A Link Between Thimerosal Vaccines And Autism
30 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // May 19th, 2008 // 12:07 am
A new epidemiological study suggests that a link exists between vaccines containing Thimerosal and several neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The researchers examined possible associations between neurodevelopmental disorders and exposure to mercury from Thimerosal-containing vaccines using the Vaccine Safety Datalink(VSD), the administrative database established by several HMOs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Immunization Safety Office.
The study, which is being published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences, examined birth cohorts between 1990 and 1996 for diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders and thimerosal exposure via recorded vaccines. Funding was provided by the court-appointed Petitioners’ Steering Committee representing children with autism claims pending in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
The study also compared large groups of children, from seven different birth years, with varying mercury exposures. When comparing exposure differences of 100 micrograms of mercury, the study found the prevalence rates of autism, autism spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances were significantly increased by 1.7 to 4.5 times. These increased prevalence rates were seen in both exposure periods of birth-7 months and birth-13 months.
“These findings are important because they demonstrate that children in a birth cohort with higher average mercury exposure than other birth cohorts had rates of neurodevelopmental disorders that were on average 2 to 4 times higher than the rates in the birth cohorts with lower exposures,” Heather Young, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and study’s lead author, say in a statement.
“Because of the strong ecological associations found in this study, it is extremely important that additional studies be conducted using this data source, including case-control and cohort studies which, would allow the linking of individual exposure to disease,” says Young, who has been a consultant in vaccine cases before the no-fault NVICP.
The steering committee says the federal government, the vaccine makers and HMO’s wouldn’t conduct any studies in this database. The investigators of this study are the only scientists outside the government and the HMO’s who have been given access to the VSD data, but their access was restricted in three ways that, they say, limited the data that could be examined.
First, the government refused to produce the automated data in a way that would have allowed the investigators to link vaccine-mercury exposure to outcome data in individuals. As a result, Thimerosal exposure had to be averaged over each birth cohort for the time periods of birth-7 months and birth-13 months, even though the database was set up to permit individual risk assessments.
Second, the government and the HMO’s refused to permit access to any data entered after the year 2000, which meant that the maximum follow up period of the neurodevelopmental disorders for some children was only to four years of age. Specifically, for children born in 1997 or later, this restriction to access prevented any examination of true prevalence rates for those later birth cohorts.
Third, only three of the eight HMO’s participating in the taxpayer funded database permitted even this limited access (Northern California, Colorado, and Oregon Kaiser plans). Other HMO’s blocked access to the data on hundreds of thousands of additional children.
The steering committee goes on to say that families who have filed claims for compensation in the NVICP have sought broader access to the taxpayer-funded data base for four years, but have been blocked by the government and the courts.
In 2006, a panel appointed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommended that a broad study of the database for links between TCV’s and autism be conducted, but the Bush Administration refused to provide funding while also refusing to permit outside investigators to conduct a study.
The other two study authors are: David Geier, vp of the Institute of Chronic Illnesses, who has been a consultant in vaccine/biologic cases before the no-fault NVICP and in civil litigation; and Mark Geier. president of The Genetic Centers of America and a board certified epidemiologist, who has been a consultant and expert witness in vaccine/biologic cases before the no-fault NVICP and in civil litigation.
Tristan Phillips
Another group of “researchers” looking to feed the lawsuit machine. I’ll believe their nonsense when they and their kin can cough up peer-reviewed primary research which includes all their methodologies and raw data. “Studies” are *not* research; they’re answers look for supporting facts.
John Stone
Tristan Phillips
Of course, the motives of the pharmaceutical industry are always as pure as the driven snow, they always do flawless research, and they never ever use lawyers, or ruthless PR lobbyists to defend their interests. They are just the nicest people!
Dawn
I am convinced after suffering from partial hearing loss/Auditory Processing Disorder from one vaccine last year - the rubella vaccine. I actually now have a learning disability at 34 years old (my hearing was perfect before the vaccine). At the same time my infant went through his own nightmare from vaccine reactions. The extent of his injuries will not be known until the school years. My 14 yr old’s right eye was also damaged from one dose of Hep B. So, yes vaccines can cause Autism and a whole lot more! When they can’t guarantee immunity are they worth it? *&%^, no! Give me any one of those diseases any day. Our lives have been turned upside down thanks to vaccines!
Vince
Very much the findings originally described in a piece by Robert Kennedy Jr. see Deadly Immunity . The only studies that have not shown a link have one fatal flaw . They are conducted by people who have a vested interest in not finding a link. A question why do groups that do not vaccinate not get autism?
