Autism

• Autism Awareness
• Autism Research
• Autism Signs
• Autism Spectrum
• Autism Symptoms
• Autism Therapy
• Autism Vaccine
• Autistic
• Autistic Children
• Treatment Autism

Autism Vaccine

Autism Vaccine questions and answers

Have questions about Autism Vaccine? Checkout the website Diet & Health.

Q: If my baby get the RSV vaccine, can he developed autism as he get older?
Is it any risk if my baby have this vaccine?

A: If you are talking about Synagis, that is not a vaccine. It is a monoclonal antibody. Even if it was a vaccine, vaccines do not cause autism.

Q: Breaking News: case reignites autism-vaccine debate?
Anti-vaccine groups are touting a sealed government decision to award money to a child with autism symptoms as an admission by the government that there is a relationship between vaccines and autism. More at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/06/vaccines.autism/ COMMENTS? hi Janet :-) Yes, I know the gov't is swearing that there is no connection. I'm afraid I know too many people that the problem has happened to...it's a terrible thing. The fact of the matter is there are 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal "Vaccine Court. That seems like an awful lot to me. Yikes.

A: "This does not represent anything other than a very special situation," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Who do you believe the boss doing spin or the judge that slipped?... The case may not be a first, said Gary Golkiewicz, chief special master for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He oversees the special "vaccine court" which rules on requests for payments from the vaccine injury fund. "Years ago, actually, I had a case, before we understood or knew the implications of autism, that the vaccine injured the child's brain caused an encephalopathy," he said. And the symptoms that come with that "fall within the broad rubric of autism." And there are other somewhat similar cases, Golkiewicz says, that were decided before autism and its symptoms were more clearly defined All the hysterical parents are saying is Green our vaccines. Look at the facts: 1983: Autism rate 1 in 10,000 Vaccine schedule 10 shots 2008: Autism rate in boys 1 in 70 Vaccine schedule 36 My sons last words: "My name is Tanner. My name is Tanner." The week of his shots for school... Show me any other campaign for disinformation as wound up as this one by the medical(vaccine maker) community. Remove the Mecury, Aluminum, formaldehyde, ether, antifreeze. Reevaluate the schedule. What was the death rate from these deadly diseases in 1983 that we had to add 26shots? If there are side effects to the vaccinations all we asking for is support for therapy, respite, and recovery.

Q: What fraction of children who have the MMR vaccine get autism?
please help, thanks xx

A: No proof exists to link the two. Autism has been and is still on the increase, but also note that the reasons are unknown. Also the detection of autism has been greatly improved over the years. This also has led to greater numbers diagnosed.

Q: Has anyone given there baby the mmr vaccine and believe it was related to their baby having autism?
I am wondering if any one's child develop autism before receiving the shot or a long time after it. Also, has anyone waited to get the shots until their child is 2 or 3? Did your child still develop autism? Were there any warning signs or is it like most parents say - their child was completely normal and then they received the shot and their child stopped 'normal' behaviors? Is there anyway to not get these shots? My daughter is coming up on her 12 month shots and I am very worried about this one. Any answers?

A: Although there are many theories out there and doctors and scientists have been running tests, there is NO actual evidence that vaccines cause autism. Autism is more common now than it was before immunizations, which makes people think the immunizations caused the increase in autism. However, it's also possible people didn't know what it was in the past and it went undiagnosed, there's more toxins and pollution in the environment now, etc. You should throughly research the subject and then make a decision with your child's pediatrician on what would be best for your daughter. At this time, most children in the United States are vaccinated and the majority of children are not autistic, so you need to weigh the pros and cons of the immunizations. You can get permission from her pediatrician to not have her vaccinated but that's something you need to discuss with them. You do NOT get immunized and then wake up the next morning autistic. That is not the way it works. With autism, previously "normal" children can suddenly begin to show symptoms, but it is definitely not an overnight thing. You might not realize it's a problem right away, but the beginning symptoms are there long before it's ever diagnosed. Symptoms of autism usually develop around the same time that children are usually vaccinated, which is another reason people blame the vaccines. Some of the diseases prevented by the MMR shot are pretty serious and possibly life-threatening too. Autism is extremely rare; measels is much more common and kills 1/2 million children every year. That's something to keep in mind when making your decision.

Q: Of the 1 in 150 children who have autism how many of them are believed to have gotten it from a vaccine?
I have a perfectly healthy 7 month old boy and I am afraid of a vaccination between 12 and 18 months old causing autism. I'm scared of what the vaccinations can cause and of what not getting vaccinated can cause as well.

