Poor Doctor Wakefield

I came across an editorial in Newsday the other day entitled “Vaccination opposition could be putting public at risk” I addressed the vaccine issue in a previous blog, but given this editorial, as well as all the news surrounding the Lancet's decision to retract the publication of Dr. Andrew Wakefield's 1998 study that suggested there might be a link between gastrointestinal issues, autism, and the MMR shot, I feel compelled to weigh in on this issue once again.

I'll try to be brief (for those of you who want a bit more information, please see my November 17 post.)

The article talks about how important is is that everyone get vaccinated, and plays down any possible connection between vaccines and autism. However, it does note that medical community, drug companies and government need to be more open and forthright about vaccines.

The last part, at least, I agree with.

But, once again, the article leaves out all the questions, research, and facts upon which those that believe there is a connection between autism and vaccines rely. For example,

If vaccines/the MMR/thimerosal is so safe, then:

Why did Russia, Denmark, Austria, Japan, Great Britain and all Scandinavian countries ban the use of thimerosal?

Why was the use of thimerosal in animal injections banned in 1991?

Why did the FDA ban the use of thimerosal in over-the-counter products in 1998?

Why, in 1999, did both the United States Public Health Services (“USPHS”) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”) call for the removal of thimerosal-containing vaccines “as soon as possible”?

Why did the CDC ask drug companies to voluntarily stop using thimerosal in its vaccines in 2001?

And, speaking of trust,

Why won't the the CDC allow independent researchers full access to its immunization injury database, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System?

Why was the first government researcher that examined the database paid to move and work overseas – never to give an interview or talk about what he found?

Where is the Swine Flu epidemic that we were warned about?

Where are the reports about vaccines that failed?

Where are the reports about vaccines that hurt the people they were supposed to protect?

We want to trust the government. We want to trust the CDC and the FDA. We want to trust that the vaccines are thoroughly tested and safe.

But,
Does anyone tell us about the connections between the drug companies and the government?

Are we told that it is actually the drug companies that test their own products?

Are we told how the drug companies will finance a bunch of “tests” until they get the results they want?

Are we told about how CDC and FDA workers have nice comfy, high paying jobs waiting for them at the drug companies when they leave government employ?

Does anyone disclose the amount of money drug companies spend on lobbying government officials to MANDATE the use of their vaccines?

And if SCIENCE really proven there is no link between vaccines and autism:

Where are the double-blind study, laboratory results?

Where are the studies that subjected test subjects to the multiple vaccinations given our infants?

Where are the studies that show that such multiple shots and/or all the ingredients in such shots do not cause harm to subjects – especially when administered during the most critical of neurological development?

When speaking of SCIENCE, why don't any of these pro-vaccine articles mention books like “A Shot in the Dark,” or “Evidence of Harm,” or the actual scientific studies demonstrating a possible connection cited within those books?

By the way, did you know that the “science” that “proves” no connection between autism and vaccines is not really science? It is nothing more than epidemiological studies comparing the incidence of whatever the “researchers” defined as “autism” and the administration of vaccines.

In other words, the “science” is nothing more than a statistical comparison.

An accountant could have performed this so-called research.

And, never forget, even assuming these statistical surveys are 100% accurate and not biased, all that is shown is that there is no statistically significant association between vaccines and the rise in ASD's. But, these studies do not take into consideration anyone who may be more susceptible to the vaccines, many do not compare apples to apples (e.g., the frequency, timing, and administration of vaccines as performed here in the United States), and are flawed in terms of their methodology. Statistics are, unfortunately, subject to manipulation. Change a definition, e.g., do you count “speech and language delays” as “ASD”? Do so, and the numbers go up; don't and the numbers go down. What age groups do you include in your study? Pre-three, and the numbers go down. Post-three, and the numbers go up. Did the study group get shots on the day of birth like we do here? Did the study group get multiple shots in one “well visit” to the doctor? Did you take other factors into account, including, but not limited to breast-feeding (affects immune system development), diet (same), and timing of shots (immune systems tend to develop later, so the later the administration of a vaccine, the more chance the body has of dealing with it).

I think you get the idea.

And, please, stop telling us how safe everything is. The “truth” is that no one knows for sure. How many supposedly safe medicines have been recalled? How many supposedly safe procedures have been abandoned? How many times are current medical practices going to be revised in light of “new findings?”

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

I can't imagine that anyone will ever find “the cause” of this autism epidemic, because, quite frankly, there is probably no, one single cause. It is likely caused by the unfortunate convergence of a myriad of factors.

First, we weaken our immune systems and that of our children through poor diets, poor life styles, and little exercise.

Then, we bombard our children's systems with all sorts of environmental insults during the most critical periods of development, including electromagnetic radiation, pesticides, chemicals, lead, aluminum, pollutants, and, yes, the crap in vaccines.

Then, we do everything possible to disrupt the proper development of the child's neurological system. Too much television, computers, videos, etc. Not enough exercise, sunshine, and real social interaction.

And, let's not forget genetics. Certainly, genetics must play a role for some will be far more sensitive to these conditions.

The truth, as far as I know it, is that thimerosal is not safe, vaccines can be made a lot safer, and it has not been indisputably proven that there is no relationship between our vaccination programs and the rise in the incidence of, among other things, ASD's.