Thimerosal and autism: A cautionary tale
- Thimerosal (ethylmercury) was previously used as a stabilizing preservative agent in vaccines. (For more detailed information, see the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm)
- In 1999 it was wisely removed from almost all childhood vaccines in the U.S. as a "precautionary measure." Since no links with any neurological damage had been established, the National Academy of Science explained: "The effort to remove thimerosal from vaccines was a prudent measure in support of the public health goal to reduce the mercury exposure of infants and children as much as possible."
- That thimerosal might cause autism was a reasonable and "biologically plausible" hypothesis. Certainly mercury of any kind has the potential for toxicity to the nervous system, and kids were certainly getting many immunizations containing it. So, no one argued the need to study this potentially important issue.
Many studies now have been done. They are not rocket science: if thimerosal causes autism, then its removal from immunizations (1999 in the U.S, 1996 in Canada) should have led to a significant dip in autism. It has not, as this newest study demonstrates in a Canadian population of 27,749 children born between 1987 and 1998.
************************************
Now, what if you happen to be the parent of an autistic child and you decide to research the link on the internet (Google "thimerosal autism" and you'll get 362,000 hits)? Here are some of the things you will read (my comments in italics):
- "There are now hundreds of studies that have identified thimerosal as the culprit responsible for the autism epidemic." (This is demonstrably false. Plus, note the absolute certainty.)
- "Mark my words, this is going to be the biggest man-made medical catastrophe in the history of this country, and probably the world. If we don't find a cure, we're talking $$ trillions for life-time care." (Scare us to death, why don't you, on the basis of...?)
- "Think about that for a minute. The children who received thimerosal were 27 times more likely to develop autism than children who received no thimerosal. Coincidence? 27 times? I think not."(A common tactic: the study is never cited, so it can't be reviewed. Since no one else has ever found this, it's either a bogus or a non-existent study.)
- "'The Institute of Medicine joined the pharmaceutical industry to gin up four European studies to 'exonerate thimerosal' because some IOM panelists had 'financial bonds' to the vaccine industry." "Not only do government and industry officials seem to be trying to downplay the possible harms of thimerosal; the media is also denying the issue coverage. ABC has been accused of suppressing the interviews because of its ties to the pharmaceutical industry." (If you disagree, it must be because you are one of the bad guys. There is always a vast conspiracy afoot to suppress the truth [read: the view the writer is touting]. Note the vague "has been accused." By whom? On what basis?)
- "Thousands of families say they can demonstrate with videotapes and photos that their children were normal prior to being vaccinated, reacted badly to the vaccines, and became autistic shortly thereafter." (Note the certainty of cause-and-effect for what we now know to be a coincidence: kids get many vaccines at the same time the symptoms of autism typically emerge).
- "The pertussis vaccine (DPT) may cause 45,000 cases of autism per year in America, affecting 15 cases out of 10,000 vaccinations; also caused by the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) that causes mental impairment." (Great, scare me out of immunizing my kids with your spurious data.)
- And, inevitably: "If you have a loved one that has suffered the serious effects of thimerosal-containing vaccines we provide sound legal counsel. We encourage you to contact us regarding any questions you have so that we can inform you of your legal rights." (Need I even comment?)
*************************************
If thimerosal is pretty unlikely to cause autism - as current studies suggest - where does all this stuff come from? To help you become a more informed consumer of medical advice, note the tortuous logic and overblown rhetoric:
- If something can be true (e.g., the rise of immunizations and the rise of autism are cause-and-effect, and not a coincidence) it must be true, especially if it conforms to some pre-existing agenda (i.e., immunizations are bad).
- What starts as a guess soon morphs into absolute certainty ("thimerosal causes autism"), even in the absence of proof. But remember: extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.
- Studies of dubious merit are cited (if any are cited at all), the preponderance of evidence from superior studies is conveniently ignored or trivialized, and anecdotes provide all the evidence anyone should need.
- Ad hominem attacks (questioning one's motives and integrity, rather than the merits of the argument) abound. Those who disagree are doing so because it is in their own financial interest or there is "hidden agenda" (like what? world domination?) or just because they are inveterate evil-doers. (I recall one disgruntled parent telling me I didn't want a cure for autism because it would lower my income.)