A: It is understandable that you would be concern about vaccines causing Autism. By the way the unofficial number are 1 in 89. I'm one of the millions of mothers who know the vaccines caused our children's Autism. We have been screaming for over a decade, to take the toxins out and reduce the amount of vaccines our babies receive. The vaccine schedule has gone from 10 shots to 36 shots by the time babies turn two. What I have found out in the eight years that I have been researching this issue, in order to help my son heal, is that vaccines are given as a one size fits all. This is not very safe, because each human being is different. Vaccines should not be given to children who have a immune system deficiencies, Mytrochondrial disease or impaired Methylation, etc. The problem is that doctors don't screen their patients. I bet you if you ask the nurse what the ingredients in the vaccine, she will either tell you she doesn't know or act stupid. Why are you trying to fix something that is not broken. Vaccine Ingredients: http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/ingredie.html http://www.rense.com/general59/vvac.htm Acel-Immune DTaP Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed Lederle Laboratories 1-800-934-5556 produced using formaldehyde, thimerosal, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, polysorbate 80, gelatin Act HIB Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate Connaught Laboratories 1-800-822-2463 produced using ammonium sulfate, formalin, sucrose, thimerosal medium: semi-synthetic Attenuvax Measles Virus Vaccine Live Merck & Co, Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolized gelatin medium: chick embryo DPT Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals 1-800-366-8900 ext. 5231 produced using aluminum phosphate, formaldehyde, ammonium sulfate, washed sheep red blood cells, glycerol, sodium chloride, thimerosal medium: porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolysate of casein Energix-B Hepatitis B SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals 1-800-633-8900 ext. 5231 produced using aluminum hydroxide, thimerosal medium: yeast (possibly 5% residual) Havrix Hepatitis A SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals 1-800-633-8900 ext. 5231 produced using formalin, aluminum hydroxide, phenoxyethanol (antifreeze), polysorbate 20, residual MRC5 proteins (from medium) medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) Biavax Rubella and Mumps Virus Vaccine Live Merck & Co, Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolized gelatin medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) HibTiter Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) Lederle Laboratories 1-800-934-5556 produced using polyribosylribitol, ammonium sulfate, thimerosal medium: chemically defined, yeast based Fluvirin Influenza Virus Vaccine Medeva Pharmaceuticals 1-888-MEDEVA (716)274-5300 produced using embryonic fluid (chicken egg), neomycin, polymyxin, thimerosal, betapropiolactone medium: embryonic fluid (chicken egg) FluShield Influenza Virus Vaccine, Trivalent, Types A&B Wyeth-Ayerst 1-800-934-5556 produced using gentamicin sulfate, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80, tri(n)butylphosphate, thimerosal medium: chick embryos IPOL Inactivated Polio Vaccine Connaught Laboratories 1-800-822-2463 produced using 3 types of polio virus, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol (antifreeze), neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B medium: VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells MMR Measles Mumps Rubella Live Virus Vaccine Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using sorbitol, neomycin, hydrolyzed gelatin mediums: M&M - chick embryo Rubella - human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) M-R-Vax Measles and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin mediums: M - chick embryo R - human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) Menomune Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Connaught Laboratories 1-800-822-2463 produced using thimerosal, lactose medium: freeze dried polysaccharride antigens from Neisseria Meningitidis Meruvax II Rubella Virus Vaccine Live Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) Mumpsvax Mumps Virus Vaccine Live Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) Orimune Poliovirus Vaccine Live Oral Trivalent Lederle Laboratories 1-800-934-5556 produced using 3 types of attenuated polioviruses, streptomycin, neomycin, calf serum, sorbitol medium: monkey kidney cell culture Pneumovax Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using phenol and capsular polysaccharides from the 23 most prevalent pneumococcal types Imovax Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed Connaught Laboratories 1-800-822-2463 produced using human albumin, neomycin sulfate, phenol red indicator medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals 1-800-366-8900 ext. 5231 produced using betapropiolactone, aluminum phosphate, sodium, ethylmercurithiosalicylate (thimerosal), phenol red medium: fetal rhesus monkey lung cells Recombivax Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using thimerosal, aluminum hydroxide medium: yeast (residual < 1% yeast protein) RotaShield Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Tetravalent Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories 1-800-934-5556 produced using 1 rhesus monkey rotavirus, 3 rhesus-human reassortant viruses, sucrose, monosodium glutamate (MSG), potassium monophosphate, potassium diphosphate, fetal bovine serum, neomycin sulfate, amphotericin B medium: fetal rhesus diploid cell line Varivax Varicella Virus Vaccine Live Merck & Co., Inc. 1-800-672-6372 produced using sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, processed gelatin medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)

Q: What are agruments against the 'MMR vaccine causes autism'?


