Entry By: Dr. Esther Hess
A 1998 study linking autism to vaccines may be a “fraud,” according to a British journalist Brian Deer. Deer says that five of the 12 children involved in Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s controversial 1998 study linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism actually had documented developmental problems prior to getting the vaccine.
The result: Immunization rates for measles, mumps and rubella have dipped substantially worldwide and measles, once nearly eradicated in the U.S., is back here and abroad!
“For years, the media has mischaracterized Wakefield’s work as implicating the MMR vaccine in the autism epidemic. This was never true, as Wakefield himself wrote in the conclusion to his paper:
‘We did not prove an association between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the syndrome described.’
“We hope the media will take the time to read the actual Lancet study, rather than repeating the message of a vaccine-industry funded media circus.”
Journalist Deer also writes that all the cases were somehow misrepresented when he compared data from medical records and the children’s parents.
Wakefield’s paper has been renounced by 10 of its 13 authors and removed from the Lancet medical journal, where it was originally published. A British panel is weighing whether to strip Wakefield and two of his colleagues from the right to practice medicine in Britain.
Dr. Neal Halsey, pediatrician and director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkin’s Children Center, told AOL Health that “The most important message is for parents to get vaccinations for their children,” he says. According to Halsey, there is a very small chance that complications will arise from vaccines. “Vaccines are one of the most preventative resources against neurological problems,” he adds.
I completely agree with Debra! I have been sayting that for YEARS! I (like Yolanda) also did not allow my son to get more than 1 shot at a time and am now doing the same with my daughter. Why are the pediatricians and vaccination companies FIGHTING to negate these types of studies and COMPROMISE! Give one or two shots at a time to HEALTHY children. Not just bombard them with shots because of a schedule or when there may be even minor outward signs of illness (colds or significant allergies). Then after pacifying parents across the globe, they can dispute the relationship between vaccines and autism. No Debra! You are not the only one that has thought of that! Unfortunately WE do not own a vaccination company or run pediatric health clinic!!
I am a pediatric therapist as Ms.Debra. I have seen an increase in the Autism diagnosis. I totally agree on avoiding the vaccines cocktail. And personally, I didn’t allow my son to be administered more than 2 vaccines at the same time. We as a health professional can help prevent this disability condition. The pediatrician avoiding the cocktails and we therapist been more pro-active instructing parents about the normal development of the children to catch any delay as early as possible. Thank for the discussion forum.
As a school system therapist, I have seen an explosion in Autism Spectrum disorders over the past 15 years.
I would like to ask:
1. Why many normally developing children become sick after immunization and then have a decline developmentally with a subsequent Dx of Autism or other delays?
I understand there is a report that said Japan’s Autism Dx rate went down after they stopped combining the shots.
2. Is this false?
3. Why don’t pediatricians stop combining these shots?
4. What would it hurt to stop giving the combined shots?
5. Wouldn’t this provide a positive alternative to parents instead of their decision to refuse immunizations?
6. Wouldn’t this answer all and any questions?
Mmm, I wonder why they don’t?
I would like to challenge pediatricians to stop giving combined shots and see if there is a connection and a decline in Autism!
7. Wouldn’t this provide real scientific proof we are all looking for?
Or are we? I can’t be the only one who has thought of this.
Very curious!
I, and I’m sure many others, will never be convinced until they do!
Thank you for this opportunity to express my feelings and concerns.
Kudos to you! I hadn\’t thuohgt of that!