I understand why there has been such a concerted effort to convince people that autism is not connected to vaccinations. Vaccinations save lives. Just Google “polio” sometime and consider how much life has been improved through vaccines. And if parents think that getting their children vaccinated is going to give them autism, they might forego vaccines because they fear they’re too risky. Yet not getting vaccinated would actually open them up to greater risk.
So I get it. But there’s just one problem. There is a link between autism and vaccines. And the sooner the medical community comes clean about it and reduces that risk, the better off everyone will be. The Department of Health and Human Services has conceded the link in a document filed in a Federal Claims Court. You can read a verbatim copy here. The concession comes under the “Analysis” section and states:
In sum, DVIC [Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation, Department of Health and Human Services] has concluded that the facts of this case meet the statutory criteria for demonstrating that the vaccinations CHILD [name redacted for privacy] received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder, which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of autism spectrum disorder. Therefore, respondent recommends that compensation be awarded to petitioners in accordance with 42 U.S.C. ยง 300aa-11(c)(1)(C)(ii).
There must be a way to be honest about these findings without scaring everyone into eschewing vaccinations. And there must be a way to reduce the risks — for example, maybe there’s a test that can be done to check for conditions that could be aggravated by the vaccination before the shot is administered. One thing that’s definitely not going help is pretending there is no link and stonewalling the public.
Hat tip: “The Mouse”
There are plenty of mercury free vaccinations available, if I recall the health department even offers them. What we found is that you have to ask your doctor’s office ahead of time. If they don’t do it, ask around.
There is no reason in the world not to have kids vaccinated.
Julia, it isn’t that simple. Vaccinated for what? when? who? If they came up with a vaccine for hangnails, would you give it to a toddler? People have to take a look at what they are giving, when, and to whom. None of these vaccines are 100% safe and effective. None of them. Most of them, given at the right time, have a minimal risk and are effective for most people. But just giving every kid every vaccine that comes down the pike is just as stupid as not giving any.
So, a court decided to compensate someone because of a claim made by lawyers.
Not the same thing as proof. Sorry.
Billy, your description is inaccurate. The statement right before the one I quoted in my post was,
Catch that? Medical personnel (not lawyers) made the determination — they conceded that there was a link, and that’s the basis of the compensation. They could have decided to settle without admitting fault. They didn’t do that.
C.J.
This child had an exceedingly rare mitochondrial encephalopathy. Mitochondrial encephalopathies are progressive diseases … they, by their nature, get worse over time. Those that affect the central nervous system result in developmental regression that could be accelerated by any event that increases oxidative metabolism. Who is to say that CHILD would not have gone one to have autistic features without any stimulating event, or that some other infectious or inflammatory process – like being infected with influenza – wouldn’t have triggered a similar regression?
This is a highly exceptional case, and a decision by a small group of “medical personnel” who could easily be swayed by the emotions of the case does not a linkage make.
You might want to check into the medical facts before your start grandstanding. This is an extremely misleading and incredibly irresponsible post … even more irresponsible than your strange and ill-informed war on psychiatric medications. Stay away from science and medicine, C.J. Your ignorance is glaring.
Thanks, Knight. I forgot that medical science is infallible and drug companies never suppress or mischaracterize bad results. It’s best the public stay away from science and medicine and don’t ask too many questions.
I never claimed medical science was infallible, but I’ll take careful medical studies based on the scientific method over anecdotal evidence any day of the week. Anecdotes are how charlatans sell snake oil and get rich quick schemes. They are an abysmal form of evidence.
Hannah Poling’s story is simply that … one story. Certainly it will be fuel for further investigation, but by itself it proves nothing. Claiming a proven link between vaccines and autism based on one case is sensationalism.
I’ve already had one parent come in asking about the “proven” link between autism and vaccines because of all the ill-informed BS in the media regarding this story. Fortunately, after taking an extra 10 minutes on a busy clinic day, I was able to convince her to consent to vaccination. I’d rather her infant not die from pertussis or pneumococcal meningitis. Sensationalizing this story has consequences … potentially deadly consequences.