Response to: Autism and Vaccines , WSJ, Monday, February 16, 2004
Dear Editors: To debate would mean that you would actually give the opportunity to publish the other
side of the autism and vaccine story, not just lambaste parents as nasty terrorists and rumor-
spreaders. The "small coterie" of parents to which you credit loudly claiming thimerosal-containing
vaccines caused their child's autism is growing larger and larger by the second. Perhaps that is why
newspapers such as WSJ feel so threatened by us. Instead of crafting another editorial to target
parents of autistic children as paranoid and senseless, why not actually "investigate" the
possibility that thousands of parents are right? I'll answer that question
- because that would do harm to your precious advertising revenue and the all-virtuous
pharmaceutical companies.
I would agree with you on one point - lost in all this controversy has been a little thing called
science: Science that researches the facts about thimerosal and its damage to babies' developing
brains without regard to what pharmaceutical companies the researcher is funded by; Science that
addresses the cause and effect of a thimerosal-containing vaccine instead of dismissing blatant
reactions as coincidental; and Science that isn't controlled by which politician or stock portfolio
it will damage.
Don't let the anger and hurt of these parents surprise you. Instead you should ask yourself, why.
Why is such a large group of parents so passionate about this issue. Why would your first editorial
spark such a response. The answer is simple. Because the truth is maddening. Because to blatantly
deny the facts and ignore the voices of these parents is morally and socially irresponsible.
As far as the sources of "honest" information go, I suggest choosing better references. The Danish
study to which you refer was flawed. Even a layperson such as myself could browse the study and see
that their "unvaccinated" group actually contained vaccinated children. Did you review this study
before you referenced it as evidence? You couldn't possibly have or you would have discovered this.
Dr. Paul Offit would be the last physician I would make reference to as an unbiased voice in the
vaccine debate. Dr. Offit's ties to the pharmaceutical companies are well established and visible.
And believe me, no parent will ever shut him up. You state in your own article that Samuel Katz is
the co-creator of the measles vaccine. Please enlighten us as to how either of these two physicians
could present unbiased testimonial on the benefits of vaccines.
*You* may not know what causes autism, but I sure as heck do. I saw it with my own eyes, to my own
baby boy. I am one of the lucky ones though. I have dedicated the past two years of my life making
my son well and he is mostly recovered from his autism, a/k/a mercury and tetanus poisoning. You
talk about a 3 month old baby that died of acute hepatitis B-induced liver failure - I'm not a
doctor but I can pretty much guarantee a HepB vaccine at birth was not going to save that baby. HepB
is obtained via unprotected
the rare circumstance it was contracted from a blood transfusion, that HepB vaccine would have done
no good. So you see, now you are the one using scare tactics.
You speak of the "dangers" of the measles - what would you say in response to the fact that both my
daughter and I developed a serious case of the measles - documented by physicians - from the MMR
vaccine? Or that my brother is completely deaf in one ear after developing the measles from his
vaccine. Oh wait, I know, you would group us in the "rare family whose child is injured by
vaccines." Have you read the Vaccine Injury Database? You couldn't have or you would learn vaccine
injuries are not so rare. If doctors reported vaccine injuries the way they are supposed to, the
whole world would see just how "rare" they are not.
Modernize the VICP - is that what you call slipping in a rider at the last minute in the Homeland
Security Act that disallows lawsuits against thimerosal-containing vaccine makers? If Senator
Frist's intentions were honorable, why not propose its own bill, in broad daylight? I can answer
that as well, because that would draw attention to the real facts about thimerosal and autism. Facts
the CDC itself kept secret after their own confidential study of thimerosal in 2000 showed a
positive correlation between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism, ADD, speech delays, and
other developmental disorders.
The only human toll in the thimerosal flap is the toll on the hundreds of thousands of babies who
will develop autism from a thimerosal-containing vaccine and the devastation it causes their
families. If you are really in favor of open and honest inquiry - print both sides of this debate
instead of accusing parents of the same tactics you yourself are using. The only thing I am
intolerant of is media giants who use their position in society to further squelch the truth and
make themselves look like the victim. The millions of children with autism, ADD, asthma, speech
delays, and other developmental disorders as a result of thimerosal-containing vaccines are the real
victims. I am all for public debate on this subject - bring it on! But as I first said, to debate
means to allow both sides a voice.
In the *real* interest of families struck with autism, it's important I point out you are a little
behind in your reporting. Research from the CDC's own Vaccine Safety Datalink, unveiled at the
Institute of Medicine meeting last Monday, concluded children are 27 times more likely to develop
autism after exposure to three thimerosal-containing vaccines, than those who receive thimerosal-
free versions. The CDC's own secret reseach in 2000 shows a positive link. I think that justifies
the furor and demonstrates a credible enough link, wouldn't you?
And lastly, let's not forget the poor last, "few remaining" vaccine makers. Considering 2/3 of the
advertisements on tv and in magazines is for these pharmaceutical companies nearly at risk of being
bankrupted, I wouldn't be too worried about this "small coterie" of parents. If it were me - I'd be
worried about the science.
Truly, Erica McPhee