A: right now there is no evidence it causes autism. plus, millions of people have been taking this vaccine and millions more taking others. if it caused autism, a lot more people would have it.

Q: What's the link between vaccines and autism?
I recently heard that there's a link between vaccines and autism ---possibility of 'vaccine-induced autism' and vaccine injury. I'm researching the topic and would like to find reliable sources as I have a baby and would like to make informed decisions regarding his vaccinations. Any suggestions?

A: The vaccine that is linked to autism is MMR It was a physician in europe that linked it to turned out his studies, his article fell apart because he was getting monetary compensation for what he was writing. The link is that at 18 months is when you generally begin to see early signs of autism. The parents take the child to the physician the child get assessed and realize that there are delays child gets his routine vaccines and the blind is taken off the parents so yes they begin to notice the delays that were there just so faint they did not notice it. Reason for the rise in Autism is the fact that a child who would have been considered "mentally changed" "special needs" now in 1008 falls under the autism umbrella. Those children where still out there just not properly diagnosed. We have a few parents who are wishy washy about the vaccine choose to delay the MMR vaccine till the age of 2 or 3. Generally 2 shots of MMR are required prior to the entry of Kinder. ****CORRECTION**** The multi dose vial for the FLU is the ONLY vaccines that contains small (0.01%) of thymeresol. It is a perservative used that has been attempted to be used as a link to autism.

Q: is it safe to give MMR vaccine to my 18 months baby? i heard it can cause autism?
i read several studies tgat say autism may be caused by MMR vaccine

A: Bottom line, no one knows what causes autism spectrum disorders , ( there are FIVE disorders that fall into the spectrum, autism being just one). Autism spectrum disorders occur in communities that do not vaccinate , including Amish communities and certain religious communities. Therefor, immunizations can not possibly be THE cause of autism. Though in certain susceptible people , it may be A cause. The most widely accepted research shows that ASDs are genetically linked, common in some families. Widely accepted in the medical community , is the theory that some people with a genetic predisposition , have difficulty eliminating toxins from their bodies . So immunizations COULD be a trigger in certain children, along with toxins from foods, cleaners, clothes, toys, and nearly anything else they come in contact with. Over recent years, the numbers of parents allowing their children to be vaccinated has declined, and yet, the number of children diagnosed with a spectrum disorder has dramatically increased. The risk of a child dieing from a preventable disease, seems to far outweigh the risk of vaccination. Ultimately, the choice to vaccinate or not, is yours alone. There are several websites with helpful information . One of the best is autismspeaks.org. The site also contains links to other helpful sites.

Q: CAUTION PARENTS... Recent case renews debate on vaccine-autism link (CNN March 6, 2008 live news)?
If you are a parent of children who have or are going to receive vaccinations... Please click on the link below and read... as a mother of an 11 month old I believe this is a MUST SEE... VERY DISTURBING INFO!!! http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/05/autism.vaccines.ap/index.html

A: There's absolutely zero real, scientific evidence to support a link between autism and vaccines: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/health/27vaccine.html http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN30505454 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/16/health/webmd/main2819647.shtml

