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

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.

Well I am reluctant to post a reply considering the past attacks on Freerepublic on this subject. However as the father of a 17 year old Daughter, Lora with Autism and one of the Founders and past President of "ASCC" the Autism Society of Collin County Texas http://www.autism-ascc.org/
I can tell you I have met hundreds of parents, many who can show you before and after pictures of normal children who came down with Autism with in weeks of their child’s MMR vaccine shot. There actually has been several published clinical study’s showing the DNA of Live Measles virus only found in the MMR shot inflaming the intestines of the children with Autism. There are also strong indications of a link of the cumulative vaccine and mercury exposure as a trigger. The bottom line, is when my daughter was born in 1986 there were only 1 in 10,000 births with Autism, it is now around 1 in 150 births, a huge increase that can't be explained away as better diagnoses or hysterical parents.
By the way I am a Republican and Conservative and not an anti-company nut. This is a result of years of practices that all doctors and parents are told are good for society. It is about the same as what we found out about tobacco smoking, at the time everyone thought it was good.
The problem has been the total reluctance of medicine and science to objectively study this with an open mind instead of preconceived minds.
I see constant attacks against Bush and Conservatives for supporting Vaccines and this has turned all these parents and friends and family's of kids with Autism into one issue Democrat voters. I hope and pray none of you have to watch your precious child go through the hell of Autism, spend all your time in therapy, special education, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and the $30,000 a year in out of pocket cost for ABA and other methods to try and save your child like I and thousands of other parents go through every day. Regards,
Paul Watson

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.

The statement in bold contradicts the statement preceding it. Is thimerosil causing autism, or is it causing mercury poisoning that is misdiagnosed as autism?

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.

What the heck does this mean?
Are these actual autism cases, or mercury poisoning cases?
How long after the vaccine was administered?
What are the urinary mercury levels of non-autistic or non-mercury poisoned children who received thimerosil vaccines?
This article is a mess.

The only "evidence" linking MMR vaccine and autism was published in the British journal Lancet in 1998 [5]. An editorial published in the same issue, however, discussed concerns about the validity of the study [6]. Based on data from 12 patients, Dr. Andrew Wakefield (a British gastroenterologist) and colleagues speculated that MMR vaccine may have been the possible cause of bowel problems which led to a decreased absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients which resulted in developmental disorders like autism. No scientific analyses were reported, however, to substantiate the theory. Whether this series of 12 cases represent an unusual or unique clinical syndrome is difficult to judge without knowing the size of the patient population and time period over which the cases were identified. If there happened to be selective referral of patients with autism to the researchers' practice, for example, the reported case series may simply reflect such referral bias. Moreover, the theory that autism may be caused by poor absorption of nutrients due to bowel inflammation is senseless and is not supported by the clinical data. In at least 4 of the 12 cases, behavioral problems appeared before the onset of symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore, since publication of their original report in February of 1998, Wakefield and colleagues have published another study in which highly specific laboratory assays in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the posited mechanism for autism after MMR vaccination, were negative for measles virus [7,8].

Other recent investigations also do not support a causal association between MMR (or other measles-containing vaccines) and autism or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [9-13]. In one investigation, a Working Party on MMR Vaccine of the United Kingdom's Committee on Safety of Medicines (1999) was charged with the evaluation of several hundred reports, collected by a firm of lawyers, of autism, Crohn's disease, or similar disorders developing after receipt of MMR or MR vaccines. The Working Party conducted a systematic, standardized review of parental and physician information. Although acknowledging that it is impossible to prove or refute the suggested associations (because of variable data quality, biased selection of cases, and lack of a control group), the Working Party concluded that the information available "... did not support the suggested causal associations or give cause for concern about the safety of MMR or MR vaccines." [12] In March 2000, a Medical Research Council report concludes that between March 1998 and September 1999 no new evidence had suggested a causal link between MMR and autism or IBD [13]. The American Medical Association has reached the same conclusion.
Quackwatch - Misconceptions about Immunization
Misconception #9
Vaccines cause autism

LONDON — A leading medical journal said Saturday it should not have published a controversial 1998 study that claimed a link between childhood vaccinations and autism (search).

The editor of the Lancet, Dr. Richard Horton (search), said Dr. Andrew Wakefield and a team of British scientists who conducted the study on the triple measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine didn't reveal that they were being paid by a legal aid service looking into whether families could sue over the immunizations.

