AskDrSears - The Vaccine Book

New Study Shows No Link Between MMR Vaccine and Autism – Should Parents STILL Delay and Split Up the MMR Shot?

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

A multicenter study (Harvard, Columbia, Mass General, CDC, and the AAP) involving 38 children (25 with Autism and 13 without) was released today, Sept 3, 2008. Its purpose was to duplicate the original research done by Dr. Wakefield in 1998 that raised questions about a link between MMR vaccine and autism. Dr. Wakefield had found measles virus infecting the intestines of children with autism and chronic diarrhea and proposed that further research be done to see if the measles virus in the vaccine could be a trigger for intestinal inflammation, chronic diarrhea, and autism. Dr. Thompson had published a study in the Lancet medical journal in 1995 (three years before Wakefield) showing a strong association between inflammatory bowel disease and Measles vaccine in adults. Wakefield tried to study this association in children with autism.

Thousands of parents across the U.S. have described how their developmentally normal infant developed diarrhea and then regressed into autism between age 1 and 2 years. I have personally heard this same story from about 300 families in my own office. While many things in an infant’s life can trigger chronic diarrhea (like antibiotic overuse and milk/wheat allergies), because of Wakefield’s work many parents have suspected that the measles virus in the MMR vaccine (given at age 1) could be a trigger. In the last 10 years, many doctors have tried to discredit Wakefield’s research, without simply repeating his work to try to prove him wrong.

This new study is the first to try to do just that. Doctors from some of the most reputable medical institutions did intestinal biopsies on 25 children with autism and 13 children without, and found only one child in each group with measles virus in their intestinal lining. Wakefield, on the other hand, had found measles in most of his 12 autistic patients and only a small percentage of his non-autistic control patients. The authors of this new study conclude that their results provide “strong evidence against an association of autism with persistent Measles Virus RNA in the GI tract or MMR vaccine exposure.”

While the authors of this study don’t go so far as to conclude that their results completely prove that there can be no link between MMR vaccine and autism, their findings should allow parents to feel more comfortable giving the MMR vaccine.

What should parents do with this information?

It has been my practice to delay the measles part of the MMR vaccine until age 3 years (to bypass any possible connection between that vaccine virus and the susceptible age of regressive autism), and provide the mumps vaccine and rubella vaccine in separate doses at ages 1 and 2. This is one of the most controversial parts of my Alternative Vaccine Schedule. This recommendation was made based on Wakefield’s findings, and the fact that no other study had yet repeated his work and proved him wrong. In fact, Uhlmann published findings similar to Wakefield’s in Molecular Pathology in 2002, but in a much larger group of 91 kids with autism. His study was also discredited by most doctors and researchers.

Now, in light of this new and seemingly credible study, the need to delay the Measles vaccine and split up the MMR has come into question. I have always known that my MMR vaccine precautions were not based on any solid proof of a connection with autism. But I felt that until someone proved Wakefield wrong, delaying the Measles vaccine was a legitimate precaution.

So the question is, does this new study prove Wakefield wrong? Does it prove there is no connection between Measles vaccine and autism? The authors of the study put it this way: “This study provides strong evidence against an association of autism with persistent Measles Virus RNA in the GI tract or MMR vaccine exposure.” It isn’t absolute proof, but it certainly is a giant step in that direction.

I am not yet ready to throw out the precaution of delaying the measles vaccine and splitting the MMR. There may not be any good scientific evidence that is necessary to delay Measles vaccine or split the MMR in regards to autism prevention (in light of this new study), but in my mind there are other potential benefits to getting only one live-virus vaccine at a time. Live-virus vaccines (MMR, Chickenpox) mimic the natural infection. Since children don’t catch all 4 of these infections simultaneously in nature, why induce them all together with vaccines if we don’t have to? I know the immune system can handle exposure to many simultaneous diseases, but when it comes to major diseases of childhood, like Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chickenpox, I feel it’s safer to expose infants and children to just one of these at a time. I believe the vaccines may work better this way, and may create fewer side effects when separated.