Q: Why is the Autism/Vaccine debate still going on despite any proven link?
I’m interested in meaningful answers from people with autism in their lives so please no Wikipedia definitions on what autism is-I am well aware of what autism is, thank you. That being said, my question is why do so many people still buy into the vaccination causes autism myth? I mean, seriously, this hypothesis has been disproved over and over yet people still believe there is a connection. Why is this? I guess what I’m asking is what will it take for the mercury believers to reconsider their position? When can we put this myth to rest and move on? I’ll agree that mercury is not safe for consumption for anyone but the symptoms of mercury poisoning and autism are not synonymous.Autism is not easy-nobody said it was. I believe as a parent, my time is better spent making the world more accepting and accommodating for my child and not hunting down the autism boogeyman whose existence is disproved time after time. The mercury militia will bash me. Fine-but give scientific evidence Laineyette, I agree it's genetic. It's just our culture to dig for a conspiracy. It seems like every week there is a trumpeted new cause of autism usually thrown out into cyberspace by a pseudo-journalist reporting on a study that hovers on the fringes of scientific credibility. When these studies are peer reviewed by other scientists in the field of autism research, they go down in flames and often the individual or group leading the study comes out with a tarnished reputation. This happens because when real science is applied, the expected outcomes never materialize. For some reason, the mercury hypothesis remains the bloated junk science study that will not go away despite being shot down after extensive testing. And the networks have learned that scaremongering sells almost as good as sex so they keep this bogus study in the spotlight. Fear sells plenty of books too. Kudos to some reports recently that are challenging the "epidemic", though. Its a welcome change. When this hypothesis first surfaced, it was based on the CDDS numbers for autism incidence in California 1993 showing steady increases through 2000. It was assumed that the removal of thimerosal from vaccines in 2001 would show a decrease in incidence five years later (end of 2006). Well, the CDDS numbers for last quarter 2006 are out and guess what, autism incidence has actually increased! The expected outcome did not happen so this hypothesis must be revised yet it hasn’t been. Why is this and why do so many still blindly believe it to be true? Why is it so hard to believe that since the diagnostic criteria has broadened that more people now fall on the autistic spectrum whereas they would have previously had a different diagnosis altogether? It's time for the mercury followers to put up or shut up. Where's the Science that proves a link? I think their hearts are in the right place but they are chasing rainbows. I believe my time is better spent helping to teach my child to function in a world where he is misunderstood-a world where his abilities are marginalized and his disabilities amplified. My time is better spent teaching him about his differences and advocating for himself so he is not treated like a second class citizen when he becomes an adult. I know I can’t be alone in this thinking but I know I often find my opinions in the minority. What evidence can any mercury believers provide to make me think there is a link that hasn’t been dismissed already? Sorry for being so long-winded…brevity is not a strength of mine. Angie, I appreciate your insight but I think you are looking it solely from an emotional perspective. Here are some links for you. These are peer reviewed studies by reputable scientists and their findings seem to be the consensus among those in their field. The only study that claims a link was by the Giers'. It was later found that they manupulated the data and now they are in "exile" so to speak because of the unethical nature of their claims. Oh yeah, they were pushing Lupron as treatment and on their payroll. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17168158&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16818529&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=10&itool=pubmed_docsum http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15858952&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=10&itool=pubmed_docsum I'm sorry but I'm still skeptical. By avoiding vaccination, we are facing an inevitable resurgance of measles and other eradicated diseases which will truly qualify for the term "epidemic". In all likelihood, autism will be found to be genetic. That's not saying something won't be discovered that could very well be the catalyst for autistic presentation-I'll admit I'm open to that possibility. All I'm saying is that it's not vaccines. It has been tested rigorously and has not been proven. Show the proof. Not personal stories because everyone has them myself included. Angie, the Amish have had little genetic variation for centuries. They are close-knit and breed with each other exclusively so if autistic genes are not present, they won't be introduced into the gene pool. This does not prove anti vax works. In fact, it strengthens the gentic argument. As does the fact that autistics have a sharply higher chance of having autistic offspring. So don't hinge your argument on the Amish-there are many other variables to consider. Also, you have not provided a peer reviewed study. You have provided an article by a journalist so that doesn't count. The others are by some Docs but these privately funded studies aren't always without motive. The Giers study is most notable as they were funded by the makers of Lupron. Amazingly, Lupron was the miracle cure discovered during their testing for removing the mercury. Funny how that works. Upon review, thier study was found full of misrepresentation. Everybody works for a paycheck even the independents. I'm glad you are against chelation. It has killed children yet the DAN! docs are still peddling it to scared and desparate parents. It's disgusting. Generation Rescue are a bunch of scaremongerers. They are wrong on so many levels that I won't take any of their studies (which are biased) as fact. Talk about someone with an agenda. And I'm not against people who are cautious with their children. I'm against people who go out there and say there is a proven link when there is not. It has been the subject of many studies, many from independent teams and the evidence does not support a link. If our children were born 20 years ago, they would have been diagnosed mentally retarded or with childhood schizophrenia. Now they are recognized as autistic as are many, many others. This explains the tremendous growth in cases. If you look at diagnosis of those labeled with mental retardation and childhood schizophrenia, they have declined at about the rate of autism's increase. I think many of these parents are crying wolf. They refuse to look at the science that refute their beliefs. I'm a skeptic and I have read both sides extensively. You admit that for the last 15 years, you've only listened to one side. I'm sorry but I've got to go with tangible science. Until a link is proven and moves beyond a hypothesis, it is wrong to tell the masses that a link is there. I have the humility to admit if I'm wrong but as of today, there is no proof. I don't know if you will ever consider autism to be anything but mercury poisioning so for now, we'll agree to disagree. I just ask you to see it for what it is and as objectively. Occums razor goes to my argument that it is genetic. I'll raise my glass and toast to you that one day the truth will surface and whoever's wrong will admit it and not shift the goalposts further to perpetuate their position. It is our responsibility to be skeptical and I think you can appreciate that.

