Hear the Silence
BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7428.1411 (Published 11 December 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:1411
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The people that are dismissing the MMR Autism link without
researching it are both iresponsible and incompetant. The link is real. I
have an autistic son, Jake, and I KNOW his autism was caused by the MMR.
Channel 5's Hear The Silence was intended to bring out the Wakefield and
co research, not the propaganda the government try to ram down our throats
24/7 about how the MMR is safe. It is not. It ruins lives. It's ruined
Jake's life. I refuse to be called a liar by the government. I know my
son, they don't.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
In response to Lisa C Blakemore-Brown’s request for an opinion about
children who die within 10 days of a vaccination, my first thought is that
all children differ in their responses to any foreign protein that enters
the brain. Indeed the vaccine itself will vary from batch to batch and
even within a batch.
When the particular elements of the vaccine and their products enter
the brain, the site at which they cause damage is again variable and from
child to child. Just as it is hardly possible to predict if a certain
child will respond unfavourably to vaccination, so it is also impossible
to predict, if they do, what damage will occur, what the sequence will be,
and whether the outcome will be a return to normality, neurological injury
or death.
For brain cells to be damaged in this way there usually needs to be
pyrexia following the event of vaccination. A fairly recent study of the
clinical characteristics and risk factors for a complex first febrile
convulsion showed that any acute febrile convulsion should be abbreviated
soonest possible as neurological abnormalities, which may be signs of
cerebral insult become more likely with increasing duration of seizures.
The increased incidence of acute neurological deficits detected in
children with complex febrile convulsion appeared to be more related to
focality and duration of seizure rather than to multiplicity of seizures.
Children with focal seizures were often associated with Todd’s
hemiparesis, (it is thought that in patients with hemi-convulsions and
Todd’s paralysis, the prolonged cerebral hyperfusion may be the result of
impaired vascular auto-regulation and its effects on cerebral function [1]
) explaining their higher propensity to neurological deficits.
From this study, the risk of developing neurological deficits
increased with increasing duration of seizure. Although all children in
this study, with neurological deficits, made uneventful recoveries, this
finding indicated that prolonged duration of the seizure might be a more
important factor in causing insult or injury to the brain compared to
multiple but short seizures. [2]
Just as all vaccinations are not safe, all seizures are not fatal.
The problem with the 10-day issue is that in many cases the progress of
the child’s condition is not monitored to a degree that can allow
aetiological certitude. Often the parent’s judgement and instinct may be a
reliable factor however, this does not gain enough of the Court’s respect
compared to the statements of expert witnesses.
[1] M Kimura, H Sejima, H Ozasa et al [ Shimane Med Univ Japan]
Technetium - 99m - HMPAO SPECT iin Patients with Hemiconvulsions followed
by Todd’s Paralysis. Pediatr Radiol 28; 92-9, 1998.
[2] Ling, S G. Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for a
Complex First Febrile Convulsion. Singapore Med J 2001 Vol 42(6) : 264-267
Competing interests:
Father of a daughter who was brain damaged by the DPT vaccine and has autisic syndrome.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Another year over, and still no political will to look at vaccines,
indeed, removal of legal aid during the last few months from a class
action appears designed to put a lid on it for good, rather like the
Hutton Inquiry and Iraq. The invariable trashing of all alternative
opinion, including the documentary Hear the Silence, is getting tedious,
predictable and giving Britain a bad name.
Dr Challoner sets out many examples of hitherto indisputed side
effects of vaccinations, since they were first developed, mysteriously now
not acknowledged. Any attack on the brain by a virus can lead to the onset
of autism. Viral infection is a known causal factor for autism. Certain
types of genetic vulnerability will make a child more susceptible, but the
final trigger is necessary in this destructive tapestry.
I was in the Royal Courts recently when Lord Justice Judge read out
the Decision in the Cannings case, the mother who was wrongfully convicted
of murdering her children and locked away for life. Knowing that one of
Sally Clark's babies died within hours of a triple vaccine, that Alan
Yurko's baby died following vaccination, yet he is locked up in the US,
that other cases are awaiting trial with the same story, it was staggering
to listen and read of the temporal associations between triple
vaccinations - DPT and MMR - and the sudden illness or sudden death of
Angela Cannings' babies. The first child died within 24 hours and was a
bouncing baby before the vaccination. Another child became immediately
very ill within 24 hours of the MMR and was dead within 10 days.