What should parents do? Finding a doctor who is willing to split the MMR up is very difficult, and the separate Mumps and Measles vaccines are in short supply. Because we don’t really have any good evidence that the Measles vaccine should be delayed in order to bypass the age of regressive autism, I think it is fine to get the full MMR at age one if a parent can’t find the separate vaccines or can’t find a doctor to split them up. Parents should feel more confident giving their infant this shot at age one in light of this new study’s findings that the MMR or plain Measles vaccine probably does not have any relationship to autism.

However, any parent who has access to the separate MMR component vaccines and wants their infant to get the shots split up according to my schedule should continue to feel free to do so. I will continue to offer this service in my office. I will continue to take the position that parents should have the freedom to choose a vaccine schedule that they are comfortable with, even if it goes outside the customary government and medical recommendations.

Click here for a link to the new study:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0003140

Dr. Bob

Labels: Vaccines and Autism

New Study Shows Possible Link Between Environmental Mercury and Autism – What About Vaccine Mercury?

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Researchers at the University of Texas showed that the closer a family lives to a power plant or industrial facility, the higher the risk of autism. Autism rates decreased by 1 to 2 percent for every 10 miles that a child lives away from such mercury sources. They also found that for every 1000 pounds of mercury released by such facilities, autism rates in the surrounding area increased by 2.6 to 3.7 percent.

Many researchers believe that the most likely reason for the increase in autism is some sort of combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental chemical exposure. This study adds credibility to that theory.

Even though mercury was removed from virtually all vaccines in 2002, parents who had their children vaccinated prior to 2003 are worried if vaccine mercury could have harmed their child. Many studies have shown that no harm was done from vaccine mercury. Some studies do show a possible link between the mercury and autism and other problems (See Resources in The Vaccine Book).

What does this issue mean for parents who are vaccinating their infants and children now? First, make sure your doctor is using 100% mercury-free vaccines. The only place mercury is still found in large quantities is in some brands of the flu shot and some older versions of the plain tetanus and diphtheria/tetanus shots. A few shots use mercury in manufacturing, then go through a filtering process that removes 99% of it, leaving a tiny little trace amount of mercury. These shots include one brand of the DTaP vaccine, some brands of the flu shot, and the newer plain tetanus or diphtheria/tetanus shots.

As long as a parent knows to avoid these sources of mercury, you can get the entire routine childhood vaccine schedule 100% mercury-free. There is a flu shot that is 100% mercury-free. Two brands of DTaP don’t contain any mercury. And the plain tetanus and diphtheria/tetanus shots that do contain mercury aren’t part of the normal vaccine schedule. So, when it comes to making vaccine decisions, you can take any fears of mercury out of the equation.

Click here to read more on this story out of the University of Texas.

Labels: Vaccines and Autism

American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Statement on Vaccines and Autism

Friday, March 14, 2008

The AAP released a statement today to address the recent controversy on vaccines and autism. It began with a discussion on what autism is and what the theoretical causes may be, along with reassurance that there is no evidence of any connection between vaccines and autism. The policy went on to explain what mitochondrial disease is and how this may have played a role in the Hannah Polling case (see my previous blog – Larry King Asks). It concluded with a discussion on the overall safety and benefits of vaccines and urged parents to continue to vaccinate as usual.

I must admit that I agree with almost everything in this statement. The explanations it offers and the examples of how successful some vaccines have been is all accurate. However, I think there is just one little issue that should be raised to balance it all out. That is the fact that there IS SOME research that shows vaccines have some very rare but potentially serious side effects. And there is a bit of research that shows there may be a link between autism and vaccines in some children, as the Hannah Polling case reflects. Of course, the vast majority of research does NOT show a link, and this court case does not prove any link overall.

It is my belief that parents should be completely educated about vaccines, how they are made, what the possible side effects are, what the benefits are, and how common (or rare) and how serious (or mild) the diseases can be. Yes, vaccines are overall safe in most children, and the diseases can be very serious. And parents can make an educated decision about what they feel is the right course of action for their family. Parents who are worried about possible side effects and wish to vaccinate in a manner that may decrease the possibility of reactions should discuss an alternative vaccine approach with their doctor.

Click here http://www.aap.org/new/autisminfomain.html to read the AAP’s statement.

Labels: Vaccines and Autism

Larry King Asks

Friday, March 7, 2008

Larry King Asks, “What Should Parents Do Now?” Dr. Bob Has the Answer.

