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Hepatitis b vaccine causes autism { December 21 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17619372&BRD=1601&PAG=461&dept_id=478675&rfi=6http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17619372&BRD=1601&PAG=461&dept_id=478675&rfi=6
The mercury and autism link
By Laura Lane
December 21, 2006
There has been a medical controversy brewing for quite some time regarding the cause of autism. Many people believe that what they refer to as an autism epidemic, is due to vaccines that children had received when they were babies.
New York Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize nominee David Kirby has written a book, "Evidence of Harm," which addresses the autism-mercury link. He came to East Meadow High School to discuss his book.
"One in six children in our country has some sort of learning disorder," said Kirby. "There was a huge spike in autism in 1992 when the Hepatitis B vaccine was added to the regular vaccination schedule for babies. I believe the spike in autism is due in large part to Thimerosal, a Mercury based preservative (approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the 1930ıs) used in vaccines. In 2001, doctors started phasing in new mercury-free vaccines, however the Food and Drug Administration didnıt recall what was already on the shelves."
In his book, Kirby explores the possibility that the vaccine additive may have fueled the autism epidemic, attention deficit disorder, speech delays and other disorders in children. When speaking at East Meadow, he referred to his extensive research which was supported by many charts and graphs.
"There were 1 in 10,000 children with autism in 1987 in the United States before the addition of Thimerosal," said Kirby. "Now there are 1 in 166 children with autism. My book examines the story of the families and the political drama in the courts and congress. It explores both sides of the controversy which has pitted families and their allies against the federal government, public health agencies and the pharmaceutical giants."
Michelle Soodek, the East Meadow Special Education PTA co-president has a child with autism. She said that she was very familiar with Kirbyıs book prior to attending his discussion. "Even so, I was overwhelmed with the statistical portion of his discussion," said Soodek. "When you see how many children are affected by it; it gave me food for thought and I was saddened by it."
Soodek also mentioned the autism spike. She reasoned that if there were just as many people with autism when she was a child, than where are the institutions and facilities to house all of these people that would now be adults? "The lecture substantiated my beliefs," said Soodek. "I always thought Shelbyıs autism was related to the vaccines. How do you put all of that mercury in a tiny body?"
Kirby also discussed possible environmental triggers that some believe may be linked to autism including mercury in fish, pesticides, flame-retardants, and jet fuel. But he added that it was unclear how or if these factors were affecting the increase in autism.
He pointed to Denmark and Sweden to support his theory that there was a connection between an autism increase and Thimerosal. In 1992, both countries removed the mercury preservative from their vaccinations and have seen a remarkable drop in autism.
Kirbyıs data and research indicate that Thimerosal continues to be a danger. It is still found in flu shots, which the United States government recommends for children between he ages of six and 23 months. "The Center for Disease Control has been unable to prove or disprove the theory that Thimerosal causes autism, attention deficit disorder, speech delays and other disorders," said Kirby. "They insist theyıve looked into it thoroughly and found no evidence of harm. But many public health officials, who discount the Thimerosal theory, were unwilling or unable to speak on the record for my book."
Judy Shiechel, the former president of SEPTA, and current co-coordinator of the Special Education Resources Center and Library, said that she was impressed that Kirby had undertaken the task of researching the issue and writing the book without any vested interest in autism. "I think he did an extensive amount of work and he doesnıt have a family member with autism," said Shiechel. "He was approached by a group of parents who had children with autism and wondered about the mercury connection. I have a child with learning disabilities in the area of language and communication and I always wondered where that came from."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
İHerald Community 2006
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