A: My 4 yr old is autistic, and has never, and will never, receive a vaccine. So, I don't believe it's ONLY immunizations, but there is evidence out there that there are connections. You just have to do more than look to the people benefiting financially from the vaccines, and the govnt. who would stand to lose millions in lawsuits due to the fact that they pushed them. I believe that autism is a genetic issue as you stated, but that there are environmental triggers that 'set it off', and it's my responsibility to do what I can to avoid those. Pretty much what I do for my 2 yr old with severe asthma. It wouldn't be very kind or responsible of me to take him places that is going to set off his asthma. I have poured through this issue, and have found many studies that correlate the two, but I didn't save the links. If I can find them online, anyone can. The biggest factor for me, and this is a no-brainer, is the amount of mercury that was being put into our infant's body was a safe amount, IF you happened to weigh 500 lbs. That OBVIOUSLY is going to cause problems, whether it's autism or some of the other disorders that have drastically risen in the last 20 years or so. If a child is born with a weakened immune system, as is typical with autism, and you put that much mercury into the body, along with antibiotics and formaledehyde that is in the shots, it's only common sense that you're asking for trouble. Most of us who are against the mercury, rely more on common sense and our own ability to think rather than what the medical community feeds us. I mean, come on! This is the same community who, I think it was in the 20's but am not positive, told people with asthma and other lung disorders to SMOKE! That bit of info came directly from my dr., not some anti-mercury basher. This is the same 'business' that 30 yrs. ago told parents to put their autistic kids in institutions because they would never have a chance at a normal life. Again, same business who can't even make up their mind on whether eating eggs is going to kill us or not. If this was a more sound, reliable field I 'might' take what they say more seriously, but they just don't prove themselves to be trustworthy in that dept. Now, you want to know why, after the mercury has been removed and the numbers continue to go up we choose to still believe it's the mercury? I can't speak for all, but for most of us, we realize it isn't JUST the mercury issue, but that is one contributing factor and again, it's about removing all factors that might contribute. The problem is, the vaccines are pushed by dr.'s and the govnt., and that is a bigger issue than any of the others. We can choose to avoid things like toxic products (read through manufacturer's labels on the products you use in your home, and see how many of them state they can affect the central nervous system. Better yet, contact me and I'll send you a sample of the ingredients and how they affect the body.), but a lot of parents don't realize they have a choice in not vaxing their kids, because it's pushed on them. That is why we have a beef with this issue. Don't force us, or manipulate us, to use something that can be toxic on our own children and then not take responsibility for it. See where I'm coming from with that? The bottom line is this. When you have a child that is developing totally normal, talking, social, the works, until 2-3 days after receiving a shot and then the child completely changes, wakes up and can't talk any more, you don't have to be a scientist, or even a genius, to realize that something had to cause it. Those are the cases, not the rising numbers, that started waking a lot of us up to the possible connection between the two. And, I don't believe it's just the mercury, but all the other crap they put into vaccines, that does the job. Not to mention the fact that they're giving so many of those stupid things at one time. How much do we think an immune system can handle anyway? Now, for the record, with my son I knew the day we brought him home from the hospital that something was wrong, I just didn't know what. I didn't know much at all about autism, but knew that it wasn't normal for a 1 day old to have night terrors and be afraid of the dark. He had night terrors every night, until he was a little over 3 yrs old. The real changes for him came when we moved to a new house, that was his environmental change, so to speak. It threw his world upside down. He started doing all the typically autistic things, like spinning, lining things up, started gradually losing his vocabulary, and the 'wonderful' tantrums. It was very obvious, because of how sudden the symptoms came on, that the move was what really brought out his issues. But even that isn't as drastic a change as some kids go through when it's related to the shot itself. Anyway, I hope I answered your questions on why we continue to believe the possible connection. I won't sit here and say it's definitive, even after reading all the reports I have read that make a strong connection between the two, but my point is, we can't afford to rule out anything, because there isn't a single person out there who KNOWS all about autism, what causes it, what it's triggers are, so therefore nobody can say definitively that something doesn't cause it. Make sense? And no, I don't think any of us spend our whole lives talking about this issue, only when someone brings it up. I personally spend my time doing my own therapy with my son and the one I babysit, doing everything I can to help them adapt to their world, their 'disabilities', while using their abilities to boost their self-esteem, to give them a direction to head towards for their lives. But, when asked, I am vocal on the vaccines, and was so even before my son was ever thought of. If I run across those reports and studies again, I'll contact you and send you the links. I really should have kept them, but was studying just for my own purposes and so didn't worry about saving them. Besides, if someone is REALLY interested in learning about something and not just looking for an argument, I feel they should do their own research. But true research involves hearing and reading ALL sides, not just one side. That, to me, is brainwashing. I spent my whole life being told the medical side, so 15 yrs. ago I decided to learn the other side, and base my opinion on what made the most sense. I think you know what I chose. Good luck to you, I'm sure this won't be chosen as a best answer but I honestly could care less about that. I just wanted to really answer your questions, something that most don't take the time to do. No, actually, as stated, my son didn't develop autism from vaccines, so it wouldn't make sense to say I'm going at this from an emotional perspective. These are facts that I learned long before I had kids. And, studies done by scientists being funded by vaccine makers or the govnt. don't mean much to me, they have too much to lose. I go by privately funded studies, done by people who are truly looking for answers, not a paycheck. There were several that I found, and just can't remember what I put in the search engines to get them. But, here's a few links for you, mostly focusing on the ethyl mercury and what it does to the brain. If you can't put two and two together with reading what it can do, and the fact that since vaccines have it in them, then there really isn't more to say on the topic. As to the mystical resurgance of the diseases, that's another myth. These same diseases were already on the downfall before the vaccines were introduced, so there's no 'proof' that they are effective in the disease's demise. Since you're so focused on proof, that should be an interesting topic for you to research. And, all you have to do is look at epidemics. They are almost unheard of in communities that don't vax, like the Amish. Epidemics always occur within the communities that vaccinate. That is 'proof' that vaccines aren't completely effective in the first place, so, at best they give a false sense of security which is more dangerous than anything else. Again, do your own research, and look at all sides. And no, I'm not bashing you, just answering your questions. I've done way too much research on the topic of vaccines, and am confident in what I say, that I'm not offended by your questioning. It's good to question! http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/children/autism.htm http://www.ewg.org/reports/autism/printerfriendly.php http://members.tecinfo.com/~wchipman/articles/autism_and_mercury.htm http://www.vran.org/vaccines/mercury/mer-haley.htm http://www.generationrescue.org/mercury_myths5.html -- this page, and the next two. I will state, I am against chelation, but I listed this site due to facts on ethyl mercury only.