Immunisations were implicated with the other two children but less clearly
defined, one of whom survived, and more details are needed.
I would be interested in Dr Challoner's views on this 10 day period,
which I have heard about in a number of cases, and what may be happening
to the system of a baby following the triple vaccine during the subsequent
10 days.
The fact that innocent parents have been jailed for life for murder
when such startlingly obvious temporal associations have been brushed
aside and not even mentioned beggars belief but must surely be examined.
In fact their very omission in the original court cases surely speaks
volumes?
At a conference in Australia last week, many people spoke about
immune system problems following vaccines, about reactions which look like
a child has been beaten, about the rapid rise in bowel problems, autistic
and attentional problems, asthma and ezcema, apnea, ME etc. in the last 15
years. I in 100 children are now found to have Coeliac Disease and many
others will have bowel problems which just fall short of the full criteria
for this disorder. This is incredible.
It is now expected that at least one autistic child will be found in
every street, yet in the mid eighties most people thought you were saying
`artistic` not `autistic` when asked about professional interests - it was
so rare.
What is happening to our society that we are all blind to the
obvious? or are we all too scared to speak out about this outrage?
Well we should be scared - we will all have to rely on this
generation to look after all of us in the not so distant future. Perhaps
we will get what we deserve.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
The reply that you seek has been posted here before. However, as it
would seem that you have missed it, I will post it again.
In response to those who do not believe that there are serious side
effects from live or attenuated vaccines, I would like to suggest further
areas for research based on the following evidence.
The fact that there even exist different strains of the vaccine has
to do with the way they are produced. Most vaccines in use today contain
live, attenuated viruses (as do measles, polio, rubella, influenza, yellow
-fever, varicella).
The "transmutation" (attenuation) of a virulent wild strain into a
vaccine is today still an empirical process. The virus is subject to
several passages in various cell cultures under non-optimal growth
conditions. Through this process the virus changes its specific
properties, remains however a "live" virus. The mechanism involved in
thisattenuation is not known in any detail. Following that, a few safety
investigations are made and the reactivity and efficacy is tested on
laboratory animals and volunteers.
Live vaccines posses a higher risk of contamination with micro-
organisms than other vaccines. Oncogenetic viruses are, for example,
present in mammalian cell strains used in vaccine production. [1]
Live vaccines attenuated by conventional procedures are commonly
carriers of unknown genetic modifications. Particularly when these
modifications are only minor, like localised mutations, the danger of
backmutation into a pathogenetic virus is possible.
Because vaccines are applied million-fold on entire populations,
overlooked viral contaminations, back mutations, new mutations of the
attenuated vaccine, or insufficient attenuation of the pathogene may have
dramatic consequences for a large number of people. [2]
This would be consistent with an existing theory that autistic
individuals suffer a chronic state of over-arousal, and portray abnormal
behaviours to diminish the arousal. The lack of lateral inhibitors,
contained in the cortex, would affect an individual's ability to
discriminate between competing sensory information, (Casanova, idem).
Researchers do not yet know whether the difference in the number and size
of the mini-columns is attributable to a gene mutation or some other
factor. [3]
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program,
promulgatesthat the risks from MMR vaccine can be permanent brain damage,
[4] and influenza. (The US Institute of Medicine’s immunisation safety
review committee has been investigating whether the influenza vaccine
might carrya risk of the demyelinating disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome.)
[5]
Coulter’s hypothesis presents molecular mechanisms that may account
for the similarities in sequelae to various central nervous system
infections and, in some children, to vaccinations. [6]
Based upon the facts, (i) that fever is a vaccination reaction
experienced by many individuals [7], and
(ii) that fever and oedema are stimulated by similar cytokines
[8,9,10]
A subset of vaccinated children— as a direct result of vaccination-
induced cytokines release— may be likely to experience both encephalitis
and subsequent encephalopathy. [11]
For instance, recent research findings are instructive regarding
autistic children for whom— as neonates, infants or toddlers— medical
records show a history of infections, antibiotic treatments,
vaccinations,and temporally associated onset of autistic traits (e.g.,
Baker et al (idem), & Coulter (idem).