- A vast conspiracy is invoked to explain how and why the truth has been silenced, usually due to the pernicious influence of the rich, evil manufacturers of immunizations. We are all either on the take or merely unsuspecting pawns in their game.
****************************************
The whole field of autism, tragically, is especially susceptible to this sort of distortion by bogus gurus. After all, we don't really don't know which environmental factors may trigger autism in genetically susceptible children. We don't really know what the optimal treatment is. But at least we are honest about it.
Parents are understandably desperate for answers, ready to do anything for their beloved child, no matter how far-fetched, how unproved, and how expensive. If honest professionals have neither all the answers nor the cure, why not follow some guru who is unshakably certain about all of this, and who purports to know how to cure your afflicted child? (For starters: the added heartache of dashed hopes, the expense, the negative side-effects of unproved treatments, the time away from effective treatments, avoiding immunizations and getting sick...)
The good news? There is a ton of exciting and important research being done on autism. I'm optimistic that in the next decade we will have many of these answers, based on good science. So keep your wits about you when the next guru cries "Eureka!" and, as you watch this story unfold, work to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Don't miss it. It's going to be very exciting!
******************************************
Article cited:
Pervasive Developmental Disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Prevalence and Links With Immunizations
Fombonne E, et al. Pediatrics, July 2006, pp. e139-e150 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/1/e139
Related Topics: WebMD Video: Junk DNA: Cause of Shyness, Autism?, Daydream Brain Activity: Autism Clue?
Technorati Tags: thimerosol, autism, MMR, DPT, vaccine, immunization
39 Comments:
At what point can we stop calling this a "controversy"?
Is the "flat-earth/round-earth" thing still a controversy?
best,
Flea
First, it must be recognized that thimerosal, although not generally used as a "preservative," is still used in the manufacturing process, resulting in "trace" amounts remaining in various quantities. Also, thimerosal is still used as a preservative in many, if not most, flu vaccines which are highly recommended for administration to pregnant women and young children. There is no denying that the exposure to thimerosal has been greatly diminished, but it has not disappeared altogether.
As a recent study by researchers at U.C. Davis demonstrates, thimerosal has a negative impact on dendritic cells, harming the recipient's immune system. It has been hypothesized that an individual whose immune system has been thus harmed may be more susceptible to further environmental insult that may be linked to the triggering of autism.
Finally, it is worth noting that thimerosal's reduction in most vaccines has coincided with an increase in the use of aluminum. Although I know of no published studies yet bearing on the impact of aluminum one way or the other, I understand that this is a question that we shall see more of in the future. If aluminum has an impact that is similar to mercury, the numbers would remain largely unchanged.
I certainly recognize there are a lot of "ifs" to the hypotheses linking thimerosal -- or vaccines in general -- to the triggering of autism. But for every epidemiological or statistical study published that appears to refute a connection (including the neutral Verstraeten study that many incorrectly cite as refutation), we see biological studies that appear to fit the hypothesis nicely.
And that, flea, is why there is still a controversy. "Diagnostic substitution" cannot completely explain a 6000% rise in the rate of ASD. Something happened to our children. Until we see a definitive answer come over the horizon of our very round earth, those who have an interest in finding the right interventions -- a question that depends upon determining the etiology of autism in a given individual -- shall continue to look into all plausible possibilities, including the possible involvement of mercury.
Controversy: disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated.
"flat-earth/round-earth" is no longer a controversy but there are still a great many "Young Earth Creationists" so the whether the world is six thousand or six billion years old remains a controversy despite the overwhelming scientific opinion on one side.
The same holds true for Thimerosal. It does not matter that the overwhelming scientific evidence is that it is not connected with autism if a great many people refuse to believe the science.
Wade: I believe that in places where the vaccination rate has fallen (irrespective of whether Thimerosal is in the vaccines) the autism rate has continued to rise. This would indicate no connection to vaccines.
In fact the most recent study (the one cited above) notes that while MMR vaccination rates were dropping the autism rate was steadily climbing.
