Against the Wind Newsletter-Blog

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​A physician’s firsthand account of hospital vaccine protocols, medical ethics, and the importance of informed inquiry in pediatric and inpatient care.

Dr. Paul Thomas and Suzanne Humphries, M.D. in conversation during With the Wind with Dr. Paul, discussing pediatric health, vaccine policy, and medical ethics.
​In this episode of With the Wind with Dr. Paul, Paul Thomas, M.D. is joined by Suzanne Humphries, M.D. for a detailed discussion on institutional medicine, vaccine policy, and how standardized protocols can override individualized clinical judgment.
​Dr. Humphries, a former hospital-based internist and nephrologist, explains how her questions about vaccination practices emerged not from ideology, but from years of direct clinical experience. As she recounts, her concerns developed gradually as she observed how policy-driven systems increasingly replaced physician discretion in inpatient care.
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Vaccine Zealotry + Don’t Fear Disease

​Suzanne Humphries, M.D. is a favorite of the health freedom community and has been for a long time. She remains an unwavering voice of truth — even when the powers that be try to shut her down. Her medical research and direct work with patients has provided her with invaluable knowledge and timeless wisdom. Today, join Dr. Humphries and host Paul Thomas, M.D. (retired) for another insightful installment of “Pediatric Perspectives.” Tune in!
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Dr. Paul Thomas (retired) - With the Wind with Dr. Paul Show 198 Pediatric Perspectives: Vaccine Zealotry: Don t Fear Disease with Suzanne Humphries, M.D.

Show Notes:

With the Wind with Dr. Paul – Show 198 Pediatric Perspectives: Vaccine Zealotry: Don’t Fear Disease with Suzanne Humphries, M.D.
Host: Dr. Paul Thomas
Guest: Suzanne Humphries, M.D.
Series: Pediatric Perspectives
Length: Approximately 45 minutes

Summary
In this episode of Pediatric Perspectives, Dr. Paul is joined by Suzanne Humphries, M.D. for a detailed discussion on how modern medical systems prioritize policy and protocol over individualized clinical judgment.
Dr. Humphries recounts her experiences in internal medicine and nephrology that led her to question hospital vaccination practices, standing orders, and the absence of informed consent in inpatient settings. She explains how these experiences ultimately pushed her out of mainstream medicine and into independent research and public education.
Drawing on the historical analysis behind Dissolving Illusions (https://dissolvingillusions.com/), the conversation explores the difference between disease incidence and mortality, the role of fear in public health messaging, and why questioning medical orthodoxy often comes at a professional cost. Dr. Paul adds parallel observations from pediatrics and newborn care, highlighting similar systemic pressures.

Key Points (with timestamps)
  • 01:45 — Dr. Humphries clarifies her medical training and board certification history
  • 03:50 — Why questioning vaccine practices became unavoidable in her clinical work
  • 07:00 — Corporate medicine, dialysis systems, and loss of physician autonomy
  • 10:30 — Early personal experiences that raised questions about vaccination
  • 12:20 — Observations of unvaccinated children and immune responses
  • 15:00 — Taking vaccine histories in adult inpatient care and what she found
  • 18:40 — Pharmacy-driven vaccination and hospital standing orders
  • 22:30 — Core findings from Dissolving Illusions: death rates vs. disease rates
  • 27:00 — Fear of disease and its impact on medical decision-making
  • 31:30 — Parallels between adult inpatient care and newborn vaccination practices
  • 36:00 — Responsibility, informed consent, and deciding for one’s own family

Verbatim Quote
“Because once you see a problem as big as the vaccination issue, then you start just asking a whole bunch of questions around that.”
— Suzanne Humphries, M.D.

Resources
Disclaimer
The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical decisions.
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Understanding Why Viral Illness Lasts Longer and When Antibiotics Are Actually Needed

Dr. Paul Thomas and DeeDee Hoover in conversation discussing pediatric health questions during a recorded episode of With the Wind with Dr. Paul, addressing why viral infections persist and when antibiotics are necessary for children.
Parents across the Kids First 4Ever community have been asking the same questions this winter: Why do colds and flus seem to last for weeks? Can my child catch another infection while recovering from one? And when my pediatrician offers antibiotics, is that really necessary?
​In this episode of With the Wind with Dr. Paul, DeeDee Hoover (J.A.M. — Just a Mom) steps into the host role to ask Dr. Paul the most frequently submitted parent questions from across multiple Kids First 4Ever platforms. The result is a practical, education-focused conversation that addresses the real concerns families are navigating right now—grounded in clinical experience and real-world observation.
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Understanding Why Viral Illness Lasts Longer and When Antibiotics Are Actually Needed