As suggested by Coulter (idem), a range of mild but significant post-
vaccination neuropathies may occur.
i. Fever is strongly associated with interleukin-1, interleukin-6,
and tumour necrosis factor alpha (IL-1, IL-2, TNF-alpha; (Luheshi et al,
idem)). ii. Brain inflammation is strongly associated with those same
cytokines,. [12,13]iii. IL-1 and IL-6 are among primary components in
inflammatory expansionsof B-cells and T-cells, which can migrate to
tissues from which, for instance, the anti-neural epitopes are derived.
Furthermore, because the very mechanism of vaccination-induced immunity
derives from clonal expansions of B-cells [14], cytokines needed for B-
cell clonal expansionsare induced and present as a causally related
response to vaccination.
If, prior to or immediately subsequent to vaccination, any neuronal
damage, however slight, has occurred in response to the child's
infectionsand/or antibiotic treatments, then the child probably has some
activated microglia [15] and some anti-neuronal antibodies, as well as
activated T-cells and B-cells whose epitopic focus is derived from neurons
that were injured either,
(i) during the prior infections and treatment, or (ii) as a result of
vaccination-induced oedema [16].
Not only do inflammatory cytokines modulate blood-brain barrier
permeability [17], but perivascular microglial cells of the blood brain
barrier can become antigen-presenting cells encoded with epitopes from
theinjured tissue within the brain, and these perivascular cells allow
activated T-cells to pass from peripheral circulation, across the blood
brain barrier, into cerebro spinal fluid wherein additional autoimmune-
like damage can ensue. A similar crossing of the blood brain barrier
occurs with activated B-cells.
If, from the child's prior infection(s) and/or from vaccination-
induced oedema, activated T-cells and B-cells exist with neuronally
derived epitopes, at least in some individuals during their response to
vaccination, the following sequence may ensue:
(i) clonal expansions of existing T-cells and B-cells having
neuronally derived epitopes, (ii) further activation of microglia in brain
regions already damaged, (iii) increases in blood brain barrier
permeability, thereby allowing activated T-cells, etc, to enter the brain.
(iv) Furthermore, as the clonally expanding T-cells, etc, travel toward
brain cells having sequences similar to the neuronally derived epitopes,
encephalitis would be one result of these events and, more importantly,
additional sequelae would include increased autoimmune-like damage to
neurons that, prior to the vaccination, had been only mildly, perhaps
evenunnoticeably damaged by the prior infections.
In extreme cases of individuals having vaccination-induced clonal
expansions of immunological cells with neuron-based epitopes, autism
mightbe a result.
Nearly any vaccine may have the potential for inducing neuronal
damage in persons with neuronally derived epitopes. In other words, any
vaccination that induces strong antibody responses,
(i) would appear to be capable of inducing fever-generating
cytokinesand, therefore at least hypothetically, (ii) could simultaneously
induce clonal expansions of pre-existing T- and B-cells encoded with
neuronally derived epitopes, thereby leading to increased neuronal damage
in varying degrees across individuals.
That vaccinations are helpful to society is without question;
however, that some individuals suffer permanent and damaging sequelae to
vaccinations is also well documented. The purpose of further research
would be to understand better the mechanism by which vaccination-induced
neuronal damage can occur in some individuals.
Three additional concepts are helpful for understanding inflammation-
related pathologies of the central nervous system:
(i) molecular mimicry— whereby epitope sequences are virtually
identical between an immunogenic pathogen and a naturally occurring
molecular sequence [18], (ii) cross-reactivity— e.g., when a lipo-
polysaccharide amidst a cellular bilipid layer induces a wider range of
immunological responses involving self-membrane sequences [19], and (iii)
epitope-spreading or "determinant spreading", i.e., a process that also
describes spontaneously occurring widening ranges of immunogenicity.
Each of these three processes illustrates ways that autoimmune
neuronal damage may be induced and the range of neuronal targets expanded
in response to fever-related levels of cytokines release that occur in
response to vaccinations. These processes would be more likely in some
children if, due to infections and/or antibiotics, the child has T-
and/orB-cell subsets encoded with neuronally derived epitopes.
