Autism and vaccines… a link?
In November 2007, the US Department of Health and Human Services made a landmark ruling that Hannah Poling, 9 years old from Georgia, had developed autism-like symptoms from regular vaccinations.
Despite this ruling, study after study continues to show that there is no direct link between developing autism and vaccinations. In fact, it has been meticulously reported that, although the US government conceded that vaccines ‘may have hurt’ Hannah and has agreed to pay her family for her care, they did not recognise a direct link between the vaccines and autism (1).
Indeed clarification was sought, and Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, was forced to state: “Let me be very clear that the government has made absolutely no statement indicating that vaccines are a cause of autism.” (1)
So - that clears that up, does it?
Well, in a nut shell, no; more and more cases are being taken to courts in the US, and that means one thing – that soon cases will be heard here in the UK.
I think with such public inaccuracy and ‘dodgy reporting’ it is vital we remind ourselves of some facts (2):
- No one knows exactly why but the brain develops differently in people with autism.
- Finding the cause (or causes) of autism is one of the most challenging questions facing medical science.
- The absence of a clear understanding about what causes autism makes finding effective therapies very difficult.
- It is now widely accepted by scientists that a predisposition to autism is inherited.
- It is not clear why a genetic predisposition affects some family members and not others.
- Autism is no longer attributed, as it once was, to lack of affection in the child's mother (see my former blog post on refrigerator mothers).
- Levels of autism appear to be rising, but that may be the result of improved detection, identification and diagnosis.
- There are currently no biological tests to confirm a “diagnosis” of autism. Identification of the condition is at present based solely on observed behaviours.
- Research is also taking place to establish the part played, if any, by environmental factors either prenatally or after a child is born.
I have been involved in a lot of developmental provision over the past 3 years in working with young people on the autistic spectrum in mainstream schools, and have had some considerable success. But there is no escaping the fact that there is a lot more that we do not know than that which we do know about autism.
Personally, for what it is worth, I feel certain that needs on the spectrum cannot be ‘caused’ by a post-birth event – medical or emotional. We all have needs on the spectrum, and it may be that some young people struggle to cope with their needs more after a significant event. But current research simply does not conclude any categorical definitive link between vaccines (or any other medical treatments) and the onset of autism.
Last week the first ever disability-specific law in England, The Autism Bill, made it through its final parliamentary stage and will now become the Autism Act (3). The Autism Act will guarantee the introduction of the first-ever adult autism strategy, which will set out how local services should be improved to meet the needs of adults with autism.
The strategy will cross different sectors of care and support and cover a range of issues including health, social care, employment and training and, crucially, will be accompanied by guidance which places a legal obligation on local authorities and NHS bodies to meet certain requirements.
The strategy will be published by April 2010 and the accompanying legal guidance no later than December 2010. Things are developing all the time and more recent readers of SENCology may wish to look at previous posts on the subject to see how my own thoughts and provision has developed over the last year or so?
Whatever happens in the wider areas of research, high courts and governments; I think we (SENCos and other ‘on-the-ground-professionals’) need to remain guarded against sensationalism and stick to trying our best in achieving the best, and most appropriate, outcomes for the young people we work with, and strive to give them the best life-chances we can, within the systems in which we work.
This job is never easy - but would we be doing it if it was?
(1) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/us/08vaccine.html?_r=2
(2) http://www.autismspeaks.org.uk/index.html
(3) http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2534&a=20803
Submitted by 
Posted in: 
Tags: 
Comments: 
Comments
Vaccines. and Mercury, Are Not Off the Hook Just Yet
Your article is a courteous overview of the vaccine autism issue but, with respect, still a bit unduly slanted toward official views denying that vaccines play any part in causing autism disorders.
(1) In the Poling case the US government settled before going to a court hearing. In doing so it was able to phrase the terms of the settlement to give it some "wiggle room" as shown in the story as reported in TIME, March 2008:
"The panel said that Hannah had an underlying cellular disorder that was aggravated by the vaccines, causing brain damage with features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)."
As you note "Identification of the condition is at present based solely on observed behaviours". In saying that Hannah Poling suffered brain damage "with features of autism spectrum disorder" the US government essentially acknowldeged that autism resulted from the vaccine induced damage since autism is diagnosed by such features.
