CDC Vaccine Data Leads Scientists to Shocking Discovery, Possible Vaccine/Mercury/Autism Link

Yahoo.biz ^ | 02.09.04

[Coleus]

CDC Vaccine Data Leads Scientists to Shocking Discovery
Monday February 9, 9:20 am ET

CHILDREN 27-TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP AUTISM WITH EXPOSURE TO MERCURY- CONTAINING VACCINES, FINDINGS REVIEWED AT TODAY'S IOM MEETING IN DC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Institute of Medicine will hold a one-day meeting to review important new research on the link between thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative in vaccines, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. One of the larger studies under review comes from the CDC's own Vaccine Safety Datalink. Under independent investigation, CDC's data concludes children are 27-times more likely to develop autism after exposure to three thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs), than those who receive thimerosal-free versions.

The findings are not only disturbing to government officials like U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-FL), who is also scheduled to speak before the IOM panel, they suggest autism via TCVs has a higher relative risk than that between lung cancer and smoking, which according to the American Cancer Society is only 22 for men and 11 for women. "This absolutely confirms what parents have been saying for years," says Jo Pike, President, National Autism Association. Like Pike, thousands of parents have reported sharp regressions in their children following a TCV and many of those children have gone on to receive a label of autism. An easy mistake to make since the symptoms of autism and mercury poisoning are almost identical.

Dr. Mark Geier is the lead investigator in the discovery. A medical doctor with a Ph.D. in genetics, he, along with fellow researcher, David Geier, will discuss their findings of the CDC data in front of an IOM panel. Among a host of other physicians and researchers presenting will be Dr. Jeff Bradstreet. He will discuss the results from his peer-reviewed study which concluded that urinary mercury concentrations were six times higher in children with autism vs. normal-age/vaccine-matched controls.

The presentations will begin at 8:00 AM at The National Academy of Sciences, Auditorium 2100 C Street NW. Dr. Mark Geier and David Geier are scheduled to present their findings at 12:15 PM. Weldon speaks at 8:00. Bradstreet at 4:00. For an agenda, go to: http://www.iom.edu/event.asp?id=17047. For information about the National Autism Association, go to www.nationalautism.org.

[Sabertooth]

I don't have a problem with folks wanting more flexibility with their vaccines, such as spreading out the MMRs, or getting their vaccines mercury-free. I'm also not sold on the Hep B vaccine, which is not a contagious childhood illness.

I do have a problem, though, with folks who won't get their kids vaccinated at all, yet rely on the herd immunity provided by vaccinated kids to diminish the apparent risk of being vaccine free.

If folks want to go that route, let them go all the way and send their kids to vaccine-free schools, where they are not protected by the risks other parents have taken to vaccinate their own kids.

[cupcakes]

Congats on your forthcoming baby. I am expecting #3 in May:-)
My second has autism and no matter what the armchair quarterbacks here without an autistic child thinks, I can find direct correlation to his downhill spiral after the vaccines. Needless to say we will be spacing out the shots and delaying them with this next baby, another boy. I think what some here don't get is once you deal with this, you have to consider every possibility and be very cautious how you go with any other children. You can't just be so cavalier about the vaccines not causing problems because there is at least some evidence that they may. I don't have the luxury to just put my head in the sand and pretend like that link doesn't exist because if it does I would be highly irresponsible to shrug it off and just go about like it was business as usual with my next child.

[Wurlitzer]

"Are those persons still claiming mercury is the cause just not paying attention (more likely I think) or is there still come mercury content in some vaccines (less likely I think)?"

According to this researcher, it will come out that mercury was NOT removed from all vaccines. The legal implication are significant for those products that did not have the mercury removed. Right now, without any more detailed information, I cannot see where this researcher has any axe to grind but we had discussed this for 3/4 years and he, like many others, was surprised that ALL the mercury had not been removed from all the vaccines.

The absolute truth is so hard to find today as people lie so much.

[Coleus]

I'm also not sold on the Hep B vaccine, which is not a contagious childhood illness>>

This one I really don't understand since Hep B is transmitted sexually and through needels, so why are they mandating it for kids entering kindergarten? Never made any sense, just more govt. interference and giving a tacit message to parents and kids that students don't have to worry about catching it if they have sex.

[I got the rope]

BTTT for later read

[cupcakes]

Somehow, I don't think even a concrete study on this will ever satisfy you. You have made your mind up.
And you count on it not ever being a satisfactory link because although parents can see a change soon after vaccines, they may not get a formal diagnosis for years after the potential trigger happened.
It is just dismaying that you don't seem to have an interest in discovering if there is a link. I would think that you would at least support parents being informed of the potential side effects of vaccinations, particularly those who may have a genetic predisposition for said side effects.

[cupcakes]

Marie,
I think there are primary and secondary things they look for in autism. If I remember right you have to meet most or all of the primary and at so many of the secondary to be considered. When my son was observed there was no doubt as to his diagnosis.

[_Jim]

Seeings how vaccines have got us to where we are today (virtually eliminating a whole host of diseases that used to run rampant through societies) - I don't see much in the way of an alternative to vaccination programs.

