Vaccines and Autism on CBS news

[Guest guest]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/07/25/primarysource/entry4292347.shtml

July 25, 2008, 8:50 AM

Debate Over Vaccines And Autism/ADD

Posted by Sharyl Attkisson| 5

(AP)

The debate over vaccines and autism/ADD is so sensitive that for some

who are directly affected: it's gotten personal. No more personal,

perhaps, than for the parents of Hannah Poling. Hannah developed

autism as a toddler after a battery of vaccines. In a landmark case

last fall, the federal government (which defends vaccines in federal

vaccine court) quietly conceded that vaccinations resulted in Hannah's

autism. The government has portrayed Poling's case as an exception

because she had an undiagnosed condition (that may have been

pre-existing): mitochondrial disorder. Many scientists and government

officials agree with vaccine makers in portraying Poling as a " special

case " that can " not be extrapolated to other vaccine-autism cases. "

But the concession was significant for many reasons. First, for a

decade the government has insisted there is no possible link between

vaccines and autism, but was now conceding-- and agreeing to pay

damages-- in such a case. Even if the case is some sort of

" exception, " it runs counter to the longstanding claim that no

possible link exists. Simply put: the old position was " there's no way

vaccines can result in autism, " but the government's new position

seems to be, " it may have happened once but it doesn't really mean

anything in the big picture. " Second, Hannah was an autism " test case "

in federal vaccine court. By conceding the case, the government

avoided a test case trial that -- by its own calculations -- the

government would likely have lost. Hannah's case would have then

served as a high-profile precedent, giving guidance on any other cases

similar among the thousands of autism claims pending in vaccine court.

When news that the government had conceded Hannah's case leaked out to

the public a few months ago, those who reject any possible link

between vaccines and autism/ADD went on the offensive. Among other

things, they worry that if parents are needlessly scared away from

vaccinations, they will stop immunizing and risk deadly diseases

re-emerging into our society.

Yale University School of Medicine academic clinical neurologist, Dr.

Novella writes a blog that covers news and issues in

neuroscience. He recently posted commentary about what he calls,

celebrities " promoting the false controversy about a link between

vaccines and autism. "

Hannah's Father, Dr. Jon Poling, a neurologist and a PhD, wrote a

letter to Dr. Novella that shows just how complex the scientific

question of Autism is. Poling writes, " Regarding your entry on

Hannah's case, your blog entry unfortunately propagates several of the

mistakes from the media. "

Some unresolved questions that are being asked in the debate: Was

Hannah's mitochondrial disorder a biological weakness that was

exploited by vaccines, resulting in autism? If so, does that confirm

Hannah was an exception and other children are not to worry? Does it

imply there is a small subset of children with unknown and known

biological and genetic weaknesses who could similarly be at special

risk when vaccinated? As of now, according to government officials,

they are not studying cases of alleged autism resulting from vaccine

damage. In fact, the government told CBS News it has not even tracked

how many brain damage claims that have been paid in federal vaccine

court resulted in autism. As the former head of the National

Institutes of Health, Dr. Bernadine Healy has said: perhaps some

answers to the autism/ADD mystery are waiting, but you have to go

looking to find them.

Watch the CBS Evening News tonight for Sharyl's Follow the Money

Investigation on some of the surprising places where vaccine industry

money ends up.

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