In extreme cases, sufficient interleukin-2 levels in damaged areas
ofthe central nervous system could mobilise lymphokine-activated killer
cells (LAKs), which then might induce a more general damage, thereby
yielding increasingly severe neurological deficits.
Additional factors may augment the mechanisms of neuronal damage
outlined here in above:
i. Targeting the cerebellum and temporal lobe: Swartz [20] mentions
that the temporal lobe and cerebellum are likely targets for oedema-
induced neuronal damage. Furthermore, certain hippocampal regions as well
as Purkinje cells of the cerebellum have a relative deficit of apoptosis-
related protein Bcl-2, thereby inclining cells in those regions toward
apoptosis [21] if and as oedema-induced injury occurs [22]. ii.
Cerebellum: Discrete lesions of the cerebellum are associated with mania,
depression, bipolar disorders, and OCD; and more than thirty bacterial,
fungal, and viral infectious agents are known to be able to affect the
cerebellum [23]. iii. Other inflammatories: In addition to IL-1, IL-6, and
TNF-alpha, the following are additional factors influencing brain
inflammation: Platelet-activating factor, prostaglandins E2 and I2,
leukotriene B4, and polymorpho-nuclear neutophil leukocytes [24].
As stated in a recent guideline for physicians, vaccination-induced
inflammation ought be treated aggressively (Fukuyama et al, idem), and
better understanding of pathogenic processes, of risk factors, and of
preventive or corrective measures are worthwhile goals.
From Hansard 11 Jan 1999 : Column 63
The information given to the public has always been that the MMR
vaccine has been safely used in other countries, particularly the United
States, and that it provides lifelong protection against all three
infections with a single administration.
What the public are not told is that in a study that was completed
before the launch of the 1994 MMR campaign, children given the injection
were three times more likely to suffer convulsions than those who did not
receive it, and that the vaccine caused five times more cases of the rare
blood disorder thrombocytopenia purpura than expected. Besides sometimes
causing dangerous mutations like atypical measles, the vaccine has been
associated with numerous side effects, including deafness, encephalitis,
febrile convulsions, Guillan-Barre Syndrome and sub acute sclerosing
panencephalitis— a fatal wasting disease that is only very rarely
associated with measles. The noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, mentioned
thepossible connection with autism.
For contraindications and side effects of live measles vaccination
see;
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/measlesvax_ad.htm
[1] KIMMAN TG, Risks connected with the use of conventional and
genetically engineered vaccines, Veterinary Quarterly , Aug 1992, Vol
14(3), 110-118
[2] BROWN F, Review of accidents caused by incomplete inactivation
ofviruses, Dev Biol Stand, 1993, 81 (1), 103-7
[3] CASANOVA MF, BUXHOEVEDEN DP, SWITALA AE, ROY E. Minicolumnar
pathology in autism. Neurology 2002 Feb 12; 58(3): 428-32.
[4] http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-mmr.pdf
[5] BMJ 2003;326:620 ( 22 March 2003 )
[6] ALLEN, A.J., LEONARD, H.L., & SWEDO, S.E. (1995), Case
study:a new infection-triggered, autoimmune subtype of pediatric OCD and
Tourette's syndrome. Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 307-311.
[7] BELLANTI, J.A., FISHMAN, H.D., & WIENTZEN, R.L. (1987),
Adverse reactions to vaccines. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North
America, 7, 3, 423-445.
[8] LUHESHI, G., & ROTHWELL, N. (1996), Cytokines and fever.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 109, 301-307 [listing IL
-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha as the primary cytokine pyrogens].
[9] QUAGLIARELLO, V.J., WISPELWEY, B., LONG, Jr., W.J., & SCHELD
W.M. (1991), Recombinant human interleukin-1 induces meningitis and blood-
brain barrier injury in the rat: characterization and comparison with
tumor necrosis factor. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 87, 1360-1366.
[10] YAMASAKI, Y., MATSUURA, N., SHOZUHARA, H., ONODERA, H.,
ITOYAMA,Y., & KOGURE, K. (1995), Interleukin-1 as a pathogenetic
mediator of ischemic brain damage in rats. Stroke, 26, 676-81.
