Former UK Science Chief - Vaccines Cause Autism: What More Evidence is Needed?

[Guest guest]

Former UK Science Chief - Vaccines Cause Autism: " What More Evidence is Needed? "

DAVID KIRBY - The Huffington Post

Can vaccines contribute to the onset of autism in some children? I believe that

contention is not only possible, it is plausible. More research is needed.

But anyone willing to make such a statement in public opens themselves up to the

wrath of science. But the problem is, there is simply no such thing as

" scientific consensus " when it comes to vaccines and autism.

Any scientist who tells you that this case is closed is either stupid, lying, or

shockingly unwilling to acknowledge the facts on the ground.

Of course, many scientists want this issue to " go away, " as they believe it is

settled. But their " belief " is counterweighted by the beliefs of other

scientific and health policy authorities, who beg to disagree.

The list is significant, and growing (see below). And to it, should be added Dr.

Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health in

the UK - (which, if I'm not mistaken, is roughly the same as our head of the

FDA).

An editor at the Age of Autism site, Anne Dachel, wrote to Dr. Fletcher to seek

his reaction to the stories about reportedly high rates of autsim among Somali

children in Minneapolis.

Here was his reply:

" I have always thought since I first heard about the Somali children that this

really proves the causal role of vaccines. The Amish children who have no

vaccines have no autistic-like disorders and the Somali children who are newly

exposed to aggressive vaccine programmes have exceptionally high levels! What

more evidence is needed? "

So there you have it. A leading scientist talking about " proof " of a

vaccine-autism connection - only you won't see this statement in The New York

Times or on ABC News.

This seems to be a step forward for Dr. Fletcher, who said in 2006 that the

measles-mumps-rubella vaccine might be implicated in autism. According to a

report in the Daily Mail:

Dr Fletcher, who was Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health,

said if it is proven that the MMR jab causes autism, " the refusal by governments

to evaluate the risks properly will make this one of the greatest scandals in

medical history " .

He added that after agreeing to be an expert witness on drug-safety trials for

parents' lawyers, he had received and studied thousands of documents relating to

the case which he believed the public had a right to see.

He said he has seen a " steady accumulation of evidence " from scientists

worldwide that the measles, mumps and rubella jab is causing brain damage in

certain children.

But he added: " There are very powerful people in positions of great authority in

Britain and elsewhere who have staked their reputations and careers on the

safety of MMR and they are willing to do almost anything to protect themselves. "

And to you, angry scientists out there getting ready to trash me for this post -

just remember: You are not trashing me, you are trashing one of your own. And he

is hardly alone.

NOTE:

During 2008, all of the following groups and individuals have advocated or

considered exploring possible links between vaccines and autism:

1) Both Presidential Candidates

2) Director of the CDC

3) Former head of the NIH and American Red Cross

4) Chair of the U.S. House Science Subcommittee on Investigations

5) Dr. Jon Poling, Pediatric Neurologist

6) HHS Vaccine Safety Working Group

7) CDC Vaccine Safety Research Agenda

8) Medical personnel at HHS Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

9) Members of the Strategic Planning Workgroup of the IAC Committee

10) Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network - CISA

11) Autism researchers at s Hopkins University Medical School

12) America's health insurance companies

13) Autism Speaks

14) The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

15) Dr. Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Department of

Health

[Guest guest]

,

You have really been on a roll. Great work, as usual. Here's to

reaching the tipping point!

Lenny

>

> Former UK Science Chief - Vaccines Cause Autism: " What More Evidence

is Needed? "

>

> DAVID KIRBY - The Huffington Post

>

> Can vaccines contribute to the onset of autism in some children? I

believe that contention is not only possible, it is plausible. More

research is needed.

>

> But anyone willing to make such a statement in public opens

themselves up to the wrath of science. But the problem is, there is

simply no such thing as " scientific consensus " when it comes to

vaccines and autism.

>

> Any scientist who tells you that this case is closed is either

stupid, lying, or shockingly unwilling to acknowledge the facts on the

ground.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, , for sticking with this story.

Pamela

From:

EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of dkirby@...

Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:52 PM

To: eoharm

Subject: Former UK Science Chief - Vaccines Cause Autism:

" What More Evidence is Needed? "

Former UK Science Chief - Vaccines Cause

Autism: " What More Evidence is Needed? "

DAVID KIRBY - The Huffington Post

Can vaccines contribute to the onset of autism in some children? I believe that

contention is not only possible, it is plausible. More research is needed.

But anyone willing to make such a statement in public opens themselves up to

the wrath of science. But the problem is, there is simply no such thing as

" scientific consensus " when it comes to vaccines and autism.

Any scientist who tells you that this case is closed is either stupid, lying,

or shockingly unwilling to acknowledge the facts on the ground.

Of course, many scientists want this issue to " go away, " as they

believe it is settled. But their " belief " is counterweighted by the

beliefs of other scientific and health policy authorities, who beg to disagree.

The list is significant, and growing (see below). And to it, should be added

Dr. Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health

in the UK - (which, if I'm not mistaken, is roughly the same as our head of the

FDA).

An editor at the Age of Autism site, Anne Dachel, wrote to Dr. Fletcher to seek

his reaction to the stories about reportedly high rates of autsim among Somali

children in Minneapolis.

Here was his reply:

" I have always thought since I first heard about the Somali children that

this really proves the causal role of vaccines. The Amish children who have no

vaccines have no autistic-like disorders and the Somali children who are newly

exposed to aggressive vaccine programmes have exceptionally high levels! What

more evidence is needed? "

So there you have it. A leading scientist talking about " proof " of a

vaccine-autism connection - only you won't see this statement in The New York

Times or on ABC News.

This seems to be a step forward for Dr. Fletcher, who said in 2006 that the

measles-mumps-rubella vaccine might be implicated in autism. According to a

report in the Daily Mail:

Dr Fletcher, who was Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of

Health, said if it is proven that the MMR jab causes autism, " the refusal

by governments to evaluate the risks properly will make this one of the

greatest scandals in medical history " .

He added that after agreeing to be an expert witness on drug-safety trials for

parents' lawyers, he had received and studied thousands of documents relating

to the case which he believed the public had a right to see.

He said he has seen a " steady accumulation of evidence " from

scientists worldwide that the measles, mumps and rubella jab is causing brain

damage in certain children.

But he added: " There are very powerful people in positions of great

authority in Britain and elsewhere who have staked their reputations and

careers on the safety of MMR and they are willing to do almost anything to

protect themselves. "

And to you, angry scientists out there getting ready to trash me for this post

- just remember: You are not trashing me, you are trashing one of your own. And

he is hardly alone.

NOTE:

During 2008, all of the following groups and individuals have advocated or

considered exploring possible links between vaccines and autism:

1) Both Presidential Candidates

2) Director of the CDC

3) Former head of the NIH and American Red Cross

4) Chair of the U.S. House Science Subcommittee on Investigations

5) Dr. Jon Poling, Pediatric Neurologist

6) HHS Vaccine Safety Working Group

7) CDC Vaccine Safety Research Agenda

8) Medical personnel at HHS Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

9) Members of the Strategic Planning Workgroup of the IAC Committee

10) Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network - CISA

11) Autism researchers at s Hopkins University Medical School

12) America's health insurance companies

13) Autism Speaks

14) The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

15) Dr. Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Department of

Health