Is vaccination safe or a possible autism vector?
Vaccination has always been the subject of criticism and fear, and understandably so. The process of vaccination involves introducing a small dose of an infectious agent in order to protect individuals from harmful exposure to that same infection. This introduces the small risk that the infection may somehow mutate into a harmful version, giving the vaccinated person the precise disease against which they were supposed to be protected. In addition, the production and preservation of vaccines generally involves other substances being added, which may produce side-effects. Concerns are periodically raised about such side-effects, for example linking the oral polio vaccine with HIV, or various other vaccines with autism.…
Article comments
26 - Liz Parker
Here is my visceral reaction to the original post...I hope that you have the absolutely all-consuming opportunity to raise a child like my own, who was neurologically perfect, at birth. Vaccinate away!!!
27 - MM
As Thimerisol has been pretty much removed from most childhood vaccines - between '99 and '02 - one would expect to start seeing a significant reduction in diagnoses right about now. I believe there are studies exploring precisely that.
See table 1 at:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm
28 - Steve
Everyone better hope it is indeed the thimerosal because else it is the vaccines themselves. There is no controvesy that vaccines cause autism, only those obsfucating the issue in an attempt to avoid the obvious. It is very paiful to admit these mistakes were made but suck it up and deal with it before there are more trajedies.
29 - Aaman
Careful - this thread could violate the Patriot Act :)
30 - mom2mmpt
Excellent blog. I am a mother of 4, including 2 boys with high-functioning autism (Asperger's Syndrome). The anti-immunization community has yet to explain why some children who received identical immunizations that their siblings received did not "catch" autism? I won't dispute that mercury poisoning can cause autism-like behaviors, but the bulk of the research out there supports a genetic link to autism, rather than chemical. Both of my boys were born with larger than normal heads (one characteristic of asd's). My oldest son had severe sensory issues before he even received his first shot and left the hospital. Our family histories show a significant genetic link to our sons' autism. I think many other families could, too, if they really wanted to think about it. If we want to find a cure for autism, or at least a better means of treating it, then we need to let the scientists do their job, instead of trying to get the government involved. Talk about counter-productive.
31 - Robyn Pearson
everyone is failing to realize no matter what the cause of autism and other sensory or neurological disorders... the main goal should be educating parents and pediatricians to see the signs of the disorder and also getting these children the help and therapy that they need -- fighting over the cause and coming up w/ half truth based theories is not doing anything productive to the children and their parents who are already fighting to get the help they need... fighting w/ insurance companies to get therapy covered and fighting w/ schools to get qualified teachers to actually handle these children correctly... keeping the government from cutting the budgets from the early intervention programs designed to get children help at the earliest possible time... I believe that therapy is 200% effective... as my son showed signs of autism on the lower spectrum at 18 months but w/ early intervention has now overcome many of his problems and his diagnosis is sensory integration dysfunction and apraxia...
32 - Bennett
mom2mmpt - No one is saying that autism isn't caused by genetic faults. Only that adding to the number of cases of autism or autism-like disorders, through the misuse of mercury in vaccines, is completely unacceptable.
I don't see how you can think that addressing the use of mercury as a vaccine preservative interferes with "letting the scientists do their job".
Frankly, the Rolling Stone article by JFK Jr. shows that "government" is already way too involved in keeping scientists from doing their job. One important aspect of "their job" is to advise drug companies when a chemical compound is creating a problem, rather than solving one.
Anecdotal or not, mercury seems to be causing serious, irreparable problems.
33 - vax, 9000
> mom2mmpt said:
> ...but the bulk of the research out there supports a genetic link to autism...
The mercury theory does not deny the genetic factor. On the other hand, the mercury theory says he who could not expel mercury out of his body, due to generic reason, is affected.
>... we need to let the scientists do their job, instead of trying to get the government involved...
The government had already involved when it said no money will be granted to thimerosal-autism link research.
vax, 9000
34 - Diamond Dave
Autism is 60 to 70 % genetic. If one identical twin has autism there is a 70% chance that the other twin will have autism. And this increases to 97% if the full autism spectrum is included.
Also, Asperger's Syndrome (mild autism) only became an official diagnosable entity in 1994, and it was then that the autism spectrum was widened to include milder and more common variants, this gives the illusion of an actual increase, of about 300%.
In fact, I have Asperger's Syndrome. I was not diagnosed until I was 29 years old and I found it a great relief. So I�m included in the so called �autism epidemic�. The fact that I'm here writing this response, eloquently demonstrates that the understanding of autism changed, not autism numbers.
Finally I hear that Robert Kennedy Jr. is into Saint Francis of Assisi (Maybe its his Aspie hobby). Saint Francis of Assisi had a compatriot called Brother Juniper, who's innocent and naive escapades were typical of a person with autism. This was 800 years ago, well before mercury vaccines.