I feel this fixation on vaccines as a cause for autism serves only distract attention from finding real causes and treatments. While we're arguing about what should be a done deal the autism rate continues to climb.
I was fortunate enough about two years ago to meet a woman who was fighting hard to eliminate the use of thimerosal in vaccines. Her son was diagnosed with autism a few months after receiving the flu vaccine which contained thimerosal. That started her crusade. It made me ultra cautious and I talked to my pediatrician on each visit to ensure thimerosal was not in any of the vaccines my son was receiving. Upon his last visit, I learned from the nurse that they are no longer "allowed" to purchase vaccines that contain thimerosal. I'm wondering if it's just a California thing?
As for the other potentially harmful ingredients in these vaccines, it's exhausting to even think about. I wish the people who manufactured/tested/approved these drugs were half as cautious as some of us :)
Jen
www.naturalskincaresite.com
All I know is that my grandson seemed perfectly fine until he received the MMR vaccination. I don't believe anyone is any closer to finding a cause/cure for autism then they were 20 years ago. All reports consist of mainly speculation. When is America going to get serious about finding a cure?
Dr Parker..........do the math.....add up the increased amount of mercury that the CDC mandated we pump into our children's developing brains during the 1990's, look at the rising cases of Autism concurrent with that increased exposure over that same timeframe and then keep a straight-face as you tell us again that mercury is our friend.....For those interested, examine this presentation made to the Institute of Medicine that examines the science and reaches the conclusion that combined with genetically-succeptible children, increased mercury exposure is a prime suspect in the outrageous increase of documentable autism cases since the late 1990's.
Check it out at:
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/pdf/IOM-Bradstreet.pdf
I'm just a dad, but after 5 years of struggle and triumph, I'm as convinced of the connection between the enhanced vaccine schedule advocated by the medical authorities in the 1990's and concurrent increased exposure to mercury of the developing human brain and the rising rates of Austism as I am anything on the face of the earth.
The problem with the USDA is money talks and BS walks. Since a USDA employee can moonlite for a drug company, who can you trust??????
Welcome to my world, Steve
All I know about the 1950's is what I read about it, because I wasn't around yet. But I can just hear today's skeptics about the relationship to pumping mercury into our kids in record amounts in the 1990's via increased mandated vaccines to increased rates of autism spectrum disorders saying, in 1958 before the surgeon general realized that lung cancer wasn't a naturally occuring phenomenon "There are no credible double-blind, peer-reviewed studies yet that prove cigarettes are harmful. Smoke 'em if you've got 'em......These guys who are espousing the dangers of smoking are probably suing tobacco companies, so we shouldn't believe them"
It's time to turn in your liscense Steve! You are not a physician you are one of the drones, it's not worth my time to educate you.
You are never gonna make me believe that vaccinations aren't the main cause of autism! My son was fine until he received his MMR vaccination. The gov't needs to start taking this epidemic seriously!
Wade wrote:
And that, flea, is why there is still a controversy. "Diagnostic substitution" cannot completely explain a 6000% rise in the rate of ASD. Something happened to our children.
If this is what Wade believes, that does explain his views.
For one, the 6000% rise in ASD prevalence is incorrect, and is a number that likely comes from Generation Rescue (and has been repeated all over the place).
The first whole-population epidemiological study of autism by Lotter in the 1960s found a prevalence of 4.5 in 10,000. Today the prevalence of ASD is thought to be 60 in 10,000. So that's a factor of 13.3. For some dramatism, let's call it 1333% !!
Second, Lotter's study was on Kanner autism, which had a very narrow definition as interpreted by Lotter.
The 60 in 10,000 number is for ASD, which includes DSM-IV Autistic Disorder, PDD-NOS and Asperger's syndrome. The prevalence of Autistic Disorder is generally thought to be around 20 in 10,000. So maybe one could claim an increase of 4.44 (444%) if you believe that Kanner's criteria and DSM-IV autistic disorder are the same thing, subjectivity and all.
Finally, Wade claims that "diagnostic substitution" is the only competing theory. That's not correct. While increasing recognition of autism in the population with mental retardation and others is a real and significant phenomenon, there's increasing recognition outside of these populations as well. I've posted some pretty clear evidence of broadening understanding of autism in California.
