived. Weird…
And just as an aside, my goodness I hate the word ‘sheeple’ when used in these debates (by anti-vaccers, not you, REB). As though believing in anything whatsoever that is accepted by the mainstream population is somehow a disservice to critical thinking. I’m 100% in favour of questioning the status quo, but if you do that and arrive at the status quo’s conclusion, it doesn’t make you a bloody ‘sheeple’, it just means you agree with them on that particular topic.
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People have 100% SURVIVED falling from aeroplanes whilst not wearing parachutes. People have DIED when wearing paracuhutes!!!. People who insist on wearing parashutes when jumping from a plane ARE sheeple. Parachtes are made for profit and they have not been double blind crossover TESTED!! It’s a Big-Silk CONSPIRACY!!!
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I was immunised against whooping cough as a baby but contracted the disease when I was 16. I lived in the hippy capital of Australia, the far north coast of NSW and thanks to the higher level of whooping cough in that community I was exposed when my resistance was not complete. I was unbelievably sick for a month. The coughing spasms were so harsh on my fully grown body I cannot imagine how little babies go through this and survive. Many of course, do not make it. As a result of my experience, I support mandatory immunisations. Too many dumb people risk all of us.
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Same thing happened to me, but I was 26. I too cannot see a baby living through what I had. First hand experience gives a different perspective.
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You need to get booster shots for Whooping Cough.
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Babies don’t survive whooping cough.
Just wait until diptheria starts killing kids again. That too, is a hideous disease.
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It’s about time parents understand science does have its place in society. Yes it was your fault he almost died. Not only that you could have put other children at risk. How could you. I live in a VERY hippy area. The Far North Coast NSW and the hippies are very misinformed risking our children’s health. Wake up and get your children immunised. Otherwise keep them at home away from other chilren.
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How is it risking your childs health if that other child who is not vaccinated is not sick either???? I’ve not been able to understand how this works???
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Because children can get sick at any time, and in the case of many contagious diseases, the child is already past the most contagious point by the time identifiable symptoms show up e.g. measles – you’ve already stopped being contagious by the time you’ve got the rash. During the contagious phase, it just looks like a mild runny nose / cough. My 10 month old baby had measles (first immunisation shot is scheduled at 1 year old). It was not fun. And yes, she still got vaccinated 2 months later, as it had more than just the measles component.
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Ok, so what if a vaccinated child gets sick with one of these sicknesses and the parent takes them to the shops and playgrounds or playgroups and a child that is around children who are not vaccinated? you can still get sick weather you have vaccinations or not! I’m just saying it does go either way! I mean yeah it’s hard and heart breaking whenever your child gets sick with anything but some people dont care much about other people / kids getting sick just as long as they get done what they want to do, i know that i dont leave my house with my kids if they are sick, i get someone ( my mother or sisters) to come look after them so i can get shopping or medicines!
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Well, if we accept that it’s human nature to take sick kids out in public anyway, then vaccination is even more important so that there’s less contagious kids to start with.
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Well if people used their brain and common sense then they wouldn’t be dragging sick kids anywhere but keeping them home! Then no one would have troubles with sicknesses spreading!
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Misinformed by WHO exactly! most of these parents are “misinformed” by life experience! and if vaccines work how are the other children at risk! How COULD you lay judgement on these parents, ges two ways
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This is so timely… I have a friend on FB who is constantly linking to anti-vaxxing articles and information and it worries me. She is a raw vegan who claims changing to this lifestyle cured her dad’s cancer and believes that vaccinating causes all kinds of diseases. It worries me as she is a teacher and I’m sure she has students on her FB and i know she shares her life philosophies with her classes.
My daughter had quite a full-on reaction to her first lot of needles (we ended up in hospital with a huge fever) but there is NO WAY I would consider not giving her the rest!
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Mr Williams – a scientist
What scares me about this story is that a Scientist decided to go against science and not vacinate his children
Trust the science.
When even a scientist doesn’t trust the science and goes with his “hippy” belief system i.e. pseudo-science and pure speculation online and pushed by the anti-vaccination lobby society has got a real problem.
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Some scientist…
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My daughter was born when meningecocal was everywhere 8 years ago. When they brought out the vaccine for pnumecocal I didn’t think twice, even though it wasn’t on the free list. I was glad I was able to afford to pay for it, as I didn’t think I could live with my decision if I hadn’t vaccinated and something happened to her. They did an episode on the show ‘Private Practice’ about this.