35 - vax, 9000
>Diamond Dave said:
>Autism is 60 to 70 % genetic...
It might be 100% genetic. But it does exlude the theory that autism is caused by mecury to those genetically ready people.
>The fact that I'm here writing this response, eloquently demonstrates that the understanding of autism changed, not autism numbers.
How do you know "not autism numbers"? How do you exclude the possibility that the autism nubers changed as well?
> This was 800 years ago, well before mercury vaccines.
Thimerosal is only one of many ways that mercury can get into human body. Ever heard of 'mad hatter'?
vax, 9000
36 - vax, 9000
Sorry I mean "But it does NOT exlude the theory that autism is caused by mecury to those genetically ready people"
37 - KC
"The anti-immunization community has yet to explain why some children who received identical immunizations that their siblings received did not "catch" autism?"mommpt
I'm sorry, but please I want to make this plain. While some groups who are anti-immunization have latched on to the mercury guestion---most people who are asking for research are NOT anti-vaccine. Instead they are asking reasonable questions about the harm mercury can or may have caused. The damage done by heavy metals can vary depending on dose, age, and health at the time of exposure. (This is one of the reasons more unbiased research is needed.)
While strong emotions are natural in a debate of this kind, this painting the other side with one brush isn't helpful.
It's important because someone unfamiliar with all the information may make the very mistake we all fear they will out of confusion.
The author mentioned on this comment board "I just don't think hysteria, paranoia or hate are valuable contributions to the discussion." This is the only way to go in this debate, and that needs to be remembered by both sides.
38 - DrPat
Hey, folks, I love to see links in your comments - but PLEASE make them LINKS, especially those frikkin' long ones!
Try this post if you don't know how to code an URL into a link...
39 - Joanie
One thing to consider regarding the increase in autism diagnosis, is that physicians have become better at recognizing symptoms earlier. It should also be noted that many children who were once considered "different", but not autistic...now fall into the autistic category. Refined diagnostic critera have helped differentiate what was previously a gray area.
Like everything in medicine, there's always a period of time when you see a sharp increase in cases (of any diagnosis/disease) due to improved testing methods.
The timing is perfect on this subject. I just went through this with a few people who'd read that report. The majority of vaccines are mercury-free and there are often other options available when it comes to immunizations.
Having worked with a large population of unvaccinated children and adults, I'm all too familiar with the aftermath. I fight hard to ensure everyone gets the required shots. I've watched children hover between life and death because they weren't immunized and contracted these illnesses. Many of them had immigrated here from countries that don't require vaccination or went without vaccination because their parents believed all the "live natural" propaganda out there. It's the hardest part of nursing - watching someone succumb to something that could have been prevented. The cost is just too high.
It's difficult to determine who will have an adverse reaction to any of the components in vaccines or any other medication, including herbal preparations. In many instances, you simply do not have the time to check. With autism, we don't KNOW with 100% certainty the cause. Are there more factors involved? That's part of the science. That's why there are ongoing studies.
To not immunize a child because of a fear of autism is, in my experience, a far greater risk to that child.
With America, especially large cities (but not excluding other areas), attracting the most immigrants, the odds for anyone contracting a disease we normally don't see (due to immunization) increase. It happens, I've seen it, I've spent many shifts in isolation rooms with very ill patients. I've had parents come to me in tears, wishing they'd listened to the doctors and had their children vaccinated.
The benefits outweigh the risks.
That said, I'd love to see the manufacturers of all medications, including vaccines, refine their formulas. Finding alternatives to current preservatives can only improve health globally. Companies do this. It's an ongoing process. Example: we've found alternatives to porcine-based formulas and reached a population that was opposed to medications for that reason alone. One problem solved. It takes time.
In the meantime, it's important that we protect our children, and ourselves, from unnecessary illness that can cause life-altering complications or even death.
One group's refusal to vaccinate children puts us all at risk.
40 - Paul Roy
Great piece Claudine. It makes you feel kind of helpless if you have kids who are getting these vaccines. Money and greed has certainly been placed above public safety before.
41 - Bennett
Great points Joanie, Thanks!
My wife and I would be willing to shell out an extra $100 per vaccination at least to have any future children receive vaccinations from single dose vials, rather than have to deal with the preservatives required to ensure the safety of the larger "multiple dose" vials of medicine.
We recognize that the smaller package costs the manufacturer more, and are willing to pay the difference!
42 - Holly
If you want to know how autistic kids do when the mercury is removed, go to this site:
http://www.generationrescue.org/testimonials.php
there are many stories of recovery from autism.
Yes, KIDS ARE BEING CURED OF AUTISM.
And while your at it look around. generationrescue.org was created by parents who are beholden only to the truth and helping their kids. There is so much great information on how we can help our little ones with diet changes (my autistic son came out of a fog with some fundamental diet changes) and nutritional supplementation (because autistic people have a lot of immune and digestive problems, they need nutrients that they don't get in their usually very limited diet).