The really great thing about the 6000% !!!! number that Generation Rescue uses, or used, is that it's totally fabricated!!!!! Excuse the hyperbolic exclamation points.
A few days after "Generation Rescue" paid for the full page ad in USA Today, proclaiming the "heinous conspiracy" that Wade is flogging here, apparently, A-CHAMP (an apparently mercury litigation driven special interest political action group) sent out a press release saying that there had been 1500% increase, and Generation Rescue's name was on that press release as a supporter, as I remember. It should be noted, that this is a rather small group of parents who are so obsessed on this idea. The real active ones probably number 50 people, the "movers ad shakers" are probably 20 people, half of whom are psycho anti-vaxers who will tell you privately that they want no more vaccines anywhere, but publicly say they only want mercury free vaccines, or only want "safe vaccines," which in their fevered brains means "NO vaccines."
Wade appears to be a wannabe mover and shaker. Go for it Wade. The rats are starting to abandon the your stinking sinking thimerosal-causes-autism ship.
SAFEMINDS is distancing itself from the Geiers. Notice that? I did. The Geiers are a joke. Notice that? I did. Bradstreet, too. Get your kid exorcised yet? The only reason Bradstreet stopped recommending exorcism was because of external pressure from DAN!
Another "urban myth" that Wade is parroting is the "... thimerosal, although not generally used as a 'preservative,' is still used in the manufacturing process..." canard. Does Wade have any independent data supporting this statement? How much is used, and in which steps?
And just exactly how "trace" does something have to get before it isn't a significant threat? After all, if thimerosal wasn't a problem until the 1980's, then we can assume that the amounts in use prior to that time do not cause autism, right? In that case, what does it matter if "tace amounts" are still present in vaccines?
This constant moving of the goalposts in order to perserve a dying hypothesis is amusing, but ultimately tragic. Parents of autistic children deserve some straight talk from the people who sold them bill of goods on how thimerosal was "the" (or even "a") cause of autism.
Prometheus
Wade Rankin wrote-
"As a recent study by researchers at U.C. Davis demonstrates, thimerosal has a negative impact on dendritic cells, harming the recipient's immune system."
Wade Rankin's comment, corrected for accuracy of fact-
As a recent study by researchers at U.C. Davis demonstrates, thimerosal has an impact on specific dendritic cells in vitro taken from a specific strain of mice, but notes that "DCs rely on intracellular redox state and calcium (Ca2+) signals for proper development and function, but the relationship between these two signaling systems is unclear." This study makes no demonstration about the human immune system or autism.
"Wade appears to be a wannabe mover and shaker."
Always nice to hear from you, Camille. Actually, I am not a "wannabe" anything in this area. The last thing I wanted was to have a personal interest in what caused my son to regress into autism.
And an argument that the increase is only 1500% rather than 6000% hardly convinces me to believe there is not some environmental factor involved. The impact of exposure to heavy metals or other toxins in vaccines on a young child's immune system, and the relationship between an insult too that immune system and the triggering of clinical indications of autism, is an appropriate area for study. Why is everyone so intent on closing that door now that a little light is coming through?
And an argument that the increase is only 1500% rather than 6000% hardly convinces me to believe there is not some environmental factor involved.
Looks like I must clarify further. The 13.3 factor is incorrect as well. It assumes that the prevalence found by Lotter in the 1960s was for ASD. It was not. You could claim that there has been an increase by a factor of 4.4 between Kanner autism and DSM-IV autistic disorder. It's fine if you claim that. However, it's not all clear that this claim has any significance whatsoever. Any claim that an "epidemic" has occurred is clearly dubious and weak, once you understand the facts.
I am a parent who has made sure that my child has had all of his shots. When I weigh the risks of could happen if I don't to what may happen if I do, it wasn't a hard choice. There is studies that continue to show that it is a far safer bet to vaccinate than not too and thats what I am going with. What it boils down too is I want my child healthy and alive, not on his deathbed with a disease I could have prevented with a shot. And if he would have ended up with autisim because of routine shots, I would remind myself that I am blessed because I still have my child every day to enjoy.
Dear anonymous 9:33pm whose grandson seemed fine before receiving the MMR shot....
