What the Government Said and What It Didn’t
March 6, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Be wary of the headlines. (And please read this reader’s description of the actual front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.)
The government has not conceded that vaccines cause autism “even after a Georgia girl won federal compensation in a case arguing a vaccine led to her brain damage”: Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states that “‘Let me be very clear that (the) government has made absolutely no statement about indicating that vaccines are a cause of autism…….That is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of the case, and a complete mischaracterization of any of the science that we have at our disposal today. So I think we need to set the record straight on that.’” [Read the rest: Reuters]
I’m afraid it’s too late for that. This story now carries the imprimatur of a man who was a doctor with Johns Hopkins, of a woman who is a nurse and who is a…ahem…trial lawyer, of a little girl with red hair who now has autism who prior to the onset of her symptoms was bright and talkative and perfect. Regardless of what the realities of the situation are…that her disorder is quite rare, that she might have developed these issues with a first real wild-virus attack, that she wouldn’t be expected to have the same phenotype as her mother, regardless of her father’s assertions…the damage has been done, and not just to this little girl. People will simply see the headlines…”Autism linked to vaccines, court says so,” and that will be that. Unless they have a vested interest of some kind in the situation, they’re not going to bother with the minutiae that tell the whole story. The level of misinformation out there has ceased to astonish me. I have simply come to expect it.
And there are words going through my mind right now, for many reasons: First, do no harm.
I agree—the CDC needed to make this statement from the first moment the “concession case” hit the media. Duck and cover for the coming storm.
My ? is would you like a slow death or a fast one? I think if I would have followed in my Grandmothers footsteps I would have chosen NO vaccines as did she in the 50s or 40s. My daughter had a reaction 2 times to DPT shots.This was on record that I called DOC!! I think the vaccines put the icing on the cake! For most Autistics this seems to be the case!
Do you mean autistic adults’ views about this case?
Emily said,
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”
Yep.
The news teasers I’m viewing tonight are sensationalizing this story.
I wouldn’t have expected anything less.
Deb K.
I’m not a fan of autism, but I worry very much when it is compared to a slow death.
My daughter is very much alive and vibrant. I wish there were more I could do to help her. Wishing to help her is not the same as rejecting her. She is a most precious gift, and I hope her life is very long and, and happy, and she is treated with kindness by all who are called on to help her.
A slow death!?? My daughter is heavily afflicted, but I can assure you, she’s in no hurry to die.
I cannot under
I watched it closely on Good Morning America and also on the Today Show on NBC.
They said that they won’t know the actual effects of taking away the Thimerasol until 5 years from now. I thought they you could tell at age 3 or earlier. ???
I’m trying to watch things and keep informed. I’m not the most educated person in the world but I’ll tell you, things are very muddy.
I also have a vibrant AUTISTIC daughter.And if I NEVER GAVE HER SHOTS SHE COULD HAVE DIED from( Measels ,mumps ,Hepatitis.)This is a risk I WOULD have liked to decided for my own!!when you see her suffer from belly pain it kills us!But she is better thank God.(GFCF diet)I am stupid to listen to the whole herd mentality vaccine campaign.I am upset at the GOVERMENT I AM STEAMING MAD!!They stole her away!How many times have they done this type of thing!!!! How about overdosing people with radiation without letting them know!40’s?Dont take me wrong! I am wishing this never happened to her! I love her more than myself.But as a Country we can not have blind faith anymore! Never again for me and my family! Flouride is not good for kids did you know?To much iron for men is bad.Clothing and toys from china are TOXIC ! (One person checks the toys that are imported.)We are a Joke to other Countrys!Many of them live very humble.They recycle everything. Found this out from my Aupairs. This just stinks! This could have been avoided! Just read about John F Kennedy Jr. HE knew toooooooooo much!! Hes 6 feet under isnt he Hm? Wonder why? God bless you all Knowlege is strength!Read everything you can be informed!
And be sure to use a lot of exclamation points when you type!
There is a nice irony in the “au pairs” reference. Thanks for that.
Don’t be like me! Ha,HA.I am a stupid artist and clothing designer.Not a great writer as you see. (I blame this on the toxins from the maurice river )Vineland chemical dumped many toxins in the river for many years.I am friends with one of the lawyers that worked on the case.No one in the area knew till too late.I was sick as a child welts on my body.Belly problems and more.Who monitors our rivers ,foods, shots, not enough people.This is awful. This is a sin.They should have been told not to double up on the shots!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was just stupidity!! The truth sometimes hurts its hard to live with.Some of the Aupairs I had where very educated and older. Dont get down on them.They gave me a better knowlege of a world wide way of life. They are hard working sweet people. I stay in touch with them and love them like family. I dont love seeing my kid in pain. I hate it. I do everything I can to help her. This is not a great way to live.This Autism thing is just awful. Just be real. Get mad fight back. This is my motto.
@Deb K,
There’s a book called Body Toxic by a woman from (I think) south Jersey about, well, what the title suggests—you might find some of the author’s descriptions of what the water looked liked familiar!
Autism’s not an easy diagnosis to hear about one’s child, but life raising an autistic child need not, is not, awful. Lots of good times here, for sure. Many regards—
Thank you Kristina Chew. I will buy the book. I do have many great days with Tori dont get me wrong. Its awful to see her in pain. It kills me I must tell you how I feel. I cry with her and so does her twin!! The joys are equal to the bad! I am still fighting back for her and my son is also!! Yes you have a great point! We have good weeks and bad. I always keep praying for her.
Will keep pulling for her, too. Thanks for your inspiring spirit!
March 3, 2008
Statement by the Health Resources and Services Administration on Autism and the Vaccine Injury Program
“…HRSA will present its views on the allegation that vaccines cause autism in an “omnibus” autism proceeding in May of this year. The expert testimony in that proceeding will be available to the public, with the consent of the parties…”
http://newsroom.hrsa.gov/releases/2008/vaccinestatement.htm
Sugarman, S.D. (2007). Cases in Vaccine Court — Legal Battles over Vaccines and Autism. NEJM. Volume 357:1275-1277
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/13/1275