Posted on 04/12/2009 8:19:47 PM PDT by neverdem
A special vaccine court dismissed claims that the vaccine can cause the cognitive disorder.
The pitched debate regarding the purported link between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine -- a battle viewed on both sides as critical to shielding the defenseless from harm -- took the encouraging turn for which many physicians were hoping and landed in favor of protecting public health.
At issue was the consideration by a special vaccine court of test cases to determine if certain hypotheses of how vaccines could cause autism were legitimate and, therefore, warranted compensation to the affected parties through the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
On Feb. 12, a panel of U.S. Court of Federal Claims judges, known as special masters, released its findings. The special masters ruled that the vaccines were not to blame. In doing so, they lined up on the side of a massive amount of scientific evidence gathered by diverse and unrelated groups of investigators from all over the world -- including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Medicine -- that failed to find a connection between the vaccine and the disease. They also made clear the petitioners could not receive settlements through the VICP.
The vaccine court was right to reject the idea that the MMR vaccine, combined with the preservative thimerosal, caused the disabling autism that affects these children and their families.
Granted, the families confronting this reality every day are in a heart-wrenching situation. And their search for answers is acutely understandable. But science has long shown their arguments were misguided. The court's ruling will add momentum to efforts to redirect that search in a way that may lead to real progress in uncovering autism's causes, while not letting unfounded myths keep other children from receiving the proven protection from dreaded infectious diseases that vaccines provide.
That sentiment, at least, is the hope emanating from science, public health and organized medicine, including the American Medical Association. The AMA has long advocated the importance of childhood vaccination and worked to dismiss the flawed arguments that vaccines trigger autism. The AMA also urges that more research be done regarding the reported increase in incidence of autism, Asperger's and other pervasive developmental disorders and more training of physicians to enable them to identify these children and to assist families in accessing early intervention services.
It was from a mountain of research that the court's ruling flowed. A key element that makes the vaccine's court decisions so meaningful is the exhaustive nature of the proceedings -- tallying 5,000 pages of transcript and more than 700 pages of post-hearing briefs. The official record contains 939 medical articles, compared with the 10 articles cited in a typical vaccine case. In addition, 50 expert reports were filed, and 28 expert witnesses testified. By contrast, a typical vaccine case presents between two and six experts.
Thus, the court findings add significant weight to the already overwhelming body of evidence. It is important to note that physicians often recoil when judges make determinations about the practice of medicine. In this case, though, the court took on the task of determining causation based on evidence -- an inevitable question raised in light of the VICP -- and ruled with the strongest scientific backing.
This decision will not mark the last time the issue finds its way into a courtroom. The special court is still examining evidence regarding another causation theory that links autism with vaccines containing thimersol.
But many doctors in the trenches can view this development as a timely teaching tool -- and for good reason. It is one more authoritative voice helping to address credibly the tension parents feel about vaccination risks. After all, nearly 10 million doses of the MMR vaccine are distributed every year. At the same time, autism has become every parent's nightmare, and everyone hears the stories that fuel anxiety. But the court's decision, coupled with the scientific record, underscores the fact that vaccines continue to be one of public health's greatest accomplishments -- helping to protect against harm, not cause it.
The print version of this content appeared in the April 13, 2009 issue of American Medical News.
It would be nice if that were true, but it isn't. A quick google brings up several sources debunking the "Amish don't vaccinate and have no autism" myth. See here.
Thimerosal (sp?), the mercury containing preservative hasn't been used in more than 5 years in any vaccine.
"The special court is still examining evidence regarding another causation theory that links autism with vaccines containing thimersol."
It's spelled thimerosal. That's an FDA link.
It hasn't been given for at least a few years for pediatric vaccinations that are now supplied as single unit dose vials. Only annual influenza vaccinations supplied in multiple dose, aka multidose, vials uses thimerosal as a preservative, IIRC.
Coleus, did you have a link showing the various vaccines and all their ingredients?
Why would ANYBODY wanting to stop the epidemic then, do a “study” designed to exonerate a vaccination program? Shouldn't REAL scientists be trying to FIND THE FRIGGING CAUSE, instead of PROTECT THE VACCINE INDUSTRY?
