Survey Finds Many Americans Link Autism and Vaccines
Florida Institute of Technology commissioned the survey, which asked specifically about the link between the preservative [thimerosal] and autism. Nineteen percent of the respondents agreed with the statement "Autism is caused by a preservative once found in childhood vaccines." An additional 43 percent were not sure, meaning fewer than half (38 percent) of the respondents believe no link exists between the vaccine and autism [bold is mine]. ...All very interesting stuff. In fact, though, when you really think about it, this survey really raises more questions than it answers. This may be, in part, because the vaccine-related question in the survey was designed rather oddly.Part of the confusion may stem from the fact that the cause of autism is unknown, according to Florida Tech Assistant Professor of Psychology Celeste Harvey. More than three in four respondents (76 percent) to the national survey agree with the statement: "At this time, scientists don't know exactly what causes autism."
"Fear of the unknown, coupled with anxiety over the growing incidence of the disease, may be leading people to draw their own conclusions," said Harvey.
First, the wording suggests that fears about a vaccine/autism connection focus ONLY on thimerosal (no mention of the MMR or other vaccine-related concerns). Were it framed more broadly ("the rise in autism diagnoses is related to the number and type of vaccines administered to infants and toddlers," for example) - would the number of people agreeing be even higher?
Second, it suggests that thimerosal is no longer in any vaccines (it is - but only in a few vaccines and/or in "trace amounts"). The fact is that thimerosal's presence in flu vaccines may be compromising the campaign to have all children vaccinated. If the term "once was" were removed, would the number of people agreeing be higher - or lower?
Lastly, by confounding tenses (autism IS caused by something that ONCE WAS in vaccines), the question creates some real confusion. If autism WAS caused by something that ONCE WAS contained in vaccines... is the epidemic now over? If not, then what is this question actually asking?
In short, this particular survey may or may not be meaningful when it comes to assessing specific public knowledge of or concerns about vaccines and autism. What it does highlight, however, is the apparent inability of the CDC, NIH and other medical institutions to truly convince Americans that there is NOT a connection between vaccines and autism. Somehow, at least among the Florida Institute's 1,000-person sampling, the message "vaccines cause autism" has had a greater impact than "vaccines have no connection with autism."
Sure, it's possible that Americans are reacting to a knowledge void. But it seems to me more likely that they are reacting to a very active, passionate, and emotional campaign on the parts of organizing promoting the idea of an autism/vaccine connection.
Does this mean that television ads, billboards, episodes of primetime TV shows, celebrity interviews on Oprah, and storylines in major soap operas are more potent messengers than books and presentations by highly-credentialed doctors and researchers?
Um... yes. YES. And you'd think that most Americans surveyed would agree!
Comments
Dr. Andrew Moulden
2008 MP Candidate
Nipissing – Timiskaming
MP Candidate Dr. Andrew Moulden’s 6 Month Plan to Save Canada
With specific knowledge earned over 21 years of award-winning medical
study and practice starting at Nipissing University, Dr. Andrew
Moulden conclusively proved 7 years ago that vaccines cause
micro-vascular strokes.
In a nutshell: the shots cause our bodies own immune systems to
hyper-react as large white blood cells naturally rush to attack the
foreign particles injected into our bloodstream. The white blood
cells are too big to enter, so they surround tiny capillaries where
the foreign particles land, clog and collapse the capillaries. This
cuts off pathways for smaller red blood cells to carry much-needed
oxygen to different organs depending on where the particles float to
in our bodies. When they float near the brain, this lack of blood
supply can lead to autism, SIDS and many other diagnosed illnesses in
both children and adults. Our immune systems will continue fighting
the particles leading to long-term or chronic illness. Different
organs are affected depending on where the particles are which leads
to different symptoms and ‘disease’ names, but the basic causes are
the same and before this discovery were unknown.