Q: I want to find out more about autism and vaccines. Is mercury still added to vaccines?
I've never had any problems with my kids and the vaccinations they've received. But I hear so much about autism and how dramatically it has increased in the last ten years. What can you tell me about mercury as a vaccine additive? Is it still used? Why do some kids "contract" autism? Is it because of the vaccines? If so, what determines who will become autistic and who will not? If not, what other reasons might cause it? What are some good resources for me to check out on the subject?

A: First, I'd like to challenge the notion of a "dramatic increase" of autism. Different Definition, different diagnosis rate: 20 years ago, when you said "autism" you were refering to the full-blown or "strict" autism. (Rocking, head banging, little or no speach) The rate of "strict autism" hasn't changed nearly as much as the sensational stats you hear about. Now we know about a mild form of autism called Asperger's. Not only do we have a lot of kids diagnosed as Asperger's (classified under autism) but many adults are being diagnosed. Many people suspect Bill Gates is autistic. Some suspect Thomas Jefferson & Albert Einstein were both Asperger's. As for vaccinations, they USED TO contain a mercury type preservative called thimerosal. They stopped putting thimerosal in children's vaccines around the year 2000. The last lots of vaccines which contain thimerosal as a preservative expired by early 2003. CAUSES: There is a significant genetic factor in autism. This is evident in twin studies. If one identical twin is autistic, the second one has an 80% chance of being on the autistic spectrum. If the child isn't autistic, she is likely to have some traits, just not enough to be classified autistic. Yet with faternal twins, if one twin is autistic, the 2nd twin is no more likely to be autistic than a sibling born 10 years later! (4%) They believe it isn't just one gene involved. It seems to be several genes that "collide" in one person to make then vunerable to autism. It's not 100% genetic. If it was, then if one identical twin is autistic, the second one would ALWAYS be autistic.

Q: What are the names of the 2 dr.'s who pulled their names off a report correlating autism and vaccines?
These 2 doctors had stated in the past that vaccines had no relationship in the autism epidemic. Now they want their names off the CDC report. Very interesting... Please add any details you know about this new controversy.

