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Is there a link between autism and thimerosal, the mercury based preservative in some vaccines?
Jennifer Taggart
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Many parents believe that the mercury-based preservative, thimerosal, which has been used in vaccines and is still present in flu vaccine not packaged as single doses, can cause autism and other neurological disorders. This belief persists, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, among others, do not believe that thimerosal puts children at risk.
The debate has been contentious over the last several years. The debate heated up last month when the Office of Special Masters of the Court of Federal Claims (the vaccine court) found that Hannah Poling’s brain damage and autistic behavior were caused by her exposure to multiple vaccinations on one day that set off an underlying rare mitochondrial disorder.
Hannah Poling’s circumstances may have been unusual. However, parents seeking vindication are looking to the “vaccine court” in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. A hearing on two additional test cases started yesterday. The test cases will provide the basis for handling the almost 5,000 similar claims brought by parents who assert that their children suffered autism and similar neurological disorders as a result of one or more vaccines.
Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the National Institutes of Health and member of Institute of Medicine, suggests that it may not be the mercury-based preservative as much as the mercury-based preservative coupled with certain susceptibilities. In an interview with CBS yesterday, Dr. Healy stated that “… susceptible children, perhaps genetically, perhaps a metabolic issue, a mitochondrial disorder, immunological issue, that makes them more susceptible to vaccines plural, or to one particular vaccine, or to a component of a vaccine like mercury. We have to now… take another look at that hypothesis. Not deny it.“
Dr. Healy, in a position at odds with many in the Institute of Medicine, stated that, “The government and certain public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the concerns of these families without studying the population who got sick . . . They don’t want to pursue the hypothesis because that hypothesis could scare people. I don’t believe the truth ever scares people.”
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Healthy Child Healthy World.
Posted by Amanda Blinn on 05/13/2009 at 04:09 PM
I am a parent in the autism community and I want to respond to Kathleen’s comment. She obviously doesn’t know about the terrible medical conditions that the kids with “regressive autism” (i.e autism that didn’t start until vaccine damage) present with, including but not limited to damaged guts, damaged immune systems, and seizures. These kids are mostly non-verbal, have difficulty with potty training even into their teenage years, and have to be in special ed. These kids don’t live the “genius who can’t pass the salt” lives of the neurodiversity crowd. These are kids with brain damage who respond well to removal of the mercury they received in vaccines, as well as to special diets tailored to damaged guts (ex: being gluten free.)
Posted by Kathleen on 11/13/2008 at 05:07 PM
This connection has been roundly discounted by every reputable researcher on the topic. In fact, this theory was initially submitted by 10 different scientists and one journalist (don’t ask) and since then, every single scientist (but not the journalist) has disavowed themselves from it. It’s a long story how they got involved, they’ve said they didn’t know their statements would be used in the ways they were, to support positions they do not believe.
Many believe that autism is a normal variation of neuro-wiring that has been with us for millions of years. It is not difficult to find individuals through out history who -judging from detailed social histories- were most likely autistic yet they were never vaccinated. Einstein is one who wasn’t vaccinated. He was diagnosed as autistic when he was four (that’s why he didn’t talk and was considered borderline retarded during his childhood) and you don’t grow out of it. The fact is, most people with autism are not those rare exceptions, kids you see on TV, banging their heads against the wall. Most are functional, intelligent people who find it difficult to navigate a social environment that is inhospitable to their cognitive preferences.
More comments:
Posted by Dawn on 03/14/2010 at 09:45 AM
Hi, I am a new mom with twins of 18 months. I am looking for the MMR shots separated and having a very hard time finding them. Does anyone have any info? I feel can over load a child system with vaccinations. My husband is 260 lbs and has a reaction to medication, what makes me think my kids won’t. We have to stop believing that the shots are for every child.