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So it seems that Senator John McCain has made his entrance into autism politics: At a town meeting in Texas today, McCain said that “‘there’s strong evidence’” that thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative, is responsible for the rising numbers of autistic children in the US. Writes Jake Tapper on Political Punch on ABC News:
McCain was responding to a question from the mother of a boy with autism, who asked about a recent story that the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program had issued a judgment in favor of an unnamed child whose family claimed regressive encephalopathy and symptoms of autism were caused by thimerosal. [Note: The government's concession in this case does not specify thimerosal as "causing" the child's condition; see below.]
“We’ve been waiting for years for kind of a responsible answer to this question, and are hoping that you can help us out there,” the woman said.
McCain said, per ABC News’ Bret Hovell, that “It’s indisputable that (autism) is on the rise amongst children, the question is what’s causing it. And we go back and forth and there’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines.”
McCain said there’s “divided scientific opinion” on the matter, with “many on the other side that are credible scientists that are saying that’s not the cause of it.”
Tapper then points out that there is no valid scientific evidence linking autism to vaccines or to anything in vaccines and cites the recent study finding a rise in autism diagnoses even after thimerosal was removed from vaccines, as well as referencing the CDC, the AAP, the Institute of Medicine, and others who regularly incur the wrath of organizations who insist that there is a link between vaccines and autism.
Regarding the statement by the mother whose question McCain was responding to: The government’s concession in one of the vaccine injury cases in the Autism Omnibus is a legal, not a scientific judgment, as Orac reminds, and it does not specify thimerosal as causing the child to become autistic. This is the government’s analysis:
In sum, DVIC has concluded that the facts of this case meet the statutory criteria for demonstrating that the vaccinations CHILD received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated 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.Therefore, respondent recommends that compensation be awarded to petitioners in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(C)(ii).
DVIC has concluded that CHILD’s complex partial seizure disorder, with an onset of almost six years after her July 19, 2000 vaccinations, is not related to a vaccine-injury.
Let’s hope that Sen. McCain and whoever advises him about scientific issues are fully up to date on their research, and that they read carefully. As anyone who’s gotten into a discussion/exchange/debate/mudslinging fest about vaccines and/or mercury and autism know, there’s a lot of opinions, a lot of dubious science, and a lot of scientific evidence about this topic—-evidence, that is, that there is no link between vaccines or something in vaccines and autism.
1349 days ago
[...] did not yet contain a section on autism. McCain made his entrance into autism politics with a February reference to thimerosal and the rise in the incidence of autism. In April, Obama was quoted at a Pennsylvania rally as [...]
1435 days ago
[...] autism. Back in February, Senator John McCain linked the rise in autism cases to thimerosal in …http://www.autismvox.com/sen-john-mccain-links-rise-in-autism-cases-to-thimerosal/Autism, Mercury Poisoning… theory that the mercury in vaccines was causing a rise in the cases of [...]
Another point of correction: MMR has never and will never contain thimerosal. It can’t. Thimerosal would kill the weakened viruses in it.
Also, the CDC didn’t concede liability, it was the HHS.
Also, what Kristina said.
@Regina Sarno,
More precisely, the government conceded that Hannah Poling’s underlying mitochondrial disorder/dysfunction was aggravated by vaccines, and that this led to symptoms of autism.
http://www.autismvox.com/the-case-of-hannah-poling/
http://www.umdf.org
Brain. grow one.
I have a son who had a BAD reaction an MMR shot in 1995, this is when thimerosol was in this shot, my son now has PDD. Just argue with a person in my shoes. I also almost lost him in this process, due to someone NOT watching a stupid thimerosol preservative in shots, thimerosol is MERCURY, in case people do not know, it affects some and does not affect others. Unfortunately my child was affected. I am happy that John Mc Cain is bringing this up and I will vote for him on this fact alone, period.
Wake up everyone the cdc just admitted fault through vaccines with the Poling case. Do your research!
Oh no. Your child might know an autistic child.
The horror.
The conspiracy theories, they burn. Can tinfoil poisoning be cured by chelation?