David Foster
While Tristan Phillips remains skeptical of this PEER-REVIEWED PRIMARY RESEARCH due to the association of the authors with pending litigation involving claims in federal vaccine court, we should really be asking ourselves: (1) why didn’t the CDC and other federal agencies fund and conduct this research; and (2) why was it so difficult for the authors to gain access to a taxpayer-funded database whose sole purpose is supposedly to make vaccines safer? Also, though access was granted, the government imposed severe limitations, which among other things made it impossible to link a particular child’s mercury exposure to their particular outcome. This would server to weaken whatever conslusions this study could make. Now Tristan, why do you suppose that is?
Kelly
Vince,
There is no factual basis in the idea that has floated around for years now “groups that don’t vaccinate don’t get autism.” In fact, there *are* autistic Amish (this is the group that is commonly being referenced by that canard). Just because people repeat statements does not make those statements facts.
dd
Very interesting comment by Vince and something I hadn’t thought about. But anecdotal evidence does seem to back up what he said somewhat. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2005/12/07/the_age_of_autism_a_pretty_big_secret/6829/
Theresa
There are very few Amish who have autism; many of those who do have it, have been vaccinated; others have significant mercury exposure from other sources (maternal fish consumption during pregnancy). However, the story is actually more nuanced than I can do justice to here… so you can read more about it here: http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/05/olsted-the-amis.html and here: http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/05/olsted-the-am-1.html
However, we don’t have to look at the Amish. Vince’s statement stands up when you look at the Homefirst medical practice in Chicago, whose patients do not vaccinate, and whose patients (except for ONE) do not have autism: http://www.homefirst.com/faqs/examples/the_age_of_autism_the_final_word.html
truthman30
There is never any smoke without fire..
Even if a tiny percentage of mercury exposure can trigger Autism and related “conditions” in children then this is a “link” ..
ATG
Things are heating up these days:
http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/05/sick-monkeys-st.html
While Julie Gerberding’s staff get hush funds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/washington/17cdc.html
truthman30
I meant to say “Even if Autism is triggered in just a tiny percentage of the population because of exposure to mercury , then that is a “link”..
It is always the same argument with pharma..
They deny “links” that are difficult to prove..
They didn’t get away with thalidomide because the damage was so visible physically ..
It is much easier to get away with other stuff which is difficult to detect and they know this all too well..
One would only have to research their abuse of “mental illness” to see this..
The psychological scarring is very real with psych drugs..
crankynick
While I don’t have the technical expertise to comment on the science in the paper, it’s probably worth you all googling the names of study’s authors before making any judgements about whether the
The Geiers, in particular, have something of a history in the autism field…
And in answer to David Foster’s question about why the CDC denied the authors access to the data, it’s probably because the Geiers have been previously barred from accessing data by an IRB for using dodgy data protocols and alleged breaches of patient confidentiality.
Anonymous
Tristan Phillips
Honest, but stupid? Misled? Stooge? Criminal? Propagandist? Shill? Reactionary?
Well intentioned on that road to hell?
Who knows?
Maybe he can just take his marbles and fly home to Indianapolis?
Maureen Drummond
An autism rate of 1/150 children in this country indicates random, double-blind repeatable data. Show me an unvaccinated child with autism and I will show you a true case of autism. The autistic Amish children were adopted from other countries where they were required to have all of their vaccinations. The toxicology journals provide a plethora of information on the ill effects of phenol, aluminum, formaldehyde and mercury—all vaccine components–in the human body. The symptoms listed as the toxic poisoning effects are the same as the symptoms listed on the autism spectrum; loss of speech, loss of motor skills, loss of cognitive ability, cerebral palsy, gastrointestinal disorders, learning disabilities, cellular mutations, kidney damage, systemic poisoning and the like. In their infinite wisdom, health officials have adopted the brilliant idea of injecting these substances, allowing direct access to the blood-brain barrier where these poisons are wreaking untold disaster! The science is well-established regarding the causal link between these poisons and deterioration of the immune system. But I guess only the “pharmasiah” puts out real science, hugh?
Cindy Stolten
Vaccines are safe only until they affect you or yours. That is the way it seems to be with all pharmaceuticals. The only difference is vaccines are the Holy Grail of the medical industry. There are acceptable losses, until it is your loss.
John F.
We won’t discover anything about a possible link between vaccines and autism by studying the Amish population. There are way to many confounding factors that cannot be controlled for.
For example, it’s already well established that there is a strong genetic factor in autism. So any population as genetically isolated as the Amish is bound to have a different base susceptibility, which could explain not only why the base rate is lower (if it is), but why most cases are adoptees from outside the community (if they are).
And that’s just one factor. There are so many other ways that the Amish differ from the general population. EMF exposure? Television? Diet? Wi-fi? Cell phones? Plasticizers? Herbicides? Pesticides? All of these and have been eyed suspiciously by researchers (of varying credibility). How do you control for all of that? How would you prove that it was skipping vaccines that has protected them, rather than avoiding one or more of those other possible or known factors?