Having said that, this does not mean we have reached the end-goal in this procedure, however, and much work remains to be done to follow-up on some of these 'effects' that are being seen, experienced and reported by people and parents of children who see those effects.

We are still at the frontiers of this sort of science; we need to make use of our developing genetic knowledge to be able to 'predict' an individuals response to variuous vaccines and other medicines/drugs. And, as we make strides with science in this area - techniques and tests at some point will be developed ...

[Incorrigible]

Interesting

[cupcakes]

I really don't expect or even want damages. I lashed out a bit in that other post. I even was hesitant to send my son to the state funded preschool thing because we are that fiercely independent and consider mooching off the public problematic, however we have figured since we pay lots of state and property tax and the other child is in private school, we are probably only getting out what we put in at this point. I'm digressing, but at this point, I just want to know. I am carrying another child, a boy, and I guess part of my rantings is desperation to know if there is a link. Since I am not convinced one way or the other, we are spacing out his vaccinations and delaying them. It is so hard dealing with this one child with autism, I just can't fathom two. And if there is anything I can do to protect my next son, I will do it.
Thanks for listening to my rant Min. Don't forget to ping me if you see the Passion;-)

[SCalGal]

This one I really don't understand since Hep B is transmitted sexually and through needels, so why are they mandating it for kids entering kindergarten?

Because it can also be spread through contact with infected feces, and kindergarteners aren't usually too good about washing their hands after using the bathroom.

[George from New England]

"Vaccines do not have to be given so early in life, or lumped so closely together."

Did you ever think that lumping them close together PREVENTS parents or anyone from BEING ABLE TO PLACE BLAME on a single vaccine? How convienent!

[_Jim]

According to this researcher, it will come out that mercury was NOT removed from all vaccines.

Let's establish that either this 'researcher' you mention is in error - or that the following info found on the CDC's "Mercury and Vaccines (Thimerosal) FACT SHEET" is in error:

Mercury and Vaccines
(Thimerosal)

FACT SHEET

Key Messages

Thimerosal is a preservative which contains a type of mercury called ethylmercury. Thimerosal has been used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930's to help keep them safe by preventing bacterial contamination.

The level of mercury exposure from vaccines is low. There is no evidence to suggest that thimerosal in vaccines causes any health problems in children and adults other than minor reactions like swelling at the injection site.

In July 1999 the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that thimerosal be taken out of vaccines as a precautionary measure.

All routinely recommended licensed vaccines that are currently being manufactured for children in the U.S. (except influenza) contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts.

Influenza (flu) vaccine from some manufacturers still contains thimerosal.

Facts

Mercury is a metal that occurs naturally and is found everywhere in the environment. There are different types of mercury. Thimerosal contains approximately 49% ethylmercury.

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) have never contained thimerosal.

The Institutes of Medicine (IOM) thoroughly reviewed all studies of thimerosal and concluded that there is not enough evidence to determine whether or not neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and speech or language delay) can be caused by thimerosal exposure from childhood vaccines. A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) concluded that mercury levels in the blood of babies that received vaccines with thimerosal remained well below levels considered acceptable by the EPA. Furthermore, ethylmercury (thimerosal) seems to be removed from the body quickly through the gastrointestinal tract (stools).

Research examining relationships between thimerosal and neurological disorders (such as speech and language delay, tics, and ADHD) have not been conclusive. Studies to examine these issues are ongoing.

Granted, they do admit to 'no or trace amounts in routinely recommended licensed vaccines', but, THIS would still not explain any rising rates in autism and other effects (as others have pointed out earlier in this post).

[WVNan]

My heart goes out to you cupcakes. My question for the naysayers is, "why on earth would anyone even risk the possibility with their child?" That would be stupid. I've sent this post to my daughter-in-law who is expecting a baby in July.

[Sabertooth]

My question for the naysayers is, "why on earth would anyone even risk the possibility with their child?" That would be stupid. I've sent this post to my daughter-in-law who is expecting a baby in July.

So, would you recommend that your grandchild go to exclusively vaccine-free schools, where parents who opt not to vaccinate can expose their children to the full risks of their decisions?

[Sabertooth]

Because it can also be spread through contact with infected feces, and kindergarteners aren't usually too good about washing their hands after using the bathroom.

Transmission of Hep B through that vector is negligible, from everything I've read. It's simply not a communicable childhood disease on the order of measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, polio, etc.

[Eva]

My daughter had way more than half of the symptoms, but it's a little late now, she's 25.

[oceanview]

how old is your son now? how is he doing now?

i've also heard that many children with this also have a milk sensitivity, does anyone else have any experience with that?

[WVNan]

Get real Saber. You know I was talking about opting for the non-Thimerasol vacine and spaced out shots at an older age.

[Sabertooth]

Get real Saber. You know I was talking about opting for the non-Thimerasol vacine and spaced out shots at an older age.

I honestly didn't, so thanks for clearing it up.

I've seen so many anti-vaccine folks on these threads and have met so many otherwise reasonable people who have bought the whole anti-vaccine propaganda onslaught that I make no assumptions.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.