I have had it with GOVERNMENT FUNDED PSEUDO-SCIENCE.
Thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 2001 and autism is still increasing so what will be the next scare?
I read something in the WSJ. I believe it hasn't been used in the production of vaccines since 2004. Certainly, there was some excess supply, but I don't think most Vaccines have a shelf-life past 12 months.
So it's definitely time to work on finding the cause, rather than keep blaming something that isn't the cause.
I don't think that the reason this study was done is to "exonerate" the vaccination industry. But, for the purposes of this discussion, let's stipulate that indeed the only reason was to validate the safety of modern day vaccines.
That is a great reason.
Vaccines are safe. Period. The real threat of increasingly un-vaccinated children is exponentially greater than the (to use your words) pseudo-scientific lynching of vaccines and their makers. Vaccines manufactured by "Big Pharma" that have all but completely eradicated real and dangerous disease that ravage parts of the undeveloped world.
In short, THANK GOD for the US vaccine industry the last 50 years. The benefit they've brought to the US and mankind is INCALCULABLE.
The Amish do vaccinate.
“It hasn’t been given for at least a few years for pediatric vaccinations that are now supplied as single unit dose vials. “
Not correct. It isn’t used in production of new vaccines, but there isn’t any law stopping old stocks which contain thimerosal from being administered.
Regardless, the aluminum adjuvant may be even worse than mercury.
“Vaccines are safe. Period.”
Show me the double blind studies with placebo.
They don’t exist.
Vaccines are an abomination. Thank God they are voluntary.
Had you taken your own advice you would know that it was ethyl mercury that formed the thimerosal in vaccines and that ethyl mercury is cleared from the body three times faster than methyl mercury.
Long term exposure to mercury is what accounts for its damaging effects and methyl mercury, mostly from industrial sources, is what most people are exposed to.
Education supports vaccination.
I can't show you "double-blind" studies showing the safety or the benefit of...
Defibrillators
Seat belts
Helmets
But, that doesn't mean they're not safe and it certainly doesn't mean that they're not great ideas.
As for your charge itself, there's not a drug regulatory agency in the world that has more stringent approval procedures that the FDA. That is a fact and is why so many people with terminal cancers and other diseases travel outside the US for otherwise experimental or unapproved or vetted procedures.
If a vaccine, or any drug for that matter, is approved for use in the US, IT HAS GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE double-blind trials.
Lifting the Veils of Autism, One by One by One
Study: Rare gene change linked to autism
They come with lot numbers and expiration dates. IIRC, you have to keep a separate log for vaccines in addition to a note in the patient's chart in NY including lot numbers and expiration dates.
Aluminum is ubiquitous in the environment.
marking
Everyone who has, or knows someone who has, an autistic child should check out a therapy called Quigong, which has been developed by a Salem, Or DR named Verma. Through a pilot program at Oregon Special ED, we got our autistic Son started at age 4. in a few days the difference was noted, and after a couple of weeks, the neighbors began to comment on the changes in him.
After the 5 mos of therapy, we continued alone with him for 2 more years until he decided he was “too big a boy” to continue. now, at 8 yo he gets lonely without his friends around and is a normal chatterbox, who notices when I say uhm hmm and asks if I am listening. the whole program is to get the kid’s attention turned back outwards from self. Dr Verm’s offfice is in Indepedence OR, google or you can talk to me at rontorr@hotmail.com, or call at 503-363-1769 (call between 7pm and7 am EDT ) Ron
oops I got the name of a DR wong in a post, it was Louisa Silva, not Verma
Autism has been increasing as has childhood allergic disease and type 1 diabetes.
So what does that say about the effectiveness of our safety testing approaches for chemicals and drugs as per prenatal, neonatal and juvenile risk? Seems obvious based on the data. No way we are getting the job done.
Drugs and chemicals are not routinely tested for risk of childhood allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases? Yet that is what has been increasing among children. We apply the highest technology imaginable for drug development, but our safety testing is archaic and has lagged need by about 30-40 years.
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