Last night Larry King interviewed the parents of a nine-year-old child who developed symptoms of autism shortly after receiving nine vaccines at her 19-month checkup. This family was the first ever to win a court case against the government that claimed vaccines triggered autistic-like symptoms in a child. The government conceded the case before it even went to trial, awarding the family a considerable sum of money under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Larry King also invited Neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta and two other pediatricians to discuss this issue and try to allay parent’s fears. Mr. King asked his guests, “What should parents who are worried about vaccines and autism do now? Should they go in for their regularly scheduled vaccines?” The consensus among the doctors was yes (although one doctor did voice some concerns over the issue) and that there is no conclusive evidence that vaccines cause autism. They suggested parents talk to their doctor and continue with vaccines as scheduled.

But Larry didn’t quite seem convinced in light of recent events, and vowed to continue the discussion at a later date. Mr. King seemed to be searching for more answers to offer worried parents.

Well, my Alternative Vaccine Schedule is the answer Larry King is looking for. The three main worries that connect vaccines with autism involve mercury, the measles component of the MMR vaccine, and vaccine chemical overload when too many shots are given at once. My vaccine approach circumvents all three worries and allows parents to fully vaccinate their children in the safest manner possible. Keep in mind that science hasn’t proven that any of these worries are even warranted. Yet, every parent with a young baby is concerned nonetheless. So here’s how my vaccine schedule addresses these issues:

First, mercury has been taken out of all vaccines as of 2002, except for some brands of the flu shot. As long as a parent knows to make sure their baby gets a mercury-free flu shot, this particular toxic metal isn’t a risk anymore.

Second, the measles component of the MMR vaccine can be delayed until age 3 years or later. Next to the mercury worry, this live virus vaccine (given at age 1) has come under the most fire. Because autism seems to occur or become most apparent between age 1 and 3 years, my vaccine schedule doesn’t give the measles vaccine until AFTER that age. Once a baby’s neurological system has matured for a few years, and normal language and social development are in place by age three, autism would be extremely unlikely to then be triggered by a measles vaccine given at that later age.

Third, many parents worry about overloading a baby’s little system with so many vaccine chemicals and germ ingredients in the large groups of vaccines given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Why not spread those vaccines out? Give 2 shots at a time instead of the recommended 6. Spread the shots out over several years instead of bunching them all together in the first 18 months. Give the most important vaccines first, and follow up with the less critical ones later on. My Alternative Vaccine Schedule does just that.

The child in this particular court case unfortunately had all of these three elements against her. In the interview with Larry King, the parents stated their daughter got 9 vaccines all at once at her 19-month checkup. The mother began to explain how they had skipped vaccines at 12 months (but she didn’t get to finish her statement), and so had to catch up with more shots at 19 months. If she got 9 vaccines at that age, this means that she received the MMR, DTaP, Polio, HIB, and probably Chickenpox vaccines all at one time. Normally these would be spaced out and given in 1 or 2 dose groups at 12 months, 15 months, and 18 months. But this child got 6 months worth of vaccines all at once. Plus, there was a significant amount of mercury in these vaccines back then.

The child was later found to have a mitochondrial disorder (which could make a child more susceptible to vaccine injury), BUT it isn’t actually known if this disorder was already there, or was part of the metabolic and neurological damage the child allegedly suffered after the vaccines.

Bottom line – parents who have huge worries over this issue can choose not to vaccinate while their babies are young, as long as they understand the risks of diseases and take steps to minimize that risk. But some of these diseases can be fatal, and vaccines ARE an important step in disease prevention, as the parents of this child clearly stated in their interview. Parents who choose to vaccinate CAN do so in a safe and logical manner that minimizes the risks of reactions. I encourage all vaccinating families to discuss my Alternative Vaccine Schedule with their doctor.

Labels: Vaccines and Autism

Vaccine Court Case

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Is the recent U.S. court case concession that vaccines contributed to one child’s autism proof of a connection?

Last year the case of Hanna Polling vs. The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, in which the plaintiff’s parents claimed that vaccines contributed to their child’s autism, was settled in favor of the plaintiff. This case was supposed to be sealed and kept confidential, but the concession report has made its way into the public eye. Several autism-related web sites and blogs have gotten hold of it and are spreading the word. Yet some of these sites are spreading misinformation and misleading the public.