Horton called it a "fatal conflict of interest."

Wakefield's study suggested that the MMR vaccine could put children at risk of autism — a developmental disorder often arising in the first few years of life — and inflammatory bowel disease.

The paper has since been discredited on scientific grounds, but some parents have clung to the findings and health officials say that vaccinations have fallen dangerously low since its publication.

Allegations to be published in The Sunday Times say Wakefield and his team at the Royal Free Hospital (search) were being paid by the Legal Services Commission, a legal aid service which was considering whether families could sue over children believed damaged by the MMR injection.

"In my view, if we had known the conflict of interest Dr. Wakefield had in this work, I think that would have strongly affected the peer reviewers about the credibility of this work, and in my judgment it would have been rejected," Horton told the British Broadcasting Corp.

Wakefield defended his study in a statement to the editors of The Lancet.

"The clinical and pathological findings in these children stand as reported," he said. "My colleagues and I have acted at all times in the best medical interests of these children and will continue to do so."

The Legal Services Commission could not be reached for comment.

The allegations have led to calls for a public inquiry.

Health Secretary John Reid said the General Medical Council, the health industry's watchdog, plans to mount an investigation "as a matter of urgency."

Evan Harris, a lawmaker with the opposition Liberal Democrat party and a member of Parliament's science and technology committee, also called for an independent inquiry "given the importance attached to the work of the Royal Free Hospital group by the media in the MMR debate."
Study Linking Vaccine, Autism Shouldn't Have Been Published ("fatal conflict of interest.")
Fox News (FR link) | Saturday, February 21, 2004

Mercury Poisoning - Autism (top Mercury symptom, bottom Autism ---I don't know how to post a table)

Psychiatric
Mercury - Social deficits, shyness, social withdrawal
Autism - Social deficits, social withdrawal, shyness

Disturbances
M- Depression, mood swings; mask face
A- Depressive traits, mood swings; flat affect

M - Anxiety
A - Anxiety

Schizoid tendencies, OCD traits
Schizophrenic & OCD traits; repetitiveness

Lacks eye contact, hesitant to engage others
Lack of eye contact, avoids conversation

Irrational fears
Irrational fears

Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums
Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums

Impaired face recognition
Impaired face recognition

Speech,
Loss of speech, failure to develop speech
Delayed language, failure to develop speech

Language &
Dysarthria; articulation problems
Dysarthria; articulation problems

Hearing
Speech comprehension deficits
Speech comprehension deficits

Deficits
Verbalizing & word retrieval problems
Echolalia; word use & pragmatic errors

Sound sensitivity
Sound sensitivity

Hearing loss; deafness in very high doses
Mild to profound hearing loss

Poor performance on language IQ tests
Poor performance on verbal IQ tests

Sensory
Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities
Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities

Abnormalities
Sound sensitivity
Sound sensitivity

Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion
Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion

Vestibular abnormalities
Vestibular abnormalities

Motor Disorders
Involuntary jerking movements – arm flapping, ankle jerks, myoclonal jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking
Stereotyped movements - arm flapping, jumping, circling, spinning, rocking; myoclonal jerks; choreiform movements

Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; intention tremors
Poor eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; problems with intentional movements

Gait impairment; ataxia – from incoordination & clumsiness to inability to walk, stand, or sit; loss of motor control
Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking

Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Unusual postures; toe walking
Unusual postures; toe walking

Cognitive Impairments
Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - some cases reversible
Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - sometimes "recovered"

Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition
Poor concentration, attention, shifting attention

Uneven performance on IQ subtests
Uneven performance on IQ subtests

Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ
Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ

Poor short term, verbal, & auditory memory
Poor short term, auditory & verbal memory

Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, impairment in simple reaction time
Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, lower performance on timed tests

Difficulty carrying out complex commands
Difficulty carrying out multiple commands

Word-comprehension difficulties
Word-comprehension difficulties

Deficits in understanding abstract ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers
Deficits in abstract thinking & symbolism, understanding other’s mental states, sequencing, planning & organizing

(iv)

Unusual
Stereotyped sniffing (rats)
Stereotyped, repetitive behaviors

Behaviors
ADHD traits
ADHD traits

Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells
Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells

Sleep difficulties
Sleep difficulties

Eating disorders, feeding problems
Eating disorders, feeding problems

Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging
Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging

Visual
Poor eye contact, impaired visual fixation
Poor eye contact, problems in joint attention

Impairments
“Visual impairments,” blindness, near-sightedness, decreased visual acuity
“Visual impairments”; inaccurate/slow saccades; decreased rod functioning

Light sensitivity, photophobia
Over-sensitivity to light

Blurred or hazy vision
Blurred vision

Constricted visual fields
Not described

Physical Disturbances
Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypo-tonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing, salivating
Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypotonia; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing and swallowing

Rashes, dermatitis/dry skin, itching; burning
Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching

Autonomic disturbance: excessive sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate
Autonomic disturbance: unusual sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate

Gastro-intestinal
Gastroenteritis, diarrhea; abdominal pain, constipation, “colitis”
Diarrhea, constipation, gaseousness, abdominal discomfort, colitis

Disturbances
Anorexia, weight loss, nausea, poor appetite
Anorexia; feeding problems/vomiting

Lesions of ileum & colon; increased gut permeability
Leaky gut syndrome

Inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase IV, which cleaves casomorphin
Inadequate endopeptidase enzymes needed for breakdown of casein & gluten

Abnormal Biochemistry
Binds -SH groups; blocks sulfate transporter in intestines, kidneys
Low sulfate levels

Has special affinity for purines & pyrimidines
Purine & pyrimidine metabolism errors lead to autistic features

Reduces availability of glutathione, needed in neurons, cells & liver to detoxify heavy metals
Low levels of glutathione; decreased ability of liver to detoxify heavy metals

Causes significant reduction in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase
Abnormal glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes

Disrupts mitochondrial activities, especially in brain
Mitochondrial dysfunction, especially in brain

Immune Dysfunction
Sensitivity due to allergic or autoimmune reactions; sensitive individuals more likely to have allergies, asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, especially rheumatoid-like ones
More likely to have allergies and asthma; familial presence of autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis; IgA deficiencies

Can produce an immune response in CNS
On-going immune response in CNS

Causes brain/MBP autoantibodies
Brain/MBP autoantibodies present

Causes overproduction of Th2 subset; kills/inhibits lymphocytes, T-cells, and monocytes; decreases NK T-cell activity; induces or suppresses IFNg & IL-2
Skewed immune-cell subset in the Th2 direction; decreased responses to T-cell mitogens; reduced NK T-cell function; increased IFNg & IL-12

(v)

"Are these actual autism cases, or mercury poisoning cases?

How long after the vaccine was administered?

What are the urinary mercury levels of non-autistic or non-mercury poisoned children who received thimerosil vaccines?

This article is a mess.

There have been no double blind long term follow up studies of any of this to know for sure the causes.
We know all the kids that are born normal and then come down with regressive Autism do so at the same time as the MMR vaccine 18 months and most parents can tell you clinical indications of high fever, screaming in pain for days, ear aches, and a regression into Autism. Some of the kids do it after the Booster shots. We do no that no one has taken a thousand kids and done follow up studies to see which ones come down with Autism and which ones do not, there are no double blind studies and the government has refused to fund them so far because everyone knows vaccines are safe. There is a genetic portion to this; families with Autism often have a second Autism and or ADHD in one or more of the other kids. In Identical Twins over 50% of the Second twin has Autism but not all of them.
There are several over-lapping factors, a genetic-gene that makes you some-how more able to be damaged by Vaccines. Most of the children have an under-developed immune system that did not respond properly to the vaccine, often not producing any, or very lowered T-cells to the pathogen. Many of the kids have whats called an inflamed gut "Leaky Gut" causing a Gluten and Casein in-tolerance to Wheat and Dairy products that leaks un-digested proteins into the blood that attacks the CNS Central Nervous System causing the Autism. Some have elevated heavy metals including Mercury that seems to be from the Vaccines but could also be compounded by their own in-ability to remove heavy metals from Fish and other sources. These damage the CNS causing the Autism as well. All of this happens at a very young age causing permanent damage to the brain. We just don't know for sure they all are found in Autism cases.
Regards,
Paul

From the first link you posted, there is this little tidbit:

THE 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.

While the 'final chapter' has not been written on this subject, it would be handy at least to grasp what has been determined to be clearly harmful, what doesn't contain various compounds (like mercury) and what the 'bleeding edge' of medical research is currently, actively looking into ...

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