Dr. Moulden, who’s been appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board for
the First Annual World Congress on Vaccinology in Guangzhou, China,
December 1- 5, 2008 to present to a group of 10,000 experts from
around the world, took his work to College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Ontario in 2001. They refused to look at it. He took it to MP’s
including Gurbax Singh Mali (Liberal, Bramalea-Gore) and Michael
Ignatieff (Liberal, Etobicoke). They refused to respond. He wrote to
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. He refused to respond. He took it to
many established medical bodies. They refused to respond. While this
was taking place, he also confirmed he was right with hundreds of
independent doctors and other medical experts around the world. Many
of them introduced him to clinically proven natural health solutions
they provide that he may soon be able to provide local access to.
He is running for MP in the Nipissing – Timiskaming riding where he
grew up to finally end the political problems causing medical
problems, or the control over our taxpayer-funded universal healthcare
system and its policies exercised by big pharmaceutical companies
through various lobbying efforts. This includes Bills C-51 and C-52
currently in Parliament which would essentially criminalize vitamins
and supplements and give big pharmaceutical companies a virtual
monopoly on medical treatments.
What’s the big surprise? The number of Americans who think vaccines cause autism is roughly the same as those who doubt the Theory of Evolution.
I’m not sure what the CDC et. al. can do about this appalling ignorance of science as long their message is filtered through the entertainment media. That’s why it’s important for legitimate news media and serious bloggers to take a stand, and report what the best available science tells us. This is no time to be timid.
I’m not sure this has anything to do with current events. My mom was against vaccines forever and still is and it has nothing to do with autism.
It is something that the 1000 people think this way, considering it wasn’t asked about the number of kids who have autism and never had one vaccine.
two things are scary. 1) no one knows the cause(s) for autism and to avoid something for fear of it, and 2) scary people wouldn’t vaccinate due to this fear which in turn can cause more fear.
Another question is since ‘once was’ was used, would these 1000 people change their minds about vaccines considering the rates have not lowered in years? Thats the biggy part of the whole thign than public opinion, is knowing the whole stats.
No amount of new information will dissuade the 1,000 or so true believers. First it was MMR. Then thimerosal. Now it’s aluminum. Reasoning with the anti-vaccine activists is like playing Whack-A-Mole. As soon as one silly, baseless idea is shot down, another one pops up.
Actually, AutismNewsBeat, I think you’re mis-stating or misunderstanding this survey. It wasn’t a survey of “anti-vaccine activists,” but of average Americans randomly selected across the nation. The “1,000″ number described the entire breadth of the survey.
I have no idea how many such activists are actually engaged in getting the word out – could be more or fewer than 1,000. But the point of the survey is that, however many there are, they are succeeding in influencing the opinions of average Americans.
Lisa (autism guide)
If anti-vaccine activists are succeeding in spreading baseless fear, it is with the assistance of entertainment writers posing as science writers. That would make a great post – what is the media’s responsibility in reporting factual scientific information, especially as it relates to public health?
AutismNewsBeat, If you get a minutecall you nearest university and ask to speak with an expert on mercury. Then ask them this question; Hi, I have a solution that contains 50,000 ug/l of organic mercury. I would like to inject my infant 11 times with 500 ul of this solution which also contains over 500 ug of aluminum. Let me know what they say.
More personal attacks sneaking through the filter.
Childhood vaccines do not contain mercury any more and if one was to call the nearest University they’d probably ask you “do you know how long Thimerosal has been used in vaccines?”
You’d also have to know who produced the vaccines, not all vaccine makers even used Thimerosal, ever.
The interesting part of this survey is public opinion on vaccines when Thimerosal isn’t in them any more.
Maggy, if you have a minute, familiarize yourself with the difference between “concentration” and “volume”. They are not synonyms.
Thimerosal has been gone from scheduled childhood vaccines for seven years. There is no evidence that the tiny amounts of aluminum found in vaccines is harmful.
