Last post Thu, May 29 2008 3:33 PM by bonniethesurvivor. 12 replies.
This has been all over the media lately since the case got settled- a first - and great progress for the Immunization/Thimerosal/Autism Controversy- for the courts to settle on a case!!!
the following is an article by the author of Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy a book on the debate- and I thought some of you might be interested:Government Concedes Vaccine-Autism Case in Federal Court - Now What?Posted February 25, 2008David Kirby After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims.The unprecedented concession was filed on November 9, and sealed to protect the plaintiff's identify. It was obtained through individuals unrelated to the case.The claim, one of 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal "Vaccine Court," was conceded by US Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler and other Justice Department officials, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the "defendant" in all Vaccine Court cases.The child's claim against the government -- that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of her autism -- was supposed to be one of three "test cases" for the thimerosal-autism theory currently under consideration by a three-member panel of Special Masters, the presiding justices in Federal Claims Court.Keisler wrote that medical personnel at the HHS Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation (DVIC) had reviewed the case and "concluded that compensation is appropriate."The doctors conceded that the child was healthy and developing normally until her 18-month well-baby visit, when she received vaccinations against nine different diseases all at once (two contained thimerosal).Days later, the girl began spiraling downward into a cascade of illnesses and setbacks that, within months, presented as symptoms of autism, including: No response to verbal direction; loss of language skills; no eye contact; loss of "relatedness;" insomnia; incessant screaming; arching; and "watching the florescent lights repeatedly during examination."Seven months after vaccination, the patient was diagnosed by Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a leading neurologist at the Kennedy Krieger Children's Hospital Neurology Clinic, with "regressive encephalopathy (brain disease) with features consistent with autistic spectrum disorder, following normal development." The girl also met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) official criteria for autism.In its written concession, the government said the child had a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder that was "aggravated" by her shots, and which ultimately resulted in an ASD diagnosis."The vaccinations received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder," the concession says, "which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of ASD."This statement is good news for the girl and her family, who will now be compensated for the lifetime of care she will require. But its implications for the larger vaccine-autism debate, and for public health policy in general, are not as certain.In fact, the government's concession seems to raise more questions than it answers.1) Is there a connection between vaccines, mitochondrial disorders and a diagnosis of autism, at least in some cases? Mitochondria, you may recall from biology class, are the little powerhouses within cells that convert food into electrical energy, partly through a complex process called "oxidative phosphorylation." If this process is impaired, mitochondrial disorder will ensue.The child in this case had several markers for Mt disease, which was confirmed by muscle biopsy. Mt disease is often marked by lethargy, poor muscle tone, poor food digestion and bowel problems, something found in many children diagnosed with autism.But mitochondrial disorders are rare in the general population, affecting some 2-per-10,000 people (or just 0.2%). So with 4,900 cases filed in Vaccine Court, this case should be the one and only, extremely rare instance of Mt disease in all the autism proceedings.But it is not.Mitochondrial disorders are now thought to be the most common disease associated with ASD. Some journal articles and other analyses have estimated that 10% to 20% of all autism cases may involve mitochondrial disorders, which would make them one thousand times more common among people with ASD than the general population. Another article, published in the Journal of Child Neurology and co-authored by Dr. Zimmerman, showed that 38% of Kennedy Krieger Institute autism patients studied had one marker for impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and 47% had a second marker.The authors -- who reported on a case-study of the same autism claim conceded in Vaccine Court -- noted that "children who have (mitochondrial-related) dysfunctional cellular energy metabolism might be more prone to undergo autistic regression between 18 and 30 months of age if they also have infections or immunizations at the same time."An interesting aspect of Mt disease in autism is that, with ASD, the mitochondrial disease seems to be milder than in "classic" cases of Mt disorder. In fact, classic Mt disease is almost always inherited, either passed down by the mother through mitochondrial DNA, or by both parents through nuclear DNA.In autism-related Mt disease, however, the disorder is not typically found in other family members, and instead appears to be largely of the sporadic variety, which may now account for 75% of all mitochondrial disorders.Meanwhile, an informal survey of seven families of children with cases currently pending in Vaccine Court revealed that all seven showed markers for mitochondrial dysfunction, dating back to their earliest medical tests. The facts in all seven claims mirror the case just conceded by the government: Normal development followed by vaccination, immediate illness, and rapid decline culminating in an autism diagnosis.2) With 4,900 cases pending, and more coming, will the government concede those with underlying Mt disease -- and if it not, will the Court award compensation? The Court will soon begin processing the 4900 cases pending before it. What if 10% to 20% of them can demonstrate the same Mt disease and same set of facts as those in the conceded case? Would the government be obliged to concede 500, or even 1,000 cases? What impact would that have on public opinion? And is there enough money currently in the vaccine injury fund to cover so many settlements?When asked for a comment last week about the court settlement, a spokesman for HHS furnished the following written statement:..