[11] BAKER, S.M., & PANGBORN, J. (1996), Clinical assessment
options for children with autism and related disorders: a concensus
reportof the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) conference, Dallas, Texas, January
1995. San Diego, Autism Research Institute.
[12] BANKS, W.A., KASTIN, A.J., & GUTIERREZ, E.G. (1993),
Interleukin-1-alpha in blood has direct access to cortical brain cells.
Neuroscience Letters, 163, 41-44.
[13] CERIANI, G., MACALUSO, A., CATANIA, A., & LIPTON, J.M.
(1994), Central neurogenic antiinfammatory action of alpha-MSH:
modulationof peripheral inflammation induced by cytokines and other
mediators of inflammation. Neuroendocrinology, 59, 138-143.
[14] ADA, G.L. (1993), Vaccines. In: Fundamental Immunology, 3rd
edition, Paul, E.P., editor, New York: Raven Press, Ltd.
[15] MICROGLIA are the smallest of the glial cells. Some act as
phagocytes cleaning up CNS debris. Most serve as representatives of the
immune system in the brain. Microglia protect the brain from invading
micro-organisms and are thought to be similar in nature to microphages in
the blood system.
[16] FUKUYAMA, Y., SEKI, T., OHTSUKA, C., MIURA, H., & HARA, M.
(1996), Practical guidelines for physicians in the management of febrile
seizures. Brain & Development, 18, 479-84.
[17] BANKS, W.A., & KASTIN, A,J. (1991), Blood to brain
transportof interleukin links the immune and central nervous systems. Life
Sciences, 48, PL117-PL121.
[18] BAUM H, DAVIES H, & PEAKMAN M. (1996), Molecular mimicry in
the MHC: hidden clues to autoimmunity? Immunology Today, 17, 64-70.
[19] VAN ROOIJEN, N. (1989), Are bacterial endotoxins involved in
autoimmunity by CD5+ (Ly-1+) B cells? Immunology Today, 10, 334-336.
[20] SWARTZ, M.N. (1984), Bacterial meningitis: more than just the
meninges. New England Journal of Medicine, 311, 912-913.
[21] There are 3 different mechanisms by which a cell ‘commits
suicide’ by apoptosis. (1) one generated by signals arising within the
cell, (2) another triggered by death activators binding to receptors at
the cell surface. [TNF-a; Lymphotoxin; and Fas ligand (FasL)]; (3) a
thirdthat may be triggered by dangerous reactive oxygen species.
[22] HARA, A., HIROSE, Y., WANG, A., YOSHIMI, N., TANAKA, T., &
MORI, H. (1996), Localization of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins, regulators of
programmed cell death, in the human central nervous system. Virchows
Archives. 429, 249-53.
[23] COHEN, B.A., & LIPTON, H.L. (1990), The cerebellum and CNS
infections. In: Infections of the central nervous system. D Schlossberg,
editor; New York: Springer-Verlag.
[24] SAEZ-LLORENS, X., RAMILO, O., MUSTAFA, M.M., MERTSOLA, J.,
&Mccracken, G.H. (1990), Molecular pathophysiology of bacterial
meningitis:Current concepts and therapeutic implications. The Journal of
Pediatrics, 116, 671-684.
Competing interests:
Father of a daughter who was brain damaged by the DPT vaccine and has autisic syndrome.
Competing interests: No competing interests
We read with interest the review of ‘Hear the Silence’ by Michael
Fitzpatrick [1] The misinformation spread by the play is indeed dangerous.
The resurgence of measles and mumps is already noticed due to fall in
coverage of MMR vaccine. [2, 3] The safety of MMR vaccine needs to be
stressed to the common public in order to regain the confidence and
contain the incidence of these diseases. Hard evidence based on field
studies is very essential for this purpose. In this regards, we would like
to report our experience with pharmacovigilance of MMR vaccine over 5
years in India.
We used postal survey methodology, previously described by Gogtay NJ
et al [4], for conducting post-marketing surveillance of MMR Vaccine. The
vaccine under study was manufactured by Serum Institute of India Ltd,
Pune, India. Each lyophilized dose of the vaccine contains L-Zagreb strain
of Mumps virus, Edmonston-Zagreb strain of Measles virus and RA 27/3
Rubella virus. The vaccine is used in children older than 12 months, 0.5
ml reconstituted solution injected subcutaneously. Data was gathered from
qualified pediatricians by sending two sets of Questionnaires. Data sought
was for last 5 years. The follow-up was done with direct telephonic
communication with the pediatrician. The first set of questionnaire was
responded by 68% (204/300) pediatricians. The second questionnaire was
sent to 25 doctors, who reported events like excessive crying, boggy
fontanel and convulsions. 23 (92%) doctors responded this questionnaire.