I just have to share with you that my ADHD son broke out into a horrible rash the day after receiving the MMR shot.
He was also taking a penicillin-based antibiotic at the time of the shot.
Was it the antibiotic or the shot? That was a true dilemma for us at the time, until the next time he took the same penicillin-based antibiotic and broke out in a horrible rash again.
It turns out that he's allergic to penicillin. Always has been. It was mere coincidence that he happened to break out in a rash at the same time he received his MMR immunization.
On the other hand, he could be blind, dead or infertile if he hadn't had the immunization and that would be directly linked to NOT being immunized.
It's so tempting to blame ADHD, Autism and other disorders in kids on something, but really, there's no basis to do it. The fact that your grandson showed signs of autism at the same time that he received his shot isn't all that surprising, given the connection between age-specific behavior and development and the timing of the immunization.
You really have the best focus at the end of your post, where you ask when there will be a cure....
In looking back at my family history I can clearly identify two cousins who were probably autistic. So the best hope for treating and/or identifying the cause and cure lies in mapping the human gene. At least, that's where I see the most possibility.
Best to you and your grandson,
DnW
Wade Rankin: "Why is everyone so intent on closing that door now that a little light is coming through?
What light is that Wade? That some kids with autism have atypical immune responses? That there may be an immune component to some cases of autism?
Your attempts to link immunity with thimerosal are based on nothing more than the common word 'immune' and the equivalent of trying to crash through any door that opens more than a sliver.
So who is intent on closing which doors?
One more time:
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/pdf/IOM-Bradstreet.pdf
Spend 45 minutes reading this presentation made to The Institutes of Medicine and then try again telling me that there is no connection between increased rates of ASD's and mercury in vaccines in genetically succeptible children. Save the argument about whether it's a 13% or a 6000% rise, save the invective about neanderthral parents not vaccinating their kids. Take 45 minutes of your time.......read this.......then post and tell the board that you are CERTAIN that there is no link between the significant increase in the number of thimerosal containing vaccines and the increased rates of ASD's since the mid-1990's.
Please everyone who is posting that the thimerosal stuff is bunk.........spend 45 minutes.
Thanks......
Let's take some of this energy and use it towards those who have ASD. We can't change what has happened already, so let's help those who are affected.
Potato/Potatoe.
Tomato/Tomatoe.
Be a crusader, be a voice...but remember the children who are in the middle of these battles.
Has anyone tried modifying the childrens diets? Gluten free? Dairy free?
Just a question...
The problem lies not just with thimerosal. Now, this is my theory, and I am not a doctor, but a parent who reads study after study online until I am asleep on my keyboard each night, trying to find some difinitive answers. I truly feel (and we have studies to support such theories) that thimerosal, in large doses, may alter the communication in an immature immune system.
I also feel that, in some individuals with immune disorders, given too many live viruses at once, can cause a virus to overreplicate, and damage the brain. We do know that children who suffer from Primary Immunodefeciency are contraindicated for vaccination with live viruses.
I say this, because my family shares a trait, "idiopathic leukocytosis". I have been hospitalized dozens of times for infections. I once had 4 hernias develop from infection after a cystecomy.
3 weeks after my daughter received the MMR, Varivax, Prevnar, and Acthib, she suffered from a high fever, convulsions, and a strange rash. Then she starting teeth grinding, and spinning. Soon came the GI problems. Guess what, they found mvp in her gut and csf. For most, vaccines are great, for some, they can be devastating. My daughter did not have thimerosal in a single vaccine, she didn’t need to, her immune system was already abnormal. She was dx with autism last October, and I am saddenned at the state of our nation with regards to this epidemic.
I actually I don’t believe my daughter was ever nuero-typical and am unsure if the MMR could have changed her hard wiring, but I do know that the MMR has made a terrible mess of her GI function. And the leaky gut certainly causes alot of pain, which since she cannot talk, is extremely frustrating, and causes horrible tantruming. Jade could possibly have been autistic from birth, as brain scans of people with Aspergers disorder and Autism are strikingly similar. But, perhaps my daughter was destined to function at a much higher level.
