Definitive proof: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/1/e139?maxtoshow=
Fombonne E, Zakarian R, Bennett A, Meng L, McLean-Heywood D. Pervasive developmental disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: prevalence and links with immunizations. Pediatrics. 2006 Jul;118(1):e139-50. PMID: 16818529
I read through this published study last week and am thoroughly impressed. Going into the study, I was skeptical for two reasons: 1) Politically/emotionally charged health issues tend to throw bias into what and how studies are designed, written up, and published; and, 2) Population-based epidemiological studies tend to inherently miss variables in their vast data that can epically change research conclusions -all to often, they're like drawing the bullseye after the shots are fired at a target already riddled with holes.
However, novice that I am, I found that the researchers here leave very little for the champions of vax=autism to empirically attack. The population in the study is well-defined and the authors carefully explore details within it to find things that may influence their data. They plot the discrepancies in vaccine administration. They explore disease definitions in context and address potential anomalies in the historical reporting of the data. In short, it is very convincing that there are no links between mercury in vaccinations and autism, and suggest a "rise" in developmental disorders probably has more to do with recognition and definition within society.
I'm reminded of the political discussions some years ago over a report of extremely high breast cancer rate on Long Island. Despite extensive and detailed scientific investigations showing there was no environmental cause for the rate, the come-back
argument was, "all I know is that many more woman on Long Island are getting breast cancer than anywhere else and something must be done about it!"
So, if you'll excuse my exaggerated cynicism: I'm sure that even in the face of this (and other) convincing science, all the money grubbing, autism-exploiting,
conspiracy theory-creating, establishment-bashing, mercury-phobic anti-vaxers will continue to chant, "all I know is that babies getting vaccines turn into kids with autism, and something must be done about it!"
dras
(The son of a Nevada nuc-testing down-winder
Fombonne E, Zakarian R, Bennett A, Meng L, McLean-Heywood D. Pervasive developmental disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: prevalence and links with immunizations. Pediatrics. 2006 Jul;118(1):e139-50. PMID: 16818529
I read through this published study last week and am thoroughly impressed. Going into the study, I was skeptical for two reasons: 1) Politically/emotionally charged health issues tend to throw bias into what and how studies are designed, written up, and published; and, 2) Population-based epidemiological studies tend to inherently miss variables in their vast data that can epically change research conclusions -all to often, they're like drawing the bullseye after the shots are fired at a target already riddled with holes.
However, novice that I am, I found that the researchers here leave very little for the champions of vax=autism to empirically attack. The population in the study is well-defined and the authors carefully explore details within it to find things that may influence their data. They plot the discrepancies in vaccine administration. They explore disease definitions in context and address potential anomalies in the historical reporting of the data. In short, it is very convincing that there are no links between mercury in vaccinations and autism, and suggest a "rise" in developmental disorders probably has more to do with recognition and definition within society.
I'm reminded of the political discussions some years ago over a report of extremely high breast cancer rate on Long Island. Despite extensive and detailed scientific investigations showing there was no environmental cause for the rate, the come-back
argument was, "all I know is that many more woman on Long Island are getting breast cancer than anywhere else and something must be done about it!"
So, if you'll excuse my exaggerated cynicism: I'm sure that even in the face of this (and other) convincing science, all the money grubbing, autism-exploiting,
conspiracy theory-creating, establishment-bashing, mercury-phobic anti-vaxers will continue to chant, "all I know is that babies getting vaccines turn into kids with autism, and something must be done about it!"
dras
(The son of a Nevada nuc-testing down-winder
posted by nawledge at
8:25 PM
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