Here are a few Youtube Videos as well related to the case:
Vaccine-autism link acknowledged by government in Georgia: Hannah Poling, 9, had a rare mitochondrial disorder and a federal court ruling said regular childhood vaccinations may have contributed to some of her autism-like symptoms. She was awarded compensation under the National Vaccine
Autism & Vaccines: Hannah Poling On Good Morning America: Hannah Poling was the first autistic child to be paid from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Fund for her autism.Her Family on Good Morning America Talking about the case and the relationship between vaccines and autism.
Eye To Eye: Vaccines & Autism: Sharyl Attkisson speaks to Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., about the Hannah Poling case and the heated debate over vaccines and autism.Weldon, a doctor, wants more research on the issue.
Autism - The Denial of Harm: A pictorial look at the CDC and others who continue to spin denial regarding autism, Hannah Poling, and the issue of vaccines.
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And an interview with David Kirby:
David Kirby Interviewed by Don Imus 03/04/08 Part 1: David Kirby wrote the best seller "Evidence of Harm".The Great debate on Thimerosol in Vaccines. And the causal effect of Autism in Children.
David Kirby Interviewed by Don Imus 03/04/08 Part 2: David Kirby wrote the best seller "Evidence of Harm".The Great debate on Thimerosol in Vaccines. And the causal effect of Autism in Children.
There is NO scientific link between vaccines and autism. None. It's unfortunate that MT disease is being used as the umbrella for autism in this case and is going to give people hope for money where none exists. People should realize that vaccines do carry some risk, as does aspirin. The problem is, people are taking anecdotal evidence and confusing it for scientific evidence; two very different things.
"People who think rape is about sex confuse the weapon with the motivation."Alice Vachss
The vaccine issue has been under hot debate for at least 20 years, and it is about time that some real research on a large scale is done. That there is no evidence regarding this problem, and others associated with the drugs in the vaccines, does not mean the problem is not there. We do not know enough to discount the association. Massive studies are needed. The anecdotal evidence is extremely strong.
If aspirin were to be taken to market today, it would not be approved, I was informed by an FDA official. The safety standards in place when asprin were introduced did not accomodate the very large number of people who are allergic to aspirin. Obviously, aspirin will not be recalled at this point. But when children and others are being potentially harmed to such an extreme degree by extensive vaccinations, the only responsible thing to do is to research, research and do more research. The number of vaccines now administered has nearly doubled in the past decades. And they are given grouped together, rather than spaced apart, for the convenience of the doctors. They are a potential major "hit" on the immunological system of a baby. Enough denials from the pharmaceutical industry. One opinion.
bonniethesurvivor: The vaccine issue has been under hot debate for at least 20 years, and it is about time that some real research on a large scale is done. That there is no evidence regarding this problem, and others associated with the drugs in the vaccines, does not mean the problem is not there. We do not know enough to discount the association. Massive studies are needed. The anecdotal evidence is extremely strong.