A: What you are looking for is right here: http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/07/legal-bombshell.html#more By Kent Heckenlively, Esq. In what can only be described as a legal bombshell, the government has withdrawn two of its three expert reports claiming that thimerosal has no connection to autism. The expert reports are from Dr. Thomas Clarkson and Dr. Laszlo Magos, two world-renowned in the field of toxicology, who have been working in medicine from the late 1950s and early 1960s. A PubMed search under Clarkson lists 21 published articles concerning mercury and Magos worked for the prestigious Medical Research Council Laboratories in England, as well as co-authoring 4 articles on mercury with Dr. Clarkson. In fact, Drs. Magos and Clarkson have been such cheerleaders for mercury that their work is high-lighted on a curious web-site www.mercuryfacts.org which takes issue with the finding from the National Academy of Sciences that at least 60,000 children in the United States are at risk from prenatal exposure to mercury from the consumption of fish by pregnant women. The web-site is set-up by a group called the "Center for Consumer Freedom" and its research director is named David Martosko. According to a story by reporter Mark Matthews which ran on the ABC Channel 7 affiliate in San Francisco on May 3, 2006, Martosko was a music major in college, then an AM radio talk show producer before becoming the chief researcher for the Center for Consumer Freedom. The group came in for some harsh criticism in the story as being nothing more than a "non-profit front" for lobbying firms to "push their corporate message." If this case was in the civil arena, the withdrawal of two expert reports of such magnitude would in all likelihood result in sanctions or a directed verdict. It's akin to two of the three alibi witnesses in a murder trial deciding to skip their testimony. There's no way to spin this as a positive development for the defense. The withdrawal which is contained in a document on the court website and entitled “Order Concerning Theory 2 General Causation Rebuttal� sets out much of the procedural history, but leaves many vital questions unanswered. Drs. Magos and Clarkson were apparently unwilling or unable to testify about the substance of their report which left the attorneys for the families having to call a witness to rebut the two expert reports. Surprisingly, the government then chose to withdraw the expert reports, leaving only the report and testimony of Dr. Jeffrey Brent, a scientist who has not devoted significant time to the question of mercury and autism. (At one point in his career it’s alleged that Dr. Brent claimed thimerosal to be as safe as “drinking water.�) I spoke about these matters to Dr. Paul King, the science advisor for CoMed (web-site address www.mercury-freedrugs.org). According to Dr. King, at the time the reports were filed there were still significant questions about how mercury could harm the developing brain. The recent Peru study on hamsters, though, appears to be devastating, as well as the Texas study on the release of industrial mercury and autism rates, the Harvard papers on inflammation from the brain autopsies of people with autism, and the as-yet-unpublished study on monkeys which was presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research in London which was the subject of a previous article in Age of Autism by Dan Olmsted (Click HERE.) But with the publication of these articles and others which the scientific community knows are ready for publication, Dr. King was of the opinion that the claims made in the expert reports could no longer be maintained. I also spoke with David Geier about this latest development and he also agreed that this was knocking out some of the government's strongest pillars that autism is not related to thimerosal. Geier considered it difficult to underestimate the near-legendary reputation of these two experts in the field of toxicology. Their apparent unwillingness to testify on these matters suggests they cannot sustain their previous assertion that thimerosal has nothing to do with the autism epidemic. An e-mail request to Dr. Clarkson asking for a comment on the withdrawal of his report has gone unanswered. Although the parties are continuing to submit motions and it appears unlikely that there will be a decision this summer, the withdrawal of these reports are likely to have profound consequences. Kent Heckenlively is Legal Editor of Age of Autism.

Q: Did you know another autism case just won in vaccine court?
It was proven in a court of law that the MMR caused it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-david-kirby/vaccine-court-autism-deba_b_169673.html This is interesting because another case (which is in appeals) just ruled against the autistic parents. That case got all kinds of publicity and everyone was saying it means the end of the vaccine autism debate, but then this case, which is getting little attention from the media, says the opposite. Do you think that vaccines have to do with autism? Does this case convince you there might be a link? Also, how do you explain ingredients like formaldhyde and aluminum in vaccines? Do you think that could be what is causing it as well as mercury? Nicole D, did your child have ANY vaccines before showing symtoms? Had you been vaccinated during pregnancy or in recent years prior? I don't think ALL cases are caused by vaccines, but I've seen proof some of them were (esp. when a child goes home the night after the shot and the problems start. this has happened to thousands of children). I think some autism is caused by the parents having too many metals in their bodies. Lucy, have you ever watched a Sherri Tenpenny video? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7018835240451107552 Thanks Macman, I agree. "My Princess...", PARENTS DO NOT CHOOSE VACCINES, they are MANDATORY. Jessica and others, please question your decision. Watch the video I posted and do some research. I've been in health care for a decade and I'm telling you that you're WRONG. You're allowing them to inject your child with poison and hoping they are able to excrete it. Most kids can excrete it but some cannot. cathrl69, you've proven how little research you've done on the subject. DTS2006: I don't use deodorant and neither does anyone who knows about it. And you may not have health problems now, but did you know cancer was virtuall non exisitent until they started vaccinating 100 years ago? And the AMISH are known to have serious nutritional deficiencies as a population. It was proven at Cornell in the 1970's that in order for a person to get an infection they must first be nutrient deficient. So blaming their problems on not vaccinating is silly. They have very low autism rates. Your entire health paradigm is false, and you don't even know it. Good luck with your health. http://www.healthsalon.org/103/dr-howensteins-views-on-vaccination-a-must-read-for-the-novice-and-well-versed-alike/ Gardasil ingredients: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/921099/gardasil_vaccine_ingredients_roach.html?cat=70 The science of vaccine damage: http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/scienceVaccineDamage.html This is a very revealing study on dogs. BTW, MARYLAND would not let ANYONE out of vaccinating their children. There are states where you cannot "opt out". "Get your child vaccinated or go to JAIL": CNN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6z3htbpq70 PS: the chances of getting autism are NOT SLIM. The current stats are 1 in 150!!!!!!!! Thanks munchkinsmommy, I tend to agree. You see, the kids I see who have autism were always in a weakened state to begin with. Unfortunately, that is a huge portion of the population. As I stated earlier, a LOT (1 in 150!) of kids who get these shots CANNOT excrete the poisonous preservatives. And these toxins cause DNA damage. This is why Autism is a GENERATIONAL issues. Kids in DNA damaged families are the ones who develop autism from vaccines and other environmental toxins. The inherited weak immunity and kidney function from parents who ate badly and were vaccinated themselves. That is why this flawed thinking about vaccines must stop. Vaccines do NOT need these toxic ingredients. It's INSANE. CHILD ABUSE DAMAGES GENES: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Child+abuse+damages+genes+affects+stress+coping+study/1318400/story.html Don't you think formaldahyde does too???? OF COURSE IT DOES. And often the damage goes UNNOTICED. Too Crass for You: I tend to agree, however, not everyone can afford to pick up and move, esp. NOW. So let's hope you don't find yourself broke and in a state with laws you don't like.