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There should be many, many more stories like this. Laying the real disease out there for all to see. Because this is the turning point for many people to decide to vaccinate. This is when people realise WHY it is important.
I was scared to death of immunising my first born. So much fear in the community about it. But thankfully the fear of the disease was greater.
Thank you Mia and team for again highlighting this important issue.
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Like this one about Measles, from the UK?
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10180142.Family_hit_by_measles_urge_other_parents_to_protect_their_children/?ref=nt
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I had a discussion with my kids pediatrician when I was unsure about vaccinating. These are the kinds of stories he told me. Both my kids are fully immunized.
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This sad story might jolt parents come to their senses.. You don’t vaccinate , be prepared for horrific consequences.
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Many years ago my Father-in-Law told me that one of his horses got tetanus and it absolutely died a horrifying and terrifying death. And there was nothing anyone could do about it at the time.
I didn’t really know much about tetanus, but after hearing the story, I knew I would absolutely, without a shadow of doubt vaccinate my children against tetanus.
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Why didn’t they shoot the horse?
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They did.
They didn’t know why the horse was so ill, so the vet came out and diagnosed it. Then they shot it.
It was hard to shoot too, as it would not stop running around and screaming. It was terrible.
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A colleague of mine nursed a young man who got tetanus and he also died a horrifying death.
We need to remember that unlike smallpox, tetanus can never be eradicated because it lives in the soil.
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Forget about your own kids for a second and think of ALL the innocent babes etc who-due to your “superior” thinking may have succumbed to this and other infections as well.
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exactly my thoughts.
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To be clear, tetanus isn’t contagious.
That said, it’s almost certain that a family that decides against tetanus vaccination will also decide against vaccinating against contagious diseases.
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What happened to Alijah is awful, but I thank you Mamamia, for bringing it to our attention.
The fact is, immunisations work so well that we have forgotten how awful the illnesses are that they protect us and our children from.
These vaccines would not be available in Australia if they had not been rigorously tested and found to be safe. Yes there are risks, but the risks are greater if you don’t vaccinate.
The facts are the facts, vaccines save lives.
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As an immunisation nurse, it saddens me when parents have made a choice not to vaccinate, especially when they haven’t done complete research into complications. I can understand why parents may not want to vaccinate children against all the vaccines available to them, so long as they have been appropriately informed by a medical professional and not the Internet.
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I’m just wondering what sort of scientist the father is. Doesn’t seem as though he was able to evaluate the available research in any meaningful way.
I hope little Alijah makes a good recovery.
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The linked article says he’s a “food technologist with a science degree”.
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I’m a food technologist with a science degree! Seems he didn’t pay much attention in microbiology!
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Good on him for admitting he screwed up, though, hey?
I particularly like this: “When it came to my kid’s health, I let the hippy win. I should have let the science win.”
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Yep, I think it’s really great that he’s now advocating for vaccines. His story (while sad) is the kind of powerful story that will win over all of those people who are on the fence about vaccinating.
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Such a sad story. I try not to get too judgy judgeface about other people’s parenting decisions. But this one make my blood boil. Every parent that chooses not to vaccinate is compromising the herd immunity. Do what you want with your kids, but DO NOT PUT MY KIDS AT RISK.
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Haha, judgy judgeface
Love that!
(Also, totally with you on this parenting decision making your blood boil. Such a selfish choice that affects the rest of us.)
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If vaccines did what pro-vaxers believe they do, then there would be no fear of anti-vaxers. The kids with shots would be safe from any diseases that might be spread by the shot-less kids. If the shot-less kids contract measles or pertussis, their parents deal with the consequences.
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But the kids who aren’t vaccinated through the choice of their parents also put at risk those who aren’t vaccinated because either a) they cannot be vaccinated for genuine medical reasons or b) they haven’t yet been vaccinated because they are too young. Herd immunity increases the protection of those two groups who don’t have a choice as well as those who, despite being vaccinated, haven’t developed immunity (eg, I have had the chicken pox vaccine as an adult but it didn’t “take” and I could still catch it).
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Such an important story, thank you for publishing. I think it is so important our community is exposed to stories like this one when they are making the immunisation choice for their child.
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