Autism and Vaccines: Is the Case Closed?

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a) Check out the actual studies. No study has ever been done (not even once) comparing the outcomes for vaccinated vs unvaccinated children. If you actually look at all the research you will see major issues in how they tested the hypothesis as to whether or not vaccines were causing autism. For instance, one huge issue is that they only test ONE vaccine at a time. They have not test whether or not a combination of vaccines has an adverse affect. So when they say "all these studies show no link..." that's pretty misleading unless you LOOK at the studies. Then you see that them saying there's no link "according to numerous studies" is meaningless.
b) In the 1970's we gave kids about 10 shots before kindergarten. Now we give them 36. yes... we went from 10 to 36. With NO TESTING of the impacts of adding that many shots overall. In "all that testing" we tested each vaccine individually, but never as a group. Yes, there's a problem with that. That's like testing the affect of ONE beer on a person and concluding it's OK to drink and drive since ONE beer doesn't impact your driving ability.
c) Many many doctors are vaccine wary, especially the ones who have taken the time to seriously examine the research. Not all doctors have the time or take the time to do this. It's not just "crazy conspiracy folks" who think vaccines need better testing and research. I personally know three doctors - two OB GYN's and one pediatrician who do not follow the CDC vaccine schedule for their own kids because of exactly the reasons I explained above. They might do one or two shots for specific diseases, but they don't follow the whole schedule. You would be surprised to find out just how many doctors don't follow the CDC when it comes to *their own* children.

Ingrid of NY 11:05AM January 31, 2010

I have a five year old son with Autism. Like so many, he appeared perfectly normal until after he received the MMR immunization. I, too blamed this on immunization. I was quite angry! However, four years after this occurrence, I gave birth to twin boys. I opted out of the immunization regime. Both were diagnosed with Autism at 3 years old. To all the parents out their blindly following this myth, please explain!!!

Sarah Smith-Blyth of WA 3:54PM January 29, 2010

When your child radically changes post vaccinations and you find the studies claiming their are safe are all rife with conflict and your child was injected with dozens of toxins only then will you have a point.

Karen Beauvais of GA 1:38AM January 01, 2010

Do you people not want to understand autism? Do you want the knowledge base on autism to remain static? Do you want research on autism to stop?
Clearly, the vast, vast majority of comments here are from people who are not scientists. If you WERE scientists, you would understand that the process works like this: 1. Have question. 2. Formulate hypothesis. 3. Test hypothesis. 4. Determine if results support or disprove hypothesis.
The hypothesis linking autism to vaccines has been tested many, many times. There simply is no connection. And as long as our research dollars are spent chasing this dead end, they will not be spent pursuing the real causes.
I do not understand why people would want to divert money away from real research that might provide real insight to pursue what is obviously a dead end. WHY???
I also fail to understand the conspiracy crowd. Yeah, doctors, pediatricians and scientists, all of the most educated and most respected members of our society, just don't want to see the truth. Right. All those smart people, they just don't know what they're talking about!
If you're really interested in understanding autism - its root causes and prevention strategies - then move on. Get behind real research. That's where the answer lies.

Brian of CA 3:01PM October 05, 2009

Thank you for exactly proving my point: the only issue left is the psychology behind why people choose to believe things that are obviously not true?
You made a number of different, and contradictory statements about suing vaccine manufacturers/administrators.
So here is where you started. Karen Beauvais wrote:
"What other industry is fully indemnified, government mandated and allowed to bypass FDA safety guidelines."
You then kindly provided the definition of indemnified:
"2. A legal exemption from liability for damages."
So you were completely clear in your initial claim: the vaccine industry has full legal exemption from liability for damages. This was your explicit claim.
Similar claims are found throughout the vaccines cause autism crowd and it is simply not true.
I have provided you with a court decision--and there are others--now you know the truth is that vaccine companies have been sued.
So instead of attacking me stand up and admit you were wrong.
Further, if you can bother to read the link, you will see that the court ridicule your sides arguments.
This is for good reason. It clear that the courts don't like your side making up data, statistics, or previous court rulings.
The courts are suggesting that your sides scientists are liars.
No wonder your side pretends that these decisions don't exist--could anyone read them and honestly believe that vaccines cause autism?
Instead we get from you all the standard misinformation.
No FDA safety guidelines were bypassed, this error has been corrected countless times already.
1:150 diagnosed with autism is still wrong--try looking it up for yourself.
Look up the definition of a vaccine--there are still only 11 that kids get.
Hep B is also often contracted by non-sexual means. There is something like 30 years of testing US infants--they keep on contracting it. Once again, simply try verifying your sides claims.
By mercury poisoning, you mean the folks that took your lifesaving told you he had mercury poisoning.
The false testing using to deceive parents is a matter of public record. Try looking it up. You also might be interested to learn that many, many similar kids have been independently tested--so far 0% have actually had mercury poisoning.
So, did you want to tell us how much you paid?
Should we keep going, or will you simply refuse to verify anything that your side claims and substitute personal attacks for reason?
The fact is that your sides physicians, scientists, and lawyers are all having their competency and their integrity questioned and are all at risk of getting their money trains cut off.
You are the one that suggested following the money.
Sorry if your side has been so shameful that you now regret the suggestion. But all the families impacted by autism deserve the truth.