On the date of the MMR, my daughter had always been between the 40- 50th percentile for her height, and 70th for her weight, she is now at the 30th for her weight, and below the 3rd in height.. It is terrifying watching your 2 year old lose weight, and all but stop growing.
I do not fault you for your lack of knowledge concerning autism. Most doctors do not receive this information unless they diligently search online for it, as the NIH spends very little on autism, in fact, only .3% of their budget last year. If any doctor today is committed to his/her oath, and truly wants to help heal these children, they will spend the time independently and impartially to research this disease, as this is the only way to begin to understand.
I am a 1st Gulf War Vet UK,with gulf war syndrome just like 2000.000 other UK and USA Troops
I suffer from Anthrax - thimerosal (ethyl mercury) posining, if you took all all my symtoms over the last 16 years and put them togther for just one day I would be rushed to hospital for ethyl mercury posining, and also told I was suffering from autism - do you think their might be a LINK ?
Why won't the authorities resolve this once and for all. These are human lives that we are experimenting with.
I'm so tired of the mud-slinging. It really exhausts me to read it. I'm not trying to come across as a hippy asking everyone to join hands and sing "Kum-ba-ya" or anything like that, but c'mon...show some respect, no matter which side you're coming from. We're all entitled to our opinions, and these kids--my kid--need our help. To the point of ending the controversy, though, here's my suggestion, or my wish, I suppose, if that term sits better with some: I wish that a panel of experts from both sides of the fence would get together and do a study (it could probably even be a fairly inexpensive secondary data analysis) of children born between, say, 1984 and 2004, breaking the children into two groups--those who were fully vaccinated (based on the schedule at the time) and those not vaccinated at all (leaving out the in-betweens for ease of comparison). The only task left at that point would be to assess the percentage of children from each group who went on to be diagnosed with an ASD (or met whatever diagnostic criteria the panel agreed upon). Having experts from both viewpoints participate would greatly increase the chances that proponents from both sides would accept the results of the study. Does anyone know if a study like this has already taken place, with the only true variable being whether a child was vaccinated? If the results were at all equivocal, I guess you could throw back in the children who fell somewhere in between fully and not-at-all vaccinated and see their percentages of diagnosis based on a sliding scale, of sorts, depending on the number and/or types of vaccines they received, though I doubt that level of analysis would be necessary. Just my two (respectfully submitted) cents.
Does anyone know everything that is in a vac. They make this stuff with god knows what in it. How do we know what effects this stuff will have on our kids. There are people in this world who can die from allergys to foods, ie. nuts, so is it so hard to beleive that this man made crap could be harming kids!
So, what about all the other harmful ingredients in vaccines? such as formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide etc. Why can't I find medical opinions on these?
I am a mother of a four year old autistic boy. My son attends a school with autistic children. I find it odd that ALL of these children are always sick (and were frequently sick before attending school), have tons of allergies and even have common skin conditions like ecsema. I am not a doctor but I truly feel that autistic children have very low immune systems and whether their symptoms of autism showed before or after the MMR vaccine, their tiny bodies can not possibly handle so many vaccines being pumped into them with such low immune systems. A child is not allowed to be vaccinated when they are visibly sick because it is not safe so why is it okay to vaccinate these kids when their immune systems are low all the time?? My son doesn't have to be sick seven days a week to be considered one with a low immune system. It just makes him catch sickness more easily. I am not saying not to vaccinate but why so quickly and why so much at once? More thought need to be put into this vaccination process. Some doctors give four shots at one time???? The chicken pox vaccine??? What is the purpose? As children, we all had chicken pox but somehow now it is mandatory to have this shot added to the infinite number of vaccines.There are so many chemicals put into these shots and then injected into our children with poor immune systems. Something needs to be done.
I'm wondering that If thimerosal was truly safe why did they even bother to take it out? I'm not believing that public opinion was the motivating factor. Has there ever been independant studies done on the effects of thimerosal? Who paid for them? The implications are enormous if thimerosal is the culprit. It would cost $$$trillions of dollars in damages alone. This factor is the one that has the drug companies and the government covering that up. Maybe I'm wrong but I sure haven't gotten any clear answers from anything I've read that wasn't biased.
