P
Peter Moran
Guest
---from those of the "if it ain't so, it should be!!!" school of science.
"Autism and Vaccines"
Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (02/09/04) P. A26
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal was written after a surprising response the paper received
from a previous editorial about vaccines, in which the editorialist had noted that although there is
concern that the preservative thimerosal, once used in vaccines, may be the cause of the rise in
autism cases in children over the past 30 years. There is no scientific data to reflect that
presumption.
Letters and e-mail messages subsequently written to the paper accused the editorialist of "fraud," a
"terrorist act," and presenting an "industry profit promoting agenda," language that is also being
used in other arenas by a relatively small minority of the population that uses its voice to stifle
others that have an opposing view.
The editorialist noted that such vociferous reaction to one statement of fact reflects a dangerous
movement toward the suppression of scientific information for the advancement of a personal
viewpoint in attacks on respected organizations. For example, the National Alliance for Autism
Research, which is steadfastly independent, found through a rigorous Danish study it co-funded that
there is probably no association between the measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine and autism,
yet naysayers immediately attacked the group and slandered its activities despite its record of
thoughtful research.
The editorial notes that "researchers have spent years studying the vaccine-autism link, and we hope
they continue. But if the research disproves a connection--as it has up to now--the autism community
needs to listen and move on," as research funding only stretches so far and "parents of autistic
children deserve to see the money spent where it will do the most good."
Some common sense there.
Peter Moran
"Autism and Vaccines"
Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (02/09/04) P. A26
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal was written after a surprising response the paper received
from a previous editorial about vaccines, in which the editorialist had noted that although there is
concern that the preservative thimerosal, once used in vaccines, may be the cause of the rise in
autism cases in children over the past 30 years. There is no scientific data to reflect that
presumption.
Letters and e-mail messages subsequently written to the paper accused the editorialist of "fraud," a
"terrorist act," and presenting an "industry profit promoting agenda," language that is also being
used in other arenas by a relatively small minority of the population that uses its voice to stifle
others that have an opposing view.
The editorialist noted that such vociferous reaction to one statement of fact reflects a dangerous
movement toward the suppression of scientific information for the advancement of a personal
viewpoint in attacks on respected organizations. For example, the National Alliance for Autism
Research, which is steadfastly independent, found through a rigorous Danish study it co-funded that
there is probably no association between the measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine and autism,
yet naysayers immediately attacked the group and slandered its activities despite its record of
thoughtful research.
The editorial notes that "researchers have spent years studying the vaccine-autism link, and we hope
they continue. But if the research disproves a connection--as it has up to now--the autism community
needs to listen and move on," as research funding only stretches so far and "parents of autistic
children deserve to see the money spent where it will do the most good."
Some common sense there.
Peter Moran