According to the concession report, this case involved a toddler who was developing normally until 18 months of age. Several days after the 18 month shots her development began to decline to the point that she eventually displayed many features of autism. Doctors also discovered that the child had a mitochondrial disorder (a disorder of metabolism that makes a child pre-disposed to developmental and medical problems). The court decided that there was enough evidence to show that the vaccines may have aggravated the mitochondrial disorder and triggered problems consistent with autistic-like behavior.

I have read numerous blogs on this since the story came out. One stated that the child never actually had autism, but only had ASD (autism spectrum disorder). It made a big deal of trying to shoot down any possibility that in this one case the vaccines may have triggered autism by saying all the child had was ASD or autism-like symptoms. But my feeling is that Autism, ASD, and autistic-like symptoms are ALL THE SAME THING, especially to the parent whose child is having the symptoms. So to shove this aside and say this child never had autism, but just ASD-like behavior, does this family, and this case, a disservice.

On the other side of the spectrum, I read a blog that went way too far in the OTHER direction. It said, “U.S. Government Concedes Vaccines Cause Autism”. The report went on to state that hundreds of studies have proven a link between mercury and autism, that hundreds of doctors believe this to be true, and that the government is covering it all up. But nowhere in this case did the government or the court say that vaccines cause autism. All they said was that in this particular case a child with a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder seemed to regress into ASD-like behavior right after her 18-month vaccines. This wasn’t “a concession that vaccines cause autism”. There is a lot of research on BOTH sides of the mercury/vaccines/autism debate, a fact that this particular report left out.

Even more curious is that since this story came out about 1 week ago, I haven’t seen any regular internet news sources or print media pick it up, verify its accuracy, and help spread the word. I’m not sure if it’s because they don’t think it’s news worthy, or because it’s a sealed case, or what.

Bottom line – this child was clearly affected by something, and the timing of it is very suspicious of vaccines. And the court felt there was enough evidence to award the family compensation in a sealed deal. But all it shows is that children with mitochondrial disorders may be susceptible to vaccine injury. It doesn’t prove an overall connection between vaccines and autism.

Hopefully the publicity over this case will encourage more and more research into what is causing autism.

Labels: Vaccines and Autism

Is there a link between vaccines and autism?

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Let me start off by saying up front that I'm not going to answer this question. And now I'm going to take 5 paragraphs to explain why.

Autism is the main worry that is on every parent's mind when it comes to deciding about vaccines. On one side we have 99% of the medical community and worldwide researchers reassuring us that vaccines have no link to autism. On the other side are tens of thousands of parents who have watched their children regress into autism between age 1 and 2. And these parents are becoming more and more vocal, like Jenny McCarthy.

What research are worried parents basing their beliefs on? Some research has shown that the measles virus in the MMR vaccine, which is given at age 1, may be one of the "triggers" that begins the cascade of intestinal inflammation that leads to brain inflammation and autism. In addition, environmental chemical exposures like pollution in air, food and water (and possibly the various chemicals in vaccines), as well as genetic susceptibilities and immune problems, may also play a role in autism.

The problem is, no mainstream researcher has yet to PROVE that vaccines are a contributor to autism. And because vaccines play an important role in preventing disease, we will need some pretty solid proof that vaccines contribute to autism before some will be taken off the market. Right now the Centers for Disease Control's official statement (paraphrased) is that autism is clearly on the rise, that there is not enough evidence to prove a link between autism and vaccines, and that further research is being done on the matter.

Honestly, I've read ALL the research, and both sides present good data and good arguments. I'm not sure who is right at this point. Until I see enough evidence that shows vaccines are linked to autism, I certainly am not going to tell anyone that vaccines contribute to autism. But at the same time I can't say for sure that vaccines absolutely do NOT play any role at all in contributing to autism.

So what should parents do in the meantime while this issue continues to be investigated? You have two choices. Either you continue vaccinating so your child has disease protection while this issue is studied, which will probably take at least a few years, OR you stop vaccinating (or be more choosy about vaccines) until further research gives us answers one way or the other. I can't tell you what to do because I don"t know. I encourage everyone to read all the research and educate themselves about vaccines and diseases and make their own decision.

Labels: Vaccines and Autism