AutismNewsBeat says, “There is no evidence that the tiny amounts of aluminum found in vaccines is harmful”. Read this paper folks where aluminum at 100 ug/kg causes neuron death. Lets say a 2 month old weighs 11 lbs. (5kg) and recieves 3 vaccines w/1250 ug Al (Hep B, DTaP, Hib). Thats 250 ug/kg, 2.5 times as much for what causes Gulf War Syndrome in combat ready adults. If it causes injury to an adult soldier are we really to believe that its safe for babies. Does anyone believe anything ANB says?
Petrik MS, Wong MC, Tabata RC, Garry RF, Shaw CA. Aluminum [vaccine]adjuvant linked to gulf war illness induces motor neuron death in
mice. Neuromolecular Med. 2007;9(1):83-100.
For one, this survey had nothing to do with aluminum but does anyone know the difference between plain aluminum and aluminum salts (which is what is used in vaccine) and how long it’s been used in vaccines why why it’s used??
Maggy, you’re still confusing concentration with volume.
After having read numerous topics from your posting, I conclude that you are biased towards the belief that vaccines do not cause autism and this bias is weaved into your topics and questions to the public. While you may not want to alarm readers into thinking there may be a connection between autism and vaccines, you should check your bias at the door and not “bold” statements which clearly indicate your personal beliefs. By injecting your bias and opinions you diminish the information you provide and you influence the information you will receive which diminishes knowledge, open-mindedness, and understanding for us all.
Honestly, the vaccine question has vasted enough time of the autism community.
My daughter checks the vial of vaccine before it is injected into my granddaughter, and some of the vaccines with thimerosal are still on dr.’s shelves.
Oliver~ this cant be true since all vaccines have expiration dates and those old vaccines expired long ago. If they’re still on that shelf (which isn’t the first time I’ve heard this claim to account for those autism rates) then the office can and should had been reported for using expired vaccines.
FACT- Nearly all vaccines do still have thimerasol. Most flu shots have it and single tetnus shots do as well. It has never been banned. They contain what is known as “trace” amounts. What is a trace amount? No one knows. Who is confirming that these “trace” amounts -nobody. So quite frankly, it is factually incorrect for anyone to state that vaccines are thimerasol free.
Anyone who tinks that vaccines are safe and have no adverse side effects needs to read a package insert. The problem is that we are talking about babies with no medical history. No doctors will acknowledge ANY vaccine adverse reaction (even though there are plenty) and just claim the baby was born that way.
I think what a lot of people who seriously research this subject have come to realize is that pharmaceutical companies are behind all Doctors and agencies promoting vaccines. It is inconceivable to believe that they would allow negatvie information about their product out. Also, Doctors are spoon fed their info directly from pharma or an agent of pharma such as Paul Offitt. For anyone to suggest that parents should BLINDLY accept what these people say is ridiculous.
FACT- not all vaccine makers ever used Thimerosal to begin with so this statement is completely inaccurate.
There’s also no evidence of which children ever get a single jab of the Tetnus vaccine, has yours? As for the Flu vaccine, it does come these days for children without Thimerosal and yet again, there’s still no stats on which children get that vaccine either in relation to autism.
As for that trace amount, when the stopped using Thimerosal, the could not disassemble their production machines. Which means ‘trace’ amounts would remain but as more and more vaccines were produced and run through, by now that ‘trace’ amount is about gone. And the great big concern of a trace amount anyway? If one worries about that, then one single jab way back when would have shown ill effects.
If one was to do research, they’d see the argument was that 2 added vaccines in the 90’s contributed to the more Thimerosal and tipped the scale, (regardless that Thimerosal was already used by some vaccine makers).
If one was to do research as to why vaccines were created to begin with, or talk to a mother whose infant was effected, one would understand there is no spoon feeding going on. All one needs to do is read the news paper. If one has a doctor that doesn’t acknowledge common side effects of vaccines, get a new doctor. Information has been around for over 30 years about vaccines, parents should never ‘blindly’ accept anything with out researching it’s side effects when it comes to their children, and that goes right down to antibiotics.
Lisa, “safe” is a relative term. Most human activities involve risk, and all medical interventions do. The question is not “are vaccines safe”, but rather “are vaccines safer than the diseases they prevent”?
