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Quick History
The 1980s
In the 1980s, most estimates of the rate of autism were that it
affected 1 in 10,000 children. Today, the official estimate of the
autism rate is 1 in 110, with many localities reporting rates closer to 1
in 100. That's a 90-fold increase, or 9,000%. What's going on?
A recent survey showed that over 60% of parents of children with
autism blame vaccines. Tens of thousands of case reports appear very
similar: a normally developing child receives multiple vaccines from
their pediatrician, the child appears to change soon after the
appointment (or have an immediate, more serious reaction to the
vaccines), and later the child is diagnosed with autism.
An important point that is rarely discussed is the change in the
total number of vaccines given to this generation of children. In the
1980s, by the age of six, a child would receive a maximum of 10
vaccines, with many receiving less. Today, the Centers for Disease
Control's recommended schedule calls for 36 vaccines, a near-tripling of
total vaccines given to children. Is this increase in vaccines the
primary trigger of the increase in autism? Many parents believe so.
The "case closed" mantra
If the mainstream media -- and the paid spokespeople of the vaccine
industry who are often quoted by them -- were your only source of
information regarding the controversy over the link between vaccines and
autism, you'd get the strong impression that the case is closed and
that vaccines have been exonerated by "Science."
Consider some of these comments from organizations and individuals within the medical establishment:
"Groups of experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics,
agree that MMR vaccine is not responsible for recent increases in the
number of children with autism. In 2004, a report by the Institute of
Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is no association between autism and
MMR vaccine, or vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative."
- Centers for Disease Control
"Five large epidemiological studies have been conducted in the
United States and in Europe since 2001. These studies have all
consistently provided evidence that there is no association between
thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism."
- Every Child By Two, a nonprofit entity funded by Wyeth, a vaccine maker
"Five large epidemiological studies conducted in the United
States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden since 2001 consistently
provided evidence that there is no association between
thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism."
- Institute of Medicine
"There are no valid studies that show a link between thimerosal in
vaccines and autistic spectrum disorder. A 2004 report from the
Institute of Medicine, Vaccines and Autism, concluded that the available
evidence is against the existence of a causal relationship between
thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism."
- American Academy of Pediatrics
"The implication that vaccinations cause autism is irresponsible
and counter productive. Although several carefully performed scientific
studies have searched for a link between autism and the use of
thimerosal in vaccines, no such link has been found."
- March of Dimes
"Scientific data overwhelmingly show that there is no connection
between vaccines and autism...We need more research to investigate the
actual causes of autism, but it would be a disservice to the health of
our children if we let vaccines take the blame for this tragic and
complex disease."
- American Medical Association
"It is important to note that concerns about the toxicity of
thimerosal are theoretical and there is no compelling scientific
evidence of a safety problem with its use in vaccines, although public
perception of risk remains in some countries."
- World Health Organization
"From time to time, rumors circulate that thimerosal, a
mercury-based preservative once used in several vaccines (and still used
in some flu vaccine), could contribute to ASDs. However, valid
scientific studies have shown there is no link. The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the CDC, and
the Institute of Medicine (IOM) agree that science does not support a
link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism."
- American Academy of Pediatrics
That's an exhaustive and compelling "who's who" of our medical
establishment and they are all saying the same thing in no uncertain
terms: vaccines do not cause autism. Why in the world would any doctor,
parent, or scientist try to argue otherwise?
What is actually true?
Like everything in life, the devil is always in the details. This website will demonstrate that:
- Of 11 vaccines licensed for children (all given multiple times),
only a single vaccine -- the MMR -- has been studied for its
relationship to autism. This would be like trying to identify the source
of a plane crash, suspecting mechanical failure, solely analyzing one
of the wings, and then declaring the entire airplane free of
culpability.
- A vaccine ingredient, thimerosal, which is comprised of mercury,
has also been studied, but solely in the context of vaccinated children.
Often, the studies on thimerosal compare children who received various
levels of thimerosal in their vaccines, rather than none.
- No studies have ever considered unvaccinated children to compare their autism rates to those who receive vaccines.
- No studies consider the real world and how vaccines are actually
given. American children receive 6-7 vaccines simultaneously at their 2,
4, and 6 month "well baby" visits, but no science done comes close to
replicating this real world condition.
We genuinely believe that any parent, doctor, journalist, or
scientist who takes the time to read this site, look objectively at the
studies we analyze, and push themselves to understand if the right
questions have actually been asked will reach the same conclusions we
do.
One final point: the studies we are reviewing on this site are
typically filled with fairly rampant conflicts of interest. Conflict of
interest tends to corrupt and bias, which is why it's so important to
understand.
So, who are we? We are parents of children with autism. We believe
vaccines have caused our children's condition. We are not litigants
against vaccine manufacturers. We will not benefit financially if
vaccines are ultimately proven to be the primary trigger of autism. Our
motivation is truth and we want to help other parents avoid the fate
that befell us. That's it. Thank you for reading our website.
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