Mercury blamed in near-autism case
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Now that government health officials, according to an AP report, concede that childhood vaccines worsened a rare disorder similar to autism, American parents who fear that their kids have been damaged by the mercury that used to be a routine vaccine preservative have won a vindication of sorts.
Federal policy has long held that autism is not caused by vaccines, but in 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics joined the CDC, the FDA, and the National Institutes of Health in issuing a joint statement urging vaccine manufacturers to remove Thimerosal.
This latest report doesn’t mean the controversy has ended. But with presidential contender John McCain now linking vaccines and autism, it suggests that concerns like those aired in April 2005 by historian/radio host Coy Barefoot and echoed three months later by RFK Jr. are beginning to be heard.
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Coy interviewed David Kirby on this topic last week on his show.
http://www.cvillepublicmedia.org/barefoot/2008/02/28/government-concedes-autism-mercury-link-in-one-case/
No offense but the title of this piece is way off. It’s not a “near autism case”. Hannah has autism. It’s an autism case.
What science did Barefoot and JFK, Jr. use to arrive at their conclusion?
Hawes Spencer,
How about getting some details a little bit more accurate?
The little girl has been diagnosed with Autism.
Autism has many causes–which is why it is referred to as a “Spectrum Disorder.”
This little girl has a rare mitochondrial disorder. Whether she became a victim of this disorder DUE TO the vaccines, or whether the disorder was CAUSED by the vaccines is unclear.
Nevertheless, the Vaccine Court found in her family’s favor and will pay for her having been harmed–she has Autism.
There is not necessarily a claim that it was the *mercury* in the vaccines that harmed her, though this *may* be true. There is recognition that the *vaccines* harmed this little girl. She received FIVE SHOTS for NINE DISEASES all at once.
Vaccines are not safe for everybody, and vaccines are NOT immunization.
Add to the conversation and dissemination of info on this topic–don’t further confuse the issues.
Larry Jewel, don’t forget that Mr. Spencer is a journalist, not a medical scientist. He put the information out there in that capacity in a forum that allows experts to comment and clarify. I think he deserves applause, not caustic criticism.
Thanks for your input; however, I am not getting the meaning of “Whether she became a victim of this disorder DUE TO the vaccines, or whether the disorder was CAUSED by the vaccines is unclear.” Can you re-phrase?