“safe” may be a relative term. but when you’re talking about the ingredients in a medication, it seems to me that it’s reasonable to assess them and to ensure that they are as safe as possible (that is, as unlikely as possible to do harm while still being effective). I’m not convinced we’ve done that.
Meanwhile, there’s not a darned thing anyone can do to convince measles or rubella to tone down their virulence!
So… while I still recommend vaccinating, I would ALSO recommend continued vigilence in the area of testing and safety precautions – not only for vaccines, but for medications and medical treatments in general.
Lisa (autism guide)
One has to consider how they test things before it’s released to the public. Many drugs don’t get a whole lot of testing other than animals, due to humans not volunteering too much for these studies. Even when a medication is fully studied and tested, other things will always factor in that in no way could be known prior, like genetics for one- the different biology of each person, natural surroundings like sun light, and of all the over the counter and RX’d medication combinations.
Vaccines are one of the longest used medicines in the world. As scientists were creating them to prevent deaths due to passing along from person to person illnesses (that effected mainly children), a few test subjects did die right off the bat since they didn’t calculate the bacteria. That’s when a preservative was found to be needed.
It is some what annoying reading mainly the same scare tactics over and over. Just because we’re of a generation that does not remember or were born to know why vaccines were created, one should really do their history and see how many kids have died, and why that generation of parents begged for a jab (not he Big Pharma) to prevent more of these children from dying. Many of the out breaks that come into the USA is due to a person who traveled to other countries and as a carrier, brought the virus to those closest to them. If you look at the history of vaccines, why then all of a sudden now would there be autism? Why not way back when? Why regression? If we’re talking that brain barrier, then why not that vaccine at birth or 2 months old but the ones when the child is a toddler? Why is regression generally only seen after the child is old enough to start speaking? It’s the new parents or about to be parents that will be effected by all these comments and media and weeding through fact or fiction and blame in order to help them make the choice right for them. If everyone keeps mentioning the Tetanus and Flu vaccine and not know what’s available, isn’t it sad some will fore go it for an inaccurate fear of Thimerosal and then contract Tetanus or Flu and die?
I still think it’s going to be a combination of triggers and as time goes on, they’ll find more and more things like the baby bottles and sippy cups that the plastic caused a hormone like substance released when heated or scratched. Whose kids never put tooth marks in their zippy cups?? Who never heated the milk while still in the bottle? Now add a vaccine to that hormone- substance that’s within that child.
But, they removed those products, and Thimerosal and the rates are not dropping.
One should consider before totally blaming the great big bad horrible Pharma and their motives when these nasty horrible things could easily cause epidemics as well. In other countries, kids are dying every day from the measles and other nasty things. Vaccines prevented most of us today from having to deal with those things. But almost all parents in most states have a choice about vaccines, and you only need a waiver at the time a child would enter a day care or public school. When they’re toddlers and infants, just say no to vaccines. My mom did with all 6 of her kids, way long before there was ever an autism/ vaccine connection and my sister did so with her son whose a tad bit older than my own child. Don’t wait for that great big bad horrible Pharma, stand up and make the choice that you’re allowed to make, but research your risk factors are and what some of these diseases can cause short and long term if contracted.
… it seems to me that it’s reasonable to assess them and to ensure that they are as safe as possible (that is, as unlikely as possible to do harm while still being effective). I’m not convinced we’ve done that.
What reasons do you have to believe that vaccine ingredients are not adequately tested? I understand that this is “just a blog”, so there’s no reason for you to base your judgment on anything at all. But still, you must have your reasons.
Dr. Moulden:
You have never published your research in a respected medical journal. According to your website, you help malpractice lawyers assemble “evidence” so they can sue drug companies and medical providers.
From your own website:
We review cases for negligence, misrepresentation, no informed consent, failure to uphold the medical standard and duty of care, medical malpractice, and criminal acts of omission, or commission, leading to bodily harm, death, and wrongful criminal convictions.
It appears that your registration to practice medicine in Ontario expired in June 2008. Why is that?