Parents push vaccine-autism link to courts

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) May 14th 2008 8:52AM

Categories: Babies, Toddlers, Health & Safety, Development, In The News

A possible link between a vaccine additive and autism is in the news again. The courts will participate in three cases, the second of which was last Monday, to determine whether parents should be awarded millions of dollars to over 4,800 parents of autistic children.

in the second hearing parents are claiming that thimerosal, an preservative added to vaccines that contains mercury, is causing the autism. This issue has been on wildfire for quite some time now, and since 2001 pediatricians have declined further use of vaccines containing the preservative.

Several parents discussed in the New York Times article contend that their children were developing normally until they were vaccinated but that a build up of mercury in their brains stopped that development. The two cases are being used to determine what if any compensation will be given to other parents with similar claims.

I feel terrible reading about parents searching if not for a cure at the very least an answer to what has caused their children's autism. And, honestly, I'm scared too. I don't know the answers, and I feel as helpless as many parents probably feel when faced with the infromation and misinformation out there. Science keeps claiming there is no link, yet the theory stil persists and seems to have some weight.

It seems that we are far, far, far away from being able to prove one way or another whether vaccines, their additives or something entirely different are causing autism.

The battle to prove has also thankfully gone beyond one of trendy cause or "controversial issue." Who knows how long before we'll know the answers, if they exist, and what can be done once we have them. On the other side of this, however, is that people are talking about it, engaging in discussion about it, fighting for answers and to be heard. That's how answers are found.

Pic by gruntzooki.

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Comments (13)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ame s 5-14-2008 @ 9:32AM

I wonder if there are any stats on autistic children who didn't have any of the vaccines.

Paige2008 5-14-2008 @ 9:16AM

If it was the vaccines that are causing autism, then why are children still being diagnosed when the thimerosal has been removed from them?

Mel 5-14-2008 @ 10:55AM

Umm, maybe because it is something *other* than the thimerasol that leads to autism diagnoses. Who knows? Your statement shows a complete lack of logic, one which underscores the dumbed-down treatment of this issue by the public and the courts.

rjgwood 5-15-2008 @ 10:23PM

Actually, the mercury preservative is still used in Flu vacinations, which are pushed for young children.

I'm a skeptic by nature, and have a science background, and am the mother of a child with autism.

I am not convinced either way. But, clearly more exploration needs to take place, in order for us to identify whether vacinations play a role in autism.

Researchers have already determined that genetics play a role, identifying already particular genes or genetic patterns that exist in children with autism.

Many researchers believe there are additional causal factors that are at work, probably environmental.

I have looked at the studies that have been conducted regarding mercury or vacinations in general, and my conclusion is that much more investigative work needs to be done before we can determine one way or another whether vacinations play a role in autism.

However, the stories of many, many families, including my own, pin point a period in their child's life which presents a change in the child. That needs to be investigated in a clear, scientific, empirically based, replicated manner.

Rhonda

Jenni 5-14-2008 @ 9:16AM

I feel bad for these parents who have to deal with this. It's tough! However, there is no coorelation, only coincedence in the vaccinations and autistic symptoms appearing. It's about this same age that true symptoms begin to appear. It's unfortunate, but I have to believe in the science that has not proven it yet.
I am open and willing to change my mind when there is actual proof. I also am a professional who works with these children. It's unfortunate; but it's genetic. Once parents stop playing the blame-game they can better move on and help their children. What is sueing going to do? Is it going to help their child? No, they are hoping that it is going to make them some money.

If it wasn't about the money, they would be sueing to force the research into it. They would be sueing to make them change the way vaccines are given. Are they going to donate the money to the cause?

I do feel bad. I do wish that things could change. However, the real trend is that as the success of high risk pregnancies goes up, the more children are born with these, and many other, genetic problems.

ninainindia 5-14-2008 @ 11:19AM

I agree completely.

It's understandable these people want answers but sometimes answers just aren't there (yet). The thirst for money these people have always leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Meagan 5-14-2008 @ 12:31PM

Hey Jenni, just wanted to respond before someone jumps on you:
You said: "there is no coorelation, only coincedence" I think you meant: "there is no proof of causation, only coincidence or correlation"

If there is a coincidental alignment between the age at which children get vaccinated and the age at which autism appears that IS a correlation. That's all that correlation is.

Melissa 5-14-2008 @ 12:03PM

Both my sons were developing normally until they received they round of shots at 15/16 ms., DTP, MMR, etc. at once.
My sons never smiled in a photo again and by 18 ms. never spoke again.
Whether it is a combo of too many viruses being placed in a compromised immune system at once and/or the mercury, it is why my sons hav autism and suffer immensley in their world.
It is always easy for people whose children are "NORMAL" to
say oh it did not cause their autism.
How dare you. You have no idea what happened with our children.
You did not watch what happened after every vaccine was given to our babies. Febile seizures, 104 fevers, did your have that?
Of course not.
So, do not condemn us for discovering the answer for our childrens disorder, because you are afraid of autism yourself.