White&Nerdy of MD 10:05PM July 29, 2009

You should have followed my advise: try reading the actually decisions for yourself before commenting on them.
Here is a link to the Banks case:
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/bailey-banks-his-father-kenneth-banks-v-secretary-health-and-human-services-020738v
In the first two pages the court explains how this case is not autism.
I don't know how the court could have been any clearly--they walk right through the diagnosis and explain in detail how it is not autism.
You will notice that your side has systematically misstated the explicit facts of the decision. Interestingly, your side also doesn't provide the link so that people may read the decision for themselves.
Since I have now proven that there have been US lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers, I trust that you will correct the false claim that these suits are prohibited by law.
I also expect that you will promptly start posting the decisions on both Age of Autism and Adventures in Autism--otherwise you play into the hands of those that wish to paint your side as willfully dishonest.
Free advise: please rethink your articles on Dr. Emond's paper and the one claiming that the first Swine Flu vaccine will not be safety tested. In each case you have utterly failed to understand the basic facts of each story. The unintended consequence of these two articles is that they are simply making your side out as a joke.
You haven't addressed the rather important issue of autism starting around day 20-post conception. Of course the entire scientific/medical/legal system has rejected the arguments that vaccines cause autism.
The only ones being absurd with respect to Gergerding's statements are your side--who don't seem to understand the diagnosis of autism. Obviously lots of kids have some of the symptoms of autism--but that is very different from having autism. It boggles the mind how there could still be honest confusion on this very simple issue.

White&Nerdy of MD 9:13PM July 29, 2009

My daughter had the Gardasil vaccination. I asked my pediatrician if it had been on the market long ... she replied yes ... several years. I found out later it had only been released here in the states for 6 mos. After my daughter developed pneumonia, migraines, hair loss, dehydration, etc. I was at my wits end. After researching, I realized her symptoms ALSO began after her 2nd Gardasil shot. I have since found out that several lots had extra yeast in them. I am one of the lucky ones whose daughter survived this vaccine. Many others (over 40 to date) have not been so lucky. I always believed that doctors knew best and that the FDA was looking out for the welfare of the American people. Sadly, my views have changed 180 degrees. I will keep spreading the word to others about Gardasil and other vaccines using metals ... as many have mentioned above, it is not only the vaccine, but environmental factors that can send these girls over the edge.
The fact that the FDA sent a warning letter to Merck with regards to several lot numbers of the Gardasil vaccine and still these lots were never recalled sends up red flags to me. There is too much money involved. Too many of our politicians are swayed (sometimes unknowingly but oftentimes knowingly) The temptations are great. But it is columns like this that help all Americans learn. Thank you.

R. Boyce of NC 4:40PM July 29, 2009

I work for a pediatrician who is taking in children with autism to help their families work on their medical problems such as fungal and bacterial overgrowths, food sensitivities, malabsorption issues, the list goes on. We take in 3 new families/children a week in a small town. what would be going on in the media if 3 kids a week in small town USA was coming in with measles, blindness, swine flu, HepB, you name it? it would be MAYHEM! instead, the medical community and most media outlets ignore this absolutely tragic and avoidable issue of children damaged by overvaccination leading to medical symptoms we call "autism." thank you for looking into this issue with new eyes. hundreds of thousands of parents cannot be wrong about their children.

Kim of WY 4:45PM July 27, 2009

Everyone here is talking about cases from when there was Mercury in childhood vaccines. However, since the Mercury has been removed, the rates for Autism are getting higher. I know Autism activists blame the vaccines and Mercury, but with no Mercury, how can that be?? I think we may find more of a genetic predisposition to Autsim that hastens its development due to a combination of food preservatives, environmental factors and quite possibly a viral condition that causes Autism to flourish. It can't all be Mercury with Mercury no longer in childhood vaccines. So there has to be some other link, right? I know people are always looking for someone to blame, but could it be possible the blame rests with their own bodies and genetic makeup? Otherwise, how do we explain famlies that have two or more children with Autism and none have received vaccines? I have a friend just in that situation, two youngest boys born with Autism. She took no meds while pregnant and did not vaccinate, so there has to be something else factoring in.

PJ of CA 2:03PM July 27, 2009

For those who can't identify it in VICP law and choose to insult rather than wage intelligent rebuttal.
in·dem·ni·ty (ĭn-dĕm'nĭ-tē) pronunciation
1. Security against damage, loss, or injury.
2. A legal exemption from liability for damages.
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-660) created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP was established to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines, stabilize vaccine costs, and establish and maintain an accessible and efficient forum for individuals found to be injured by certain vaccines. The VICP is a no-fault alternative to the traditional tort system for resolving vaccine injury claims that provides compensation to people found to be injured by certain vaccines. The U. S. Court of Federal Claims decides who will be paid.
Parents, skate at your own risk when you vaccinate.
If your child's vaccine fails your only recourse is the VICP court not a jury.
Only after you are discharged from the lengthy process can you file a private lawsuit.
Did your pediatrician disclose this information to you? He should have.

Karen Beauvais of GA 2:40AM July 26, 2009