Massive studies haven't been done? Like, say.... studying all children born in Denmark between 1990 ans 1996? http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/13/1763 That's just one of five major studies done that are scientifically valid and that show there is no link.
bonniethesurvivor: If aspirin were to be taken to market today, it would not be approved, I was informed by an FDA official. The safety standards in place when asprin were introduced did not accomodate the very large number of people who are allergic to aspirin. Obviously, aspirin will not be recalled at this point. But when children and others are being potentially harmed to such an extreme degree by extensive vaccinations, the only responsible thing to do is to research, research and do more research. The number of vaccines now administered has nearly doubled in the past decades. And they are given grouped together, rather than spaced apart, for the convenience of the doctors. They are a potential major "hit" on the immunological system of a baby. Enough denials from the pharmaceutical industry. One opinion.
The denials aren't just from the pharmaceutical industry. They are from the scientific community as a whole.
30 years ago when I was a kid there was that known DPT shot out there. Many kids I knew got the shot just fine, no reactions. I got the shot before the DPT and had a reaction so I never got the DPT shot, my mother wouldn't allow it. I know a few grown adults who had the DPT shot and have had minor disabilities like speech and cordination problems. I also saw a few become in a vegetative state after the shot. Medicine has come a long way in 30 years. There has never been one strong study, over years to find out the direct link to what causes those to become autistic. Many parents of the kids I work with who are Autistic or who display Asperger Syndrome wonder if their child became that way due to the regiment of Vaccines given. They all say though that it has not been proven. Those who have children with Autism go to any lengths to research it as much as they can and live to basically find a cure. Instead of blaming this or that on it, they are more concerned with helping their child develope, and supporting ongoing research to find the true cause. I don't think you can really blame one thing or the next on something when you have no personal experience, So much of the media is picking this info out and putting it with this info to make a story, it's not always 100% fact. You see those ads on TV about 1 in 160,000 make it to pro basketball or something but 1 in 160 are diagnosed with Autism. Whose to say those numbers are corect, and even those ads urge more research is needed to help find a cure and a direct cause of it. I've yet to really see them talk about the drug companies are developing this or that to find a cure for Autism. I've yet to see them advertise on TV about a ongoing study to evaluate kids over a period of time, including physical developement, cognitive, emotional, and mental impacts. It's more speculation then anything. I agree with Liesl, the medical community needs to take a stand and start doing something. So many hear the word Autism and think of "Rainman" give me a break that labeling more then anything.
My mistake, Liesl, regarding the number of studies. I simply know, personally, after work with a State Foster Care Supervisory/Investigative program, of anecdotal cases, yes, of too many kids who were fine one day and just never the same after those shots. So, Shelley, I am speaking with considerable personal experience here. I am not scientifically qualified to judge the quality of research, what materials were studied, the statistics involved, etc. I also do not know if the vaccines were identical to those administered in the US, spaced at the same intervals,etc. Again, we have increased the number of vaccines just since 1996.
I just think that with so many lives at stake, and so much money also at stake in the industry, that more research should be done. Five does not sound like a large number to me when I know that even such a "minor" drug like Effexor, an anti-depressant given to a small percentage of the population, had over 15 studies done prior to approval.
It is also the case, that I WAS told by a senior FDA official that aspirin would never be approved if it were to come before the agency at this time. This was during the approval process of bringing ibuprofin over the counter. The scientific community as a whole was not in consensus on that issue, and I think it would be hard to characterize that community in any regard. Scientists include MDs, workers for the pharmaceutical industry, etc. How many are truly independent? I think we all want what's best for the kids, and the oath the doctors take involves, to my recollection, "do no harm."
Additonally, I agree that research should be done to find "cures" for autisim, although I am not current on what is or is not being done in that area. I do not think one should preclude the other. Obviously, those suffering now should have reasearch support behind the developement of cures, be they medication or some other form of therapy.
[Sorry, but I did say, one opinion]. Regards, Bonnie
I agree, Shelley. I think it's also totally understandable that a parent of a kid with autism will do anything to find the cause and will often latch on to something as a way to help their child. I can't blame them one bit. The people I blame are the people who claim to cure autism through their wacked out therapies. Gah! pisses me off.
Bonnie:
I can understand the desire to make the connection between vaccines and autism. I have a friend who has an autistic son who does not believe in the link but she did not finish his vaccinations. (I think he lacked the final one) She recognizes that it is an emotional response and is ok with that.
I think there have been more studies on the link, just not as major as the five I mentioned.