Similar issues would affect a study of the homeschooling population, though the differences with the general population there are much less pronounced.
Wyatt's Mom
As an infant, my son avoided eye contact and did some self stimming but walked, talked and played appropriately on schedule. However within 5 days of receiving the MMR/DPT in one pediatrician office visit he lost his speech, had gut cramps/pain, started banging his head on anything hard and screaming. The usual divorce ensued, my health spiraled downhill and I lost a couple jobs due to childcare issues. I had to run up the credit cards for therapies and advocates because schools refused services, and ultimately had to sell my house before it became a foreclosure.
I don’t need studies funded by whomever to determine what happened for us. Thank you, you pharmaceutical bastards. Thank you, you doctors who blindly follow what the pharma reps dictate and lobbyists legislate. Thank you Autism Research Institute -honestly- for all you do.
B. Martin, MD
There is some concern about the IRB approval of this study. According to online sources, Kaiser suspended Geier’s use of data in the Vaccine Safety Datalink and withdrew its IRB approval, because of alleged confidentiality breaches: http://bmartinmd.com/2008/05/irb-approval-of-geier-autism-s.html
ATG
John F.– If you’re proposing that the Amish are avoiding autism for any reason, wouldn’t that be all the *more* reason to study the population base?
Dr. Martin– the “authoritative” IOM report?
http://www.putchildrenfirst.org/quicksummary.html
Ed Silverman
Hi B,
Thanks for the info about the study and I will look into it. As to your comment about the post itself, if you go back and read closely, I attributed those few graphs to the researchers, who made their remarks in a statement, but unfortunately, I wasn’t provided a link to the statement. I should also add that, in retrospect, I should have been more explicit and used the words ’said in a statement,’ or something to that effect, to avoid any confusion.
Thanks for writing in,
ed
pg
Can’t say I know much about this, but there’s a video by University of Calgary about the effects of mercury on the brain. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/538419/how_mercury_produces_brain_damage/
pg
This news clip from 4 months ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lafAE3-LdmI#
appears to be saying that thimerosal/mercury is still in some vaccines because there was no recall of existing stocks when the drug industry stopped adding it to their vaccines.
pg
Also there’s:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4115912987954370615
‘Dr. Boyd Haley is a professor and chair of the chemistry department at the University of Kentucky. In this interview, Dr. Haley discusses mercury toxicity as a causal factor in Autism. He also discusses the two primary sources of mercury toxicity: vaccines & dental amalgams.’
I’m no scientist, but I did learn in school chemistry classes that mercury was one of the most deadly metals on the planet. So I’m open to the idea that putting a bit of it in vaccines given to kids with developing brains is likely to cause damage and on that topic the question arises whether deadly metal poisoning can ever be ‘better’ than measles and mumps?
pg
Doctors Without Borders on mercury poisoning.
“What you are about to read is a medical review about a tragedy unequalled in the annals of history.”
http://www.thenhf.com/articles_45.htm
I don’t know if Doctors Without Borders have some financial interest in giving their view. Given the work they do, I doubt it.
B. Martin, MD
Thanks, Ed. The way the post currently reads, it’s unclear if Young was speaking for herself and then the steering committee, or if the steering committee provided the information as a separate source. Your follow-up post implies that she was speaking for both herself as the study author, as well as the steering committee–which implies a less-than-disinterested approach to how the study was conducted.
Ed Silverman
Hi B,
I don’t know if the authors were attempting to speak for the steering committee, so we’re left to judge these remarks as they stand, for what that’s worth. There was no separate remark from the steering committee, in any event.
And Young’s work as a consultant was mentioned in the release and so I duly noted that as well. I can’t speak to how that may, or may not, have affected the way the study was conducted, specifically, though.
If there are any specific issues, I can reach out to the study authors to see if they would respond on the site, but of course, I can’t guarantee any of them would do so.
Cheers
ed
JT
The day Julie Gerberding agrees to have herself injected with the amounts of vaccines w/ Thimerosal my now severely autistic, asthmatic 19 year old and Asp w/ “idiopathic” seizure affected 15 year old son ( both from different marriages, I might add…)were subjected to is the day I will accept her claims that there is no “link”.
Claire
http://epiwonk.com/?p=55
first of a series of posts by a retired epidemiologist (and journal editor) critiquing the Young, Geier & Geier paper.
keiner
The methodology of the study is…. trash ?
Look here
http://epiwonk.com/?p=55#comments
AutismNewsBeat
Red, are you still promoting the Olmsted stories? He never bothered to call or visit the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, PA, until well after his Amish Anomaly story.
Lancaster County Amish vaccination rates have increased from 20% to 75& since the CSC opened. Why isn’t there an explosion in autism among the Old Order Amish? Even that tireless medical investigator Dan Olmsted hasn’t seen that.
Let the false indignation begin!