The debates will rage, but whatever you beleive, know this: if your child were diagnosed with autism and you knew that s/he had been exposed to mercury (from vaccines, amalgam "silver" fillings, fish, etc.), you would want to get the known neurotoxin out of his or her body. Our children have been poisoned--this is an emergency--we must act accordingly.
We will be starting chelation therapy (to remove the heavy metals)in a few weeks under the supervision of a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) trained M.D. I am hoping for a miracle, but I know that autism or no autism, in the end my son will be better off without the mercury and his immune and digestive health restored. I pray that the neurological damage is reparable as well.
This isn't about politics. Kennedy may sound like the liberal left to you, but for the conservatives out there, Dan Burton (R-IN) is the gadfly on the right. That's just the point. This isn't about politics.
This is about science, so consider this: Science tells us that mercury is poison (check out the CDC site on mercury--they clearly state it's some of the nastiest stuff on earth, with the exception of the links that talk about vaccines, that is). Medicine has ways to treat it.
Soon, I hope, the science will catch up with the debate and all the kids who can benefit from chelation will get the health care they need. The reality is, my son can't wait for the debates.
Would you wait around to see what happens in Washington and Atlanta? Of course not, you would help your child.
I hope I'm not repeating anyone--I only had time to skim the comments. I'm very busy taking care of my autistic son and my preschooler....
43 - Claudine Chionh
One last comment from me before I embark on a weekend that will mostly be spent away from computers. (In fact, as I live in Australia, I have only just got up to see that you all have been busy while I was asleep.)
I considered adding an explanation of my personal background to the article, and I suppose I should have done so. I am not a health professional nor a scientist, and do not claim to represent those professions. Neither am I a parent. I have studied epidemiology but in my graduate studies I am more interested in the social context of health. My aim in this article was to try to get a grip on the current debate on vaccines and its historical context, and clearly I still have a lot to learn.
I'm sorry if I have upset anybody with what I now realise is a simplistic treatment of a complex debate. I'm also grateful for the many pointers to further information which should be useful for all of us.
44 - Bennett
Thank you Claudine for bringing this subject to BC. I applaud your writing skills, and your grace under fire.
Please keep posting, I look forward to reading whatever you come up with next.
Cheers!
Bennett
45 - Margaret Romao Toigo
Claudine, there are two issues at work here, but they are often -- either out of simple misunderstanding or for the purpose of politics and profits -- fused together, which is the cause of some of the confusion.
There is the general question of whether or not to vaccinate, which is based upon fear of the diseases in the vaccines as well as any additives or preservatives. Vaccination is also a matter of religious and other non-scientific beliefs.
And then there is the question of whether or not the thimerosal in vaccines causes neurological disorders like autism in which people who are anti-thimerosal are accused of being anti-vaccination.
If a connection between thimerosal in vaccines and autism can be proven, there is going to be a huge lawsuit as caring for an autistic child can be very expensive. If our children were made autistic by the thimerosal in vaccines, then the manufacturers of those vaccines must be held responsible for the damages and expenses they created.
Those manufacturers that could become targets of such a lawsuit have more than sufficient motivation to call the study of a connection between thimerosal and autism a conspiracy theory and to confuse parents who are afraid of thimerosal with those folks who are generally anti-vaccination.
46 - brian deer
The main problem with this piece is your statement that MMR vaccine contains mercury. MMR, as a live product, has never incorporated thimerosal as a preservative. The idea that it has - a means of linking the British MMR scare with the US thimerosal litigation - is merely another of the sleight-of-hands that have become tragically commonplace.
47 - DrPat
This correction has already been made (Comments 15, 21, 22 and 24) and acknowledged, brian.
Partaking of something reputedly or proven damaging with what should be wholesome ("mad cow" beef, GMO corn chips, eColi-laced apple juice, Paraquat-sprayed pot) is a particular horror. I think this issue taps into that well of revulsion.
48 - JAL
I am a special education teacher who works with children with Autism and PPD-NOS disorder. My parents are searching for answers, as we all are, for the cause of Autism. Woking with families of children with Autism has brought me to the conclusion that even though there may be some environmental causes the main cause may be genetic. Mercury poisoning can not be the only reason for this disability and education may be our only cure at this time.
49 - Nana
All I know is I have TWO out of THREE grandchildren with Aspbergers syndrome and there is NO HISTORY of it in our families whatsoever. I am a geneologist and I have traced our family histories back to th 1500s in some cases. Nothing shows up anywhere. So two plus two must equal four...I'm not stupid! Why would my healthy son and daughter have sons with this disease without ANY history of it in our family or their spouse families????? There is something wront somewhere and I will not stop until I find out what it is. I don't want any more of my grandchildren's lives destroyed because of the negligence of the people we put our trust in.