Autism & Vaccination Case Stokes On-going Debate: MMR Vaccine and Autism Still Confounds Some Parents & Scientists

The debate on whether the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination has contributed to the rise in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) continues to move towards a heated tipping point. Yet regardless of where someone stands on the issue, parents, researchers and advocacy groups remain desperate for answers to solve the complex autism puzzle.

Public awareness of the vaccination issue has increased as a result of the growing autism epidemic, the media attention of high-profile figures like actress Jenny McCarthy and Dr. Andrew Wakefield, strong efforts from research and education groups such as Autism Speaks, and most recently, the controversy surrounding the Hannah Poling case.

Autism & Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination: Hannah Poling Case Prompts More Questions

In 2008 the Poling family filed a claim against the U.S. government stating that mercury-containing vaccines led to their daughter's autism. The ensuing evidence prompted the Health and Human Resources Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation (DVIC) to issue an unprecedented concession:

"the vaccinations (the child) received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated (emphasis added) an underlying mitochondrial disorder, which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of autism spectrum disorder."

Government and Health Officials: No Link Between Vaccines and Autism

Despite the government's concession, health officials maintain that the Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR) is safe and does not cause autism. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) suggests some parents believe there is a link between MMR vaccinations and autism because the timing of the MMR immunizations often coincides with the onset of autism features.

In a statement issued in February 2008 by Health and Human Services, a DVIC representative issued the following statement:

"DVIC has reviewed the scientific information concerning the allegation that vaccines cause autism and has found no credible evidence to support the claim. Accordingly, in every case under the Vaccine Act, DVIC has maintained the position that vaccines do not cause autism, and has never concluded in any case that autism was caused by vaccination."

The DVIC, CDC and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) insist there is no scientific link between vaccinations and the onset of autism. Yet seemingly confusing messages may keep parents on guard. In 1999 the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed to the reduction or elimination of the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal in vaccinations, "as a precautionary measure." Yet at the same time the CDC states there is "no convincing evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines."

Autism & Vaccination Debate Fueled by Media and Dr. Wakefield Controversy

In 1998 the British medical journal The Lancet reported that Dr. Andrew Wakefield discovered a possible link between a new "sudden onset syndrome," a form of inflammatory bowel disease often seen in children with autism, and the MMR vaccine. Fear of the MMR vaccination quickly swept across the U.K. and the United States, imprinting in the psyche of worried parents.

Investigative British reporter Brian Deer later uncovered that Dr. Wakefield received funds from attorneys through the Legal Aid Board (LAB), a conflict of interest. At the time, LAB represented five of the eight families who filed claims suggesting there was an association between their child's autism symptoms and the MMR vaccination. In a U.K. Sunday Times article, Deer also accused Wakefield of "manipulating patients' data," a claim Wakefield denies.

In a series of formal complaints and interviews, including a recent Dateline interview with Matt Lauer of Dateline NBC, Wakefield defended his position. "Journalists clearly have a right and responsibility to report on matters of public interest," he said in a written complaint about Deer, "but they also have an obligation to make certain their information is accurate, especially when someone's livelihood and professional reputation are at stake. Mr. Deer has failed miserably as a reporter and has done great harm to me and many others conducting autism research."

At the end of the interview Wakefield summarized his views on his role in the autism-MMR vaccination controversy, "I’m 100 percent sure of nothing. I don’t have an answer for everything. I don’t know whether vaccines cause autism. I know it’s a legitimate question that needs to be asked. I’m not going to walk away from it."

Former Head of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Calls for More Research

Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the NIH has taken a vocal, and to some of her colleagues, unpopular stand on the issue, “The nature of medicine is having humility. I don’t think it’s terribly humble to say we have all the answers. Stop. Shut down the research. Don’t ask any questions. Just do what I say. That’s not the way medicine has ever been practiced and that’s not the way medicine advances." (Healy's comments are available in entirety on the Dateline website.)

Evidence in the Poling case, work by advocacy groups, and explosive media coverage by high profile figures, continues to heighten awareness about the complexity of autism spectrum disorders and the controversy over MMR vaccinations. Although the government conceded that the MMR may aggravate a child's underlying mitochondrial disorder by manifesting signs of autism, they maintain the MMR does not cause autism.

As the search for answers continues, thousands of concerned, and some might say mis-led parents, look to the government for reassurance that vaccinations are indeed, safe. Yet the autism-vaccination issue remains polarizing as some parents and researchers believe science and the government is falling short of addressing these two critical questions: even if the MMR vaccination is safe for most children, is it safe for every child? And if not, why not?

Healy, Bernadine, M.D., "Fighting the Vaccine-Autism War," US News & World Report Online, April 10, 2008.

One Alternative Pediatrician's Opinion on Vaccinations: Get Vaccines But Spread Them Out: http://franzcenter.com/newsletter.html

Dr. Wakefield's Supporting Research: http://www.thoughtfulhouse.org/supporting_research.php

Blog about no link to vaccines and autism: "Science-based medicine" http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=66

Blog about vaccines and autism: "Age of Autism" http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/02/govt-admits-vac.html

Oct 18, 2009 8:44 PM

Guest :

I came across this on October 12th"

"Vaccines cleared of autism charge (article at Science Daily)

A new review finds that vaccinations do not cause autism. One concern was that a mercury-based preservative in vaccines was at fault, but the preservative was removed from vaccines in California, Denmark, and Sweden and autism rates continued to rise. And while many children exhibited autism after getting the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination, this appears to be only because the vaccination is usually given about the age when autism first manifests. The actual cause of increased autism (aside from increased diagnosis and reporting) remains unknown."

I also think it's important for people to consider that many children are dying of N1H1 each week. Is it fair to scare people away from vaccinations without certain proof and even evidence to the contrary? Correlations is very easy to confuse for cause. I was confused by anecdotes and the debate till I read that the area of the brain affected starts to be used around the same time symptoms show, which is around the same time as vaccination. It is also troubling that much of the celebrity anti vaccine promotion followed Wakefield' unethical behaviour and studies which could not be replicated.

I don't rule environmental possibilities out but think we need to keep looking for answers and focusing on the things that are proven to help like early intervention, and possibly diet. Playing the blame game is a great energy drain for parents with autistic children who require so much energy as it is.

Oct 22, 2009 1:38 PM

Laura Owens :

Thank you for the post. Yes, vaccinations haven't been shown to cause autism. Autism spectrum disorder causation/correlations are complex. In the Hannah Poling case, (see above) the MMR vaccine (with thimerosal at the time), was found to "aggravate" a pre-existing underlying mitochondrial condition. The government agreed "vaccination injury" was founded and provided compensation. Aggravating a condition is still worthy of great attention.

Vaccinations offer tremendous disease prevention value, but we need to know what is necessary and what isn't. We need to know safety. We need to know the value of boosting our immune system, in natural prevention.

I've noticed there tend to be three groups of folks involved in the vaccination case: those who are strictly anti-vaccine;I am not. Those who are suspect of unnecessary vaccines and/or want to investigate all the facts (me), and those who do not investigate vaccinations beyond what their doctor tells them.

While I respect that our doctors have great medical authority, they do not have full authority over our bodies, choices and all the information out there. I vaccinate my daughter for her childhood vaccines, yet our family does not get any form of the flu vaccine. We truly, never get sick. We boost our immune system with vitamins, stay away from sick folks, and most recently we're amping up our levels of Vitamin D3, (see my recent article: Swine Flu Prevention Should Include Vitamin D.) My traditional doc put me on a mega D dose after my levels tested very, very low, shocking, I live in Florida! However, she put me on D2, not ideal.