The Federal Government has a "Vaccine Court"? Hmmmm. I worked in the Codes and Standards business long enough to know that you can make research DATA say anything the customer wants. Color me cynical.
As a mother of babies vaccination age and a sister of a kidney transplant patient, I take vaccinations very seriously. I've had very long chats with my pediatrician about this. We have agreed on a delayed vaccination schedule, where they would normally do a large number of vaccines at once, they are now giving one or two spaced out. That is an option the media never talks about.
What got me about this article is the insinuation that because we don't know for sure if the vaccinations are 100% safe we should stop them and do reasearch. Well, I'm sorry the percentage of risk for my child contracting polio or rubella or any other disease being vaccinated against far exceed the ones for the children who develop autisim. If we do take vaccinations out of the equation, are we going to have to ban children from the public because they are public safety risk to the elderly, pregnant or those with suppressed immune systems, like my sister?
And one last thought - if autism created by vaccinations is such an epidemic, why aren't there more people with autism between the ages of say 15-35? I've know a few folks with autism in that age bracket but I guess I use my own family as acendotel evidence that the 'epidemic' might be bunk. My mother had 8 children between the years of 1961 and 1984 (take an 11 year break in between me and my sister). This is during the time of the therisol vaccinatins. Not a single one of us is autistic. Now you could say "You guys got lucky". For sure. But don't you think with that many children getting the "tainted" vaccinations would have a higher probability of one of us becoming austistic if the sole cause was the vaccinations? There's more to this than shots.
scrappywheels:As a mother of babies vaccination age and a sister of a kidney transplant patient, I take vaccinations very seriously. I've had very long chats with my pediatrician about this. We have agreed on a delayed vaccination schedule, where they would normally do a large number of vaccines at once, they are now giving one or two spaced out. That is an option the media never talks about.
It seems like the media only listens to the most extreme views on this. How is it possible Jenny McCarthy has a national platform?! Gah.
scrappywheels: What got me about this article is the insinuation that because we don't know for sure if the vaccinations are 100% safe we should stop them and do reasearch. Well, I'm sorry the percentage of risk for my child contracting polio or rubella or any other disease being vaccinated against far exceed the ones for the children who develop autisim. If we do take vaccinations out of the equation, are we going to have to ban children from the public because they are public safety risk to the elderly, pregnant or those with suppressed immune systems, like my sister?
There are already outbreaks of measles from unvaccinated children. Not to mention the fact that not only do we not wonder if vaccines cause autism, there have been many studies that show they do NOT cause autism.
scrappywheels: And one last thought - if autism created by vaccinations is such an epidemic, why aren't there more people with autism between the ages of say 15-35? I've know a few folks with autism in that age bracket but I guess I use my own family as acendotel evidence that the 'epidemic' might be bunk. My mother had 8 children between the years of 1961 and 1984 (take an 11 year break in between me and my sister). This is during the time of the therisol vaccinatins. Not a single one of us is autistic. Now you could say "You guys got lucky". For sure. But don't you think with that many children getting the "tainted" vaccinations would have a higher probability of one of us becoming austistic if the sole cause was the vaccinations? There's more to this than shots.
Exactly! Not only that, but when they took thimerisol out of vaccines the autism "epidemic" was supposed to go away or the incidence of autism was supposed to decrease. Just the opposite happened. Of course, not being able to let go of their golden ticket, antivaxers changed their tactic and started claiming it wasn't the mercury but the vaccine itself. *eyeroll*
Meh, you knew we agreed on this already. I'm in a chatty, chatty mood, apparently.
Scrappywheels: you have got this exactly right. One of the main issues with the vaccinations is the SCHEDULE of giving them all in large groups, for the convenience of the doc, so that the child's immune system is also suppressed. Additionally, the number of vaccinations has doubled since the early 90's. So that helps explain the issue of why more children may not have been effected in earlier eras. I don't think too many people really want to STOP vaccinations so much as to put them on a safer schedule, and investigate the anecdotal relationship that appears to exist with more research. Spacing the vaccines out is absolutely the best course, and one we rarely hear discussed.