Kat Dan, here is a link to a study done, though not by both sides of the issue.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/296504/new_survey_shows_autism_rate_higher.html
It seems questionable that the CDC has not done a study like this. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
As a father of an 8 year-old Autistic son I try to read and keep an open mind about all this gvt. study stuff. Then ya hear about a bill in legislature that has an amendment attached to it that would grant "immunity" to drug manufacturers if in fact anything is even proven as a link between Thimersol and Autism. Is that possible? Can our elected politicians write such amendments into routine bills and get it signed into law?
Then I read the paper today an article by AP Sicence Writer Alicia Chang.......and it says,
" A mercury-based preservative once used in many caccines does not raise the risk of neurological problems in children, concludes a large federal study that researchers say should reassure parents about the safety of shots their kids received a decade or more ago. However, the study did not examine autism- the developmental disorder that some critics blame on vaccines."
Have I missed something here? Isnt that what they are supposed to me doing? I just get fed up with the hype that the powerful special interst groups, politicians, and everyone with a financial interest in this can point the evidence in what ever direction they want........ For the sake of my son, your son, and any special needs child that needs help, lets just find a reason and a way to prevent this in the future. We can't change what has happened, we can undo the behaviors, but what we can do is hope that this problem becomes a thing of the past..... Thanks for the soap box.......
It seems that we need to consider the complete list of whats in a particular vaccine. We know that mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, and other possible contents are harmful. So is bypassing the immune defense system and going straight into the body. This in itself must cause shock and confusion to the immune system. Also, there is a lot of evidence on the web that vaccinations are all bogus and always harmful. IMO, we all are the subjects of an elaborate scam masquerading as science. Also Google "terrain vs germ theory" for more info.
I am a mother of a three year old and a almost two month old and I am terrified to get him vaccinated. I don't want to be the cause of anything if he did develope autism from these vaccines. but if I don't get him vaccinated and he gets some deadly virus i will feel horrible too. honestly i am a parent that doesn't know what to do, what is best for my son? Who can I trust to give me the true answer? Does anybody know the best route to go???? Help!!!!!
To anonymous above:
This is the problem with all of this shrill hoo-ha from the anti-vaxers. Read Dr. P's post again. Note carefully -- there is NO Thimerosol in vaccines anymore. NONE, zero.
Also, no scientific link can be proven between vaccines and autism.
On the other hand, whooping cough (diptheria) is on the rise like crazy. It can kill babies. So can measles, which also blinds and kills kids. Given a choice I'll take vaccines over those horrid diseases. I had the mumps, measles and whooping cough as a kid...was lucky to survive my first three years. None of my children (three healthy, happy adults and/or teens) had anything beyond a day's difficulty with vaccines.
But of course, logic doesn't seem to matter much to people who just want to see a link where none exists...don't be fooled by it.
To the above anonymous poster....you think there's NO thimerosal in vaccines? Try again, sweetie. Do your research...it IS still there. http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t3
To the anonymous poster above, perhaps you would like to read the article you posted first. While the table your link points to is a table of practically ALL vaccines some of which do indeed contain thimerosal. (An interesting list that includes Antrax, Smallpox and Yellow Fever Vaccines.) You should have read the section about childhood vaccines and with the exception of some influenza vaccines, they have all phased out of using thimerosal.
If you are in California, Article 9 of Section 124172 of the Health and Safety Code, forbids all but trace amounts of mercury (.5 microgram/ .5 ml dose) in vaccines administered to pregnant women and children under the age of 3. The only exception is that during a bioterrorism or public health emergency this section can be suspended.
Please check this site for some relevent eye openers.
This is a paper titled "Why most published research findings are false" from a peer reviewed open access online journal called PLoS. It is published by Public Library of Science.
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124
Vaccines play a role I am sure of it. My son was hospitalized after a series of shots includng the MMR. He developed sympotms shortly after he recovered from the severe reaction.There should not be a one size fits all vaccine schedule. You can separate them and do them one at a time as well as postpone many until your child's immune system has a chance to mature. Also never get shots to a child that is already sick...even a little bit!! yes you can still get your child into school, you can use a religious exeption and they have to take you.
Post a Comment