(2)You also state that "study after study continues to show that there is no direct link between developing autism and vaccinations." The studies which are used to support statements indicating no link has been found have been questioned as to their methodological soundness and are overstated in terms of what was found by the study authors.
As one example the thimerosal studies rely upon increased rates of autism after removal of thimerosal from "most regularly administered" vaccines. On this point Dr. Julie Gerberding, who you reference in your comment, and other authorities, are reported by TIME, 2008, article in reference to these studies:
"Gerberding and other health authorities point out that the benefits of vaccines far exceed their risks. They also note that thimerosal was eliminated from routinely administered childhood vaccines manufactured after 2001, and yet autism rates have continued to climb. The current CDC estimate is that 1 of 150 American children has an autism spectrum disorder."
Yet,these same health authorities today question whether the increases in autism are real as your comment indicates: "Levels of autism appear to be rising, but that may be the result of improved detection, identification and diagnosis"
Two recent US studies suggest autism rates have recently risen to 1 in 91 but those are questioned by health authorities who state that the diagnostic definition changes of 1993-4 which saw the expansion of the definition of what constitutes an autism disorder together with increased social awareness may explain the increase.
Yet the same health authorities ignore the implication of that argument for their position that autism rates continued to climb after the removal of thimerosal in 2003. You can't say the increase is real when using the increase to argue that the mercury in vaccine does not cause or contribute to autism disorders and then turn around and say the increase is not real when trying to downplay public concerns about increasing autism rates.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, and Dr. Bernadine Healy, a former NIH and American Red Cross head, have both called for an observational study comparing autism rates in existing vaccinated and non vaccinated populations. Until such a study is done it will be difficult to argue persuasively that the role of vaccines as possible causes of autism disorders has been disproved.
I offer these comments as the parent of a 13 year old boy with Autistic Disorder who has never attributed my son's autism to vaccines but who finds the dismissal of vaccines as possible causes of autism disorders in some children to be less than convincing.
re: the article on autism
my oldest child has been diagnosed with aspergers syndrome by five experts when she was born 21 years ago i knew there was something wrong with her, she never cried and was blue.she was extremely quiet and slept all day and night asa baby she too got her vacine of MMR and after this vacine she became a totally different child she was hyperactive and very loud i am confinced that the MMR changed my child from classic autism to aspergers and no one or no government will unconvince me that the MMR is not linked to autism because i for one know different. josephine
causes of autsim
Firstly thank for writing this. I feel I must challenge your assertions though.
firstly the poling case is not unique there have been about 1300 other recent cases won. Rubella is a known cause of autism so it is reasonbable that other another virus (in a vaccine) could cause autism.
"Finding the cause (or causes) of autism is one of the most challenging questions facing medical science."
medical science has failed to find the cause or even look for it in the last 10 years, look at the research at the moment and only 5% is spent on the environmental triggers research all the rest is on genetics and face recognition or other pointless reseach.
"The absence of a clear understanding about what causes autism makes finding effective therapies very difficult."
many parennts report by treating other health issues children have ,improves autistic symtoms, this in hand with intensive ABA and decent nutrition is key.
"It is now widely accepted by scientists that a predisposition to autism is inherited."
Yes but there is a trigger that causes it, it like loading a gun, it won't go off without pulling the trigger.
even in identical twins autsim is no always present in both
"Levels of autism appear to be rising, but that may be the result of improved detection, identification and diagnosis."
this is an interesting point especially as many of the studys that vindicate vaccines say that even when vaccines up-take fell autism continued to rise. so is it rising or not?
Simon barons cohens reseach sugessed that prevalance is 1 in 64, then out of the same autism research center con the figure for 1 in 100 adults,,, are they making it up???
"There are currently no biological tests to confirm a “diagnosis” of autism. Identification of the condition is at present based solely on observed behaviours."
many children have bowel issues and abnormal gut flora, mitochondrial issues and evidence of heavy metal toxicity.
but as diagnosis is by a DSM test there is little interest. how many children do you know with bowel issues that will only eat chicken nuggets frys and dring milk??
"Research is also taking place to establish the part played, if any, by environmental factors either prenatally or after a child is born"
Where? I know where but can you find any?
please take a look at this film about the vaccine issue its an hour long
http://www.viddler.com/explore/ziggy/videos/1/
Good sencos are key to helping our kids please keep up the good work
;-)
Post new comment