In a relatively unusual event, federal health
officials called a news conference this week in an attempt
to affirm the safety of vaccines.
This came among the growing concern of some
parents who allege that vaccines can cause autism.
A rally by autism activists is planned this
week in front of the U.S. Capitol on to emphasize their belief
that the government has concealed evidence linking autism
to a mercury-based product once used in vaccines.
The activists will also demand more research
into what they consider is the growing problem of autism.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) , said at the news conference, that
there has been renewed interest in the issue of vaccine safety,
particularly on whether the preservative thimerosal, may
be linked to the occurrence of autism in children.
Unfortunately, autism is often diagnosed between
the ages of about 18 months and four years, which is about
the time that toddlers and young children are getting their
vaccinations.
To date, no reports, and that includes a review
of all the studies from the independent Institute of Medicine, have found evidence that vaccines
cause autism.
Some groups of parents however allege a cover-up,
and have resisted vaccinating their children.
This has led to outbreaks of diseases such as
measles and whooping cough in Britain, the Netherlands and
elsewhere.
These parents believe there is evidence, that
at least some children, are sensitive to mercury, including
the mercury in thimerosal.
In the United States Thimerosal is no longer
used in childhood vaccines.
At the news conference CDC officials, as well as representatives of the National Institutes of Health,
American
Medical Association, American
Academy of Pediatrics, and the Food and Drug Administration, made it clear they believed
some of the groups were relying on incomplete information.
Dr Gerberding quoted one report that said as
many as one in 166 U.S. children have autism, and said more
studies were needed to get a "better and more reliable handle"
on how many cases there are, but several recent studies have
questioned the contention that autism rates have gone up
in recent decades.
Said Dr. Eileen Ouellette, president-elect of
American Academy of Pediatrics, says though they want to
discover the causes of autism as well as how to prevent it
and treat it, the evidence does not point to vaccines as
one of those causes.
Just as health officials were hoping the debate
had finally been settled, it was ignited again with a book
by former journalist David Kirby which alleges a potential
link.
A television interview in which Robert Kennedy
Jr., nephew of slain president John F. Kennedy, alleged a
conspiracy, has also added fuel to the debate.
Kirby plans to speak at the rally.
The timing of the news conference has also raised
suspicions among the activists. The National
Autism Association has said in an e-mail to supporters
and journalists, that they believe the CDC press conference
is an attempt to head off publicity from the rally that would
direct attention to the role of thimerosal and vaccines in
autism.
Gerberding has acknowledged the mistrust, and
understands that parents want answers, but says care needs
to be taken so decisions are not based on unproven hypotheses
and fear.
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