Kevin 5-14-2008 @ 3:58PM

Thimerosol has been removed from post production procedures. However, thimerosol is still used in every single vaccine during production, they are not allowed to add extra thimerosol when bottleing the vaccine like they used to and still do for some vaccines.

Don't forget about aluminum which is a dna - replicating inhibitor.

Melissa - sorry to hear about your sons - Autism, in many cases, is reversible - check these links:

http://www.icpa4kids.com/cgi-bin/htsearch.cgi?config=&restrict=&exclude=&method=and&format=builtin-long&sort=score&words=autism

and

http://www.autismwebsite.com/aRI/dan/dan.htm

Kevin

Jenni 5-14-2008 @ 7:19PM

Melissa, I'm not at all afraid of autism. I work with it, participate in the diagnosis or if, plan and implement IEP's for all levels of autism across the spectrum on a regular basis. By regular I mean that in the past 10 plus years I have been involved with at least 2-3 cases a year. In addition, I have watched my own niece be affected with autism as well. Is it because of vaccines? Probably not, it's a genetic trait.

Providing child care, I see these children from infant on up. I, along with the parents, take notice in changes in behaviors and development. Your autistic child is not the only one to react to shots and vaccines; it's a rare child that doesn't get fevers or other symptoms after vaccinations.

How dare YOU insinuate that we don't care or have any idea. I'm sorry for what you have to deal with; but you are not the only one out there. There are more than maybe you realize; and more are added everyday.

Does more research need to be done? Yes! But does telling everyone else that we don't understand your predicament help your cause? Not at all!

rjgwood 5-15-2008 @ 10:31PM

Actually, a correlation is akin to a coincidence in science. All that a correlation shows is that there is a relationship. I think that many families could provide evidence of a relatiionship to vacines. However, that doesn't prove causality, which I think was the point your comment was trying to make. Beyond that, though, causality is certainly not ruled out with the current scientific body of knowledge.

Indeed, the government awarded a large settlement to parents of a child with autism and admitted that her particular type of autism was augmented by the vacines. This mitochondrial disorder that the child displayed, the government said, induced by the vacines, caused her autism. Many researchers believe that this mitochondrial disorder may impact many children with autism, but is extremely difficult to test for.

Obviously, much more work needs to be done to determine what impact our loaded vacine schedule may have on our children. We are the most vacinated group of children anywhere on the planet, and there is not enough research on the number of vacines given, the interaction of these vacines with one another, and whether particular children, such as those impacted by autism, may be vulnerable to the impact of vacines.

rjgwood 5-15-2008 @ 10:46PM

What a ridiculous comment, that the money is why they are suing. A study by Harvard University has determined that the cost of raising a child with autism is about 3.2 million dollars. I guarantee you that the courts will not award a fraction of that.

Additionally, the provided legal remedy in this country is money. That is the way the system is set up. It is very rare that a court would order research. You obviously don't really have a firm grasp about the U.S. court system. Additionally, this case is being determined in the U.S. Court of Appeals in a special court for vaccine cases. The government has set up a fund to award damages for people who are injured by vaccine manufacturers, kind of like the Superfund for toxic waste, so that the risk is spread over the industry. Historically, the way that people have been able to motivate industry was to hit them where it hurt: financially. The end result is a reduction to their bottom line, which impacts their stockholders, specifically their Board of Directors, who then force the management to address the issues that they should have been concerning themselves with prior to being sued, but since they were making huge profits, really didn't have the motivation to do so.

You can see this pattern again and again in lawsuits against major corporate wrong do-ers. What if it comes to light, as a result of discovery, just as it did in the breast implant case and many others like it, that the industry knew all along that there was a severe public danger? In that case everyone will be lauding these families instead of tossing out irresponsible allegations.

If there are damages awarded as a result of the recklessness of vaccine providers, I will make sure that my family is in line to receive our portion.

I have quit work to stay home to care for our daughter, whose life has been irrevokably changed by autism. If this was caused by an industry who knowingly or recklessly endangered my child, then I am going to make certain that I have access to the funds.

I don't know whether my daughter will ever be able to care for herself. I want to make sure that when my husband and I die, she will be provided for and have people to take care of her.

And if an industry did this to her, they should do the providing.

Al 5-16-2008 @ 1:45AM

In this discussion I believe it is important to look at what is considered autism anymore. There are certainly children with autism that clearly have social and developmental disabilities, problems connecting with others, etc. but there are also the other disorders on the "autism spectrum", and some of these children don't have actual problems. Their parents do not disipline them so they act out and parents search for excuses, or their children are simply socially awkward. It happens.

This is not a popular opinion and may be seen as closeminded, but over medication and over diagnosis is common today and should not be ruled out in circumstances such as this.

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