As a parent who also has a child that just litterally days after her shots at 18 months old did not talk until her little sister 6 years later tried to develope words. She is 14 now with lots of challanges. When we talked to her pediatrician and asked about the therimisol link possibility, I was asked to speak to him behind closed doors:”This conversation ends now! I do not want my medical practice took away!” For all those who do not have children or do with no “challanged children” and side with the propaganda…What IF your child suddenly changed and has multiple behaviors that just prior to the shots had no problems…It is like anyone can talk until they walk in the shoes of others. Oregon is the highest in the U.S. cesus with Autism- less than1/100 IF your were a betting parent would you take the chance with those odds for your child to get those shots?. The CDC states 1/66 chance if born twin boys. In Oregon the stats are if you start in kindergarden, by senior year you will have graduated with at least one student who is Autistic. There are many who BASH BUSH but the facts are that when the home security act went before congress at the last minute the Liberal Party and Democratic Party joined adding PORK stating if anyone who found this link to be proven true could not sue the pharmacudical goverment. As you know the bill passed. President Bush being unable to change in time put a tag on it after so many years it could be opened for investigation. Answer me that! I would hope anyone who chooses to say that any parent who has a childs life and that families life changed forever due to shot/link is just imagining things would have the BOLDNESS OR EMAIL me with their address. 139 s.w. berry ln roseburg oregon 97470.
Thomas Jefferson said “If enough good people do nothing EVIL WILL PREVAIL. Which are you?
1444 days ago
[...] was plenty of reason for the “debate” to be “reignited” thanks to Senator John McCain talking about an “autism epidemic”; recent statements about US health officials being [...]
1478 days ago
[...] the alleged link between vaccines and autism. Back in February, Senator John McCain linked the rise in autism cases to thimerosal in vaccines. The Washing ton Post indicates that he’s not the only candidate who has “wandered into [...]
Dear God people I have a child with autism, can hardly believe that you do not believe that autism is on the rise, I am moving on to another website, this is just too political. I am happy that McCain is looking into thimerosal as a possible cause. Thimerosal is MERCURY, it is poison.
Just be informed about FISH these days, but they shoot it into 18 month old babies!!! That would be MERCURY or thimerosol. Sigh…..
18 month old babies do not have the central nervous system to take it, yes it seems that it can cause damage.
If a child is developing normally, then stops, well that it is enough for me.
CBS’s Kevin Drum on McCain’s Junk Science—–”So what happened here? Why did McCain perpetuate this rubbish without even a smidgen of doubt in his voice?”
Hey Chuck,
Thanks for your point of view.
I used to work for for a Federal agency, and am aware of the headaches of changes of administration and the vagaries of politics, but I still believe in each citizen’s right, and perhaps even responsibility, of registering their opinion on public topics and legislation with elected representatives. Perhaps not realistic, but I think I’ll still continue.
Regards.
Sorry Regan,
I am realistic. IDEA has NEVER been fully funded (6 administrations). NCLB has thrown state education budgets and policies into turmoil since it’s creation. I have worked directly or indirectly with multiple departments in the federal government since the end of the Reagan administration. I live in the metro DC area. Flip-flop is a political term for a very good reason. Politician’s beliefs are always subject to change. Science might matter, but it is still subject to politics, hence the existence of FDA, NIH, NIMH, CDC, IOM, HHS, (The list of political acronyms is as limitless and varied as the number of federal department heads)
@Sullivan,
I think we really need to remember the “50% plus a feather argument”—-the court decision in the case of the child with the “underlying mitochondrial disorder” is not the definitive judgment that some are trumpeting it as.
@dkmnow,
yes, uninformed seems more like it!
@resilientmom,
I just have a lot of questions about the notion that one can “get” autism—–that it’s not just about the deficits in speaking, stereotypic behaviors, and other features that are used to diagnose it; that autism involves a different kind of sensory experience and experiencing of the world.
If Charlie could talk much better than he does, I don’t think he’d just start saying “the things ‘typical’ children do.”
Sorry about the not being able to go back and fix the comments—–will mention that to tech support….. As for what politicians ought/should know about autism: I just got back from an all-day retreat with COSAC, NJ’s main autism organization—-lots of talk about legislation and advocacy.
Make an informative decision based on what? My son has Autism, tell me what is subjective about his disease? Right now in lives of parents with children that has autism, some of are concerned with getting protection for our children under law. Who will step up to the plate? Imaginary ok, don’t think so! Autism is our life, everyday and it is not about what we have read, it is about our experience! I need to know more about politician decisions based on their facts brought to their table not a load of “It will be ok, okay?” I don’t want to hear this is politics…. This is real life!
Sorry Chuck.
Maybe I’m idealistic but I don’t think of politics as the goings-on of a group of “others” in DC playing with our tax money. Their beliefs do matter in policy making, and in matters of science, the science matters.
This is a representative government and we all are the body politic.
Guys,
This is politics. It is all subjective. It is all beliefs. Until any of the candidates are elected, the only people they have to answer to are their state constituents. If you don’t like their stand, or lack thereof, on ASD, then don’t vote for them.