1,90,723 children were given MMR Vaccine over a period of 5 years.
There was no case fatality. The reported adverse events were as follows:
Fever 2.5698% (95% C.I. 2.1936% to 2.3275%), Rash 0.69% (95% C.I. 0.6549%
to 0.7288%), Excessive crying 0.21% (95% C.I. 0.1944% to 0.2365%),
Lymphadenopathy 0.13% (95% C.I. 0.1134% to 0.1462%), Parotitis 0.079% (95%
C.I. 0.0666% to 0.0923%), Arthralgia 0.053% (95% C.I. 0.0432% to 0.0644%),
Local reactions 0.045% (95% C.I. 0.0400% to 0.0490%), Febrile Convulsions
0.003% (95% C.I. 0.00195% to 0.00384%) The only neurological adverse
events reported were two cases of Aseptic Meningitis. One case of
Anaphylaxis was also reported. There was no report of autism or
inflammatory bowel disease by any of the pediatricians. Since the data is
for 5 years, this information is very important, ruling out any
association of MMR vaccine and autism/inflammatory bowel disease.
We could not ascertain whether AM was causally related to the
vaccine, because in a developing country like India, facilities for CSF
viral culture are not always available. However, based on the clinical
evidence, causality association seemed probable. Similarly, anaphylaxis
occurred within 15 minutes after vaccination. Therefore, MMR vaccine seems
to the incriminating factor for anaphylaxis. It is thus seen that the
incidence of Aseptic Meningitis (AM) appears to be one in 95,361.5 doses
administered, and that of Anaphylaxis one in 1,90,723 doses.
We feel that this study clearly proves the non-association of MMR
vaccine with autism/inflammatory bowel disease in an uncontrolled real
life situation. The risk of other events like AM and anaphylaxis is very
small. It is the responsibility of the medical fraternity to educate the
public using electronic and print media for highlighting the safety of MMR
vaccines. We hope that our study will contribute to the safety information
on MMR vaccines, especially when used in a community setting.
References:
[1] Michael Fitzpatrick. Hear the Silence BMJ 2003; 327: 1411
[2] Pugh RN, Akinosi B, Pooransingh S, Kumar J, Grant S, Livesley E,
Linnane J, Ramaiah S. An outbreak of mumps in the metropolitan area of
Walsall, UK. Int J Infect Dis. 2002 Dec;6(4):283-7.
[3] Jansen VA, Stollenwerk N, Jensen HJ, Ramsay ME, Edmunds WJ,
Rhodes CJ. Measles outbreaks in a population with declining vaccine
uptake. Science. 2003 Aug 8;301(5634):804.
[4] Gogtay NJ, Mangalvedhekar SS, Kshirsagar NA. Adverse drug
reaction monitoring in India and the postal survey as a useful tool for
ADR detection. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 2000, 9, 235-236.
Competing interests:
Prasad Kulkarni, Pralhad Patki, Suresh Jadhav, Subhash Kapre are employed by Serum Institute of India Ltd
Competing interests: No competing interests
Dear Dr Challenor
May I humbly suggest that your letter does not provide evidence that
the MMR vaccine causes autism but puts forward a hypothesis that combined
live viruses (you are presumably referring to MMR), might mutate and cause
brain damage. You have not provided evidence that this occurs.
Best wishes
William Pimm
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Neville W Goodman writes that there is no evidence of cause and
effect with MMR and autism.
He is wrong. There is evidence that combined live viruses can mutate, and
that this can cause brain damage. Classical autism has been shown to
result when there is unusual development of certain parts of the brain. If
these parts are damaged in an otherwise normal brain, then autistic
syndrome can result.
Competing interests:
Father of a daughter who was brain damaged by the DPT vaccine, and who also has autistic syndrome.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Here is a Christmas quiz. You are asked to go through the rapid
response columns of the BMJ for the last 14 days (or indeed any 14 days)
and try to spot the following false and misleading arguments. This is not
in any way a complete list.
