In an interview with Katie Couric Secretary Sebelius says thimerosol is safe and parents need not worry:
"study after study, scientist after scientist, has determined that there really is no safety risk with thimerosol. There is concern about parents of why autism rates are rising. And, as you know, we've got some special NIH studies, thanks to the president, focused on just what is going on.
But thimerosol has been proven to be safe. It's used in seasonal vaccine-- seasonal flu vaccine. And, again, we want to assure people that that-- the scientists, again, have confirmed-- that there is really a safe factor with using thimerosol. It's an effective preservative and one that we think actually adds to the likelihood that we'll have a safe vaccine for a while to come.
....
based on the science. And the science, again, continues to indicate that the ingredients we're anticipating using in this vaccine are safe to use."
The article Web Exclusive: Sebelius on Vaccine Fears does not indicate what studies Secretary Sebelius relies upon to assert that the science shows that thimerosoal is safe and does not cause autism. Given that pregnant women will be targeted it appears that the swine flu vaccine program will essentially be an experiment which could result, or not, in a new wave of autism diagnoses in the children of women receiving the swine flu vaccine. I hope that Secretary Sebelius is right in the result but I believe she has overstated the "science" supporting the safety of thimerosol and the alleged lack of any link to autism disorders.
Hopefully accurate records will be kept. In a feature last year, also on CBS, Dr. Bernadine Healy expressed concerns about vaccines and indicated that research of a vaccine autism connection had been expressly discouraged by health authorities. CBS also reported that:
"CBS News has learned the government has paid more than 1,300 brain injury claims in vaccine court since 1988, but is not studying those cases or tracking how many of them resulted in autism.
The branch of the government that handles vaccine court told CBS News: “Some children who have been compensated for vaccine injuries…may ultimately end up with autism or autistic symptoms, but we do not track cases on this basis.”"
See no autism, hear no autism, speak no autism.
autism
Thimerosal -- the ingredient grandfathered in as "safe" by the FDA with one little safety test on dying meningitis patients? Where ARE all these safety tests they mention?
ReplyDeletegreat post!
ReplyDelete<3 Lindsay
Wonderful blog! I can't begin to express how angry I am that we are going to mass-immunize against swine flu. My family will not be getting it. I'd rather take my chances quite frankly than the chance of losing my son to more regression.
ReplyDeleteI am pregnant, I due in Nov. prime flu season, I also have a 2 year old (w/out autism) who i chose not to vaccinate and a 8 year old with autism who was OVER vaccinated. I will not get any shots (and their r talking about giving your child 2 shots, one for regular flu one for swine flu on top of their regular shots!!)..I too would run the risk..10 day of the flu or a possible life time of autism not a tuff choice for me!
ReplyDeleteI've had the flu while pregnant before. I was 15 weeks along. My son and I are both alive and well.
ReplyDeleteThis presents an opportunity to conduct a vaccinated vs unvaccinated study.All other factors being equal, this kind of study, long called for can simply determine if their is a higher rate of autism in children born to mothers who received prenatal vaccinations.
ReplyDeleteI dont for a second question the severity of the deseases we vaccinate for. You must understand though, that when you are faced with such a huge “what if” it is terrifing.
ReplyDeleteI had a flu shot before i realised, i was pregnant with my Autistic son. Every day it is a struggle for him, dealing with things that come natural to everyone else…It breaks my heart to see him have such a tough time.
And now I am pregnant again, faced with the most difficult decision of protecting myself and unborn baby against Swine flu when the vaccine comes out, but potentially having another child with Autism.
It is not as black and white as some people say!!!! It is the “what if” that haunts me.