Doctor Paul answers viewers’ questions, today, on “Pediatric Perspectives,” including the following:
  • Why does it seem as if viral illnesses are lasting longer?
  • Can vaccines weaken the immune system, resulting in susceptibility to sickness?
  • Is my unvaccinated child able to get sick?
  • Should antibiotics be used to treat illness?
  • What is the difference between viral and bacterial infections?
  • When should I bring my child to the emergency room or a doctor?
  • How high is too high for a fever?
  • Where might my kid be more likely to catch a disease?
  • Will staying at home help our family avoid transmission of sickness?
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Dr. Paul Thomas (retired) - With the Wind with Dr. Paul Show 197: Pediatric Perspectives: Parent's Questions & Pediatrician's Answers with DeeDee Hoover

Show Notes:

With the Wind with Dr. Paul — Show 197: Pediatric Perspectives: Parent's Questions & Pediatrician's Answers with DeeDee Hoover 
Host:Dr. Paul Thomas
Co-Host & Question Moderator:DeeDee Hoover (J.A.M. — Just a Mom)
Co-author, Vax Facts
Series: Pediatric Perspectives
Length: Approximately 20 minutes

Summary
In this episode of With the Wind with Dr. Paul, DeeDee Hoover takes the lead as co-host, asking Dr. Paul the most frequently asked questions parents submit across multiple Kids First 4Ever platforms. This conversation addresses common pediatric health concerns currently affecting families, including prolonged viral illness, immune system function, and appropriate treatment decisions.
The discussion is grounded in clinical experience and real-world observations from families working with the Kids First 4Ever community. Throughout, Dr. Paul provides educational context, clinical perspective, and evidence-based information while maintaining focus on informed decision-making and parental understanding—rather than medical advice.

Key Points 
00:01:35 — Opening: Dr. Paul introduces the episode format and DeeDee's role in gathering and asking frequently submitted parent questions
00:02:32 — DeeDee clarifies that questions come from multiple Kids First 4Ever platforms and introduces the "Frequently Asked Questions of a Pediatrician" format
00:02:48 — First question: Why are colds, flus, and viruses lasting longer this winter?
00:03:16 — Dr. Paul explains the convergence of multiple infections (flu, RSV, pertussis, COVID, and common colds) occurring simultaneously at elevated frequency
00:03:36 — Discussion of RSV characteristics and duration; explanation that only about 10% of "flu-like" illness is actually influenza
00:04:03 — How stacking infections creates prolonged illness; pertussis can cause coughing for weeks or months
00:04:44 — Second question: Can weakened immune systems from current illness make children susceptible to catching additional infections?
00:05:10 — Dr. Paul addresses how immune focus (including from vaccines) can redirect immune capacity and increase vulnerability to other pathogens
00:05:35 — Data on cold frequency in vaccinated children (5-7 per winter) and cumulative duration when infections overlap
00:05:48 — Third question: Why are unvaccinated children also getting sick?
00:06:12 — Dr. Paul clarifies that unvaccinated children still encounter pathogens but generally experience fewer illness episodes and faster recovery
00:06:17 — Fourth question: Does prolonged illness mean children need antibiotics?
00:06:35 — Dr. Paul explains that most respiratory symptoms are viral and antibiotics do not treat viral infections
00:07:04 — Discussion of ineffectiveness of antivirals for most pediatric infections; limited use cases (e.g., acyclovir for herpes)
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Quote
"We are seeing a number of different infections happening all around the same time at much greater magnitude. About 10% of the cases of what looks like flu is actually flu. We're definitely seeing a lot of RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, and it can last a long time anyway."
— Dr. Paul Thomas

Resources & Links
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Author

Dr. Paul Thomas is an award-winning Dartmouth-trained pediatrician with nearly 30 years of experience in pediatrics. He is an expert on addiction and in Addiction Medicine. He is the co-author of the forthcoming book, The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul’s Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health—from Pregnancy through Your Child’s Teen Years (Ballantine 2016).
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