Using the Mandy Rice-Davis argument as the sole defence of your case
- 'he would say that, wouldn't he'. It is legitimate to point out a
conflict of interest but a conflict of interest, in itself, does not make
a statement or argument false.
Arguing against a proposition that has not been put forward by your
opponent or exaggerating your opponents position to an unreasonable one
that is easier to defeat.
Not answering the question that your opponent asked but answering a
completely different question that you pretend was asked and would like
your opponent to have asked (variant of the above).
Using emotive language to add 'spin' to an argument.
Giving references to your own work to add a false respectability to
your case when the work quoted is not directly relevant to the argument.
Turning all arguments round to the same one in which you attack a
person or group of people who have no apparent connection with or stance
in relation to the argument at hand.
Promoting your views as a reasonable compromise between two extremes
when the 'compromise' view you put forward is in reality strongly
supportive of one 'extreme'.
Using 'all' or implying 'all' when there is no evidence for all and
'some' would be more accurate, though less emotive. eg 'All teachers are
bullies' or 'teachers are bullies' rather than 'some teachers are
bullies'.
Selective quoting of the literature and quoting out of context.
Equating your opponents use of humour to shallowness in all his or
her arguments.
Positioning yourself as more caring and humanitarian than your
opponent and using this as a way of avoiding a discussion of methodology
and science and conversely trying to diminish your opponents standing by
parading a knowledge of science and statistics when it is not relevant to
the issue under discussion. Best of all doing both these things at once.
There is also a condition not proven to be associated with false
arguments, but suspected to be so (research is underway). It is known as
rapid responsitis chronica continualis whereby those afflicted imagine
that the world hangs on their every word and readers of the BMJ can't wait
to read lengthy offerings on a wide variety of subjects, when in reality
all that is required to enter these august columns is to be ability to
press the send button after scribbling down something that is not overtly
libellous.
Happy Christmas
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
I never cease to be amazed at the apparent 'deafness and
blindness'(no offence to anyone) of anyone disagreeing with Dr.Wakefield
et al.
A brief overview:
Q. Does Dr.Wakefield believe MMR causes autism?
A. No.
Q. Has a measles virus -the vaccine (MMR) strain-been detected in children
in his and other studies?
A. Yes
Q. Are babies tested for allergies/sensitivities to ingredients of *prior*
to being given any vaccines?
A.No
Q. A trace of nuts in a food product could kill an allergic
child, why is it so impossible that children having chemical sensitivies
and or food allergies could develop encephalitis/ Autism /gut problems
etc., ?
A. I would like an answer to that one.
Dr.Murch prescribed Vancomycin for my son (and various other
antibiotics for other children) for my sons' 'LNH Grade 3' - I was not
told what 'bacteria' was found, or virus, and/ or what 'LNH Grade 3'
actually is? He also prescribed the Gluten and Casein free diet for my
childs' gut disorder. My local Authority have disregarded Dr.Murch's
diagnosis and now only treat my son for constipation, that my son has had
for many years (at age 11 he is still in nappies with every nappy soiled
due to overflow') but this is 'normal' according to our local Paediatric
Gastroenterologist at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. He was the
reason we went to the Royal Free in the first place as he saw my son and
said 'children like him get these things' and dismissed us. My son is
still impacted 3 years on and on strong medication every day despite being
told ''it is mild constipation''contrary to Dr.Murch who now, according to
the C&W Hospital, will not see my son again.
I had found an article on the internet saying that Vancomycin had
been used successfully to treat Autism but that children became immune and
regressed back into Autism after prolonged use, I refused to give the
Vancomycin to my son as social workers had already had meetings about my
parenting and I found out later I had been accused of having 'msbp' along
with hundreds of other parent's of ASD children. (See Paul Shattock's
statement to the sunderland echo 'Parent's Risk Losing Children Over MMR'
at www.msbp.com)
I would be grateful for answers and congratulations to Dr.Wakefield et al
remaining composed as they did during the debate after the 'Hear The
Silence' programme. I have to do the same now.
Competing interests:
Parent of an Autistic child diagnosed by Dr.Murch at the Royal Free Hospital as having Lymphonodularhyperplasia Grade 