A: Having a child in my extended family with autism and having watched it appear, I believe that the vaccine was a catalyst, but not the cause. Before he received the vaccine, he was beginning to talk and was affectionate. After the vaccine he stopped talking and was no longer affectionate and began to show signs of autism. He had been sick in the week prior to his vaccination and we are told not to vaccinate when a child has been sick. When I went in for my son's shots recently, the nurse refused to give a child his immunization because that child had a fever. They said to come back at a time when the child was healthy. I think that there are a lot of things we put into our bodies that aren't good for us and that pinpointing one single thing that's the cause of autism is not going to be an easy task.

Q: Does the MMR vaccine cause autism?
jenny mcarthy's son evan got autism right after the mmr shot. (she said she noticed a change in him 2 days after the mmr shot). i read another story about that on the internet. my friends had a daughter and she said she started noticing "weird" symptoms after her child had her mmr vaccine. what gives?

A: The MMR vaccine does not and has never contained the mercury-containing preservative, thimerosal: furthermore, although there has not been a proven link between thimerosal and autism, thimerosal was removed from all childhood vaccines in 1999!

Q: Can the DPaT vaccine be separated into 3 vaccines for babies?
Instead of one combined shot, can this be broken down into a diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus shot? Do the drug companies still manufacture them this way for parents who are concerned about the vaccine/ autism link and want to space out their child's vaccines?

A: Good question. It is true that Tetanus is available as an individual vaccine. There is also a DT (diptheria/tetanus combined), but there is no stand-alone Pertussis vaccination available. Too bad, really, since pertussis is really the only threat to young babies, especially in the 0-6 month range. Tetanus vaccination for babies is unnecesary and rediculous. It is not without side-effects, which cannot be forseen or anticipated. In adults, the percieved need for this vaccination is negated by our current understanding of effective wound-care practices. This is also something that can be treated on an as needed basis if injury occurs and infection is suspected. Blanket vaccination of our population is over-kill, in my opinion. Diptheria is absolutely RARE, according to my research (you should do your own), this bacterial (thus, treatable) throat infection has affected about 2 people per year in the US since 1980. DTaP has been questioned by parents and independent groups for possible causation or contribution to SIDS. In addition to the links below, you could read about Japan, which chose to delay ALL vaccines until after age two and the SIDS rate dropped as a result. Personally, we skipped this one (DTaP) altogether. The only concern I had was that adults can have Pertussis (whooping cough) and think it's just a cough or cold and unknowingly pass it to a baby. We were very cautious during the first year. Incidentally, after extensive research, our family chose to decline ALL immunizations... after our oldest was immunologically damaged by multiple pediatric vaccines. Our youngest is a healthy, robust 2-yr-old who has never received a vaccine, or any other medication for that matter. The point is that YOU get to make the decision... partial, delayed, decline, whatever, but be prepared for the typical scare tactics and don't get bullied into making a spur-of-the-moment decision. Just the other day, I was told by a nurse that my child could die from the Chicken Pox... OH, PLEASE! Good for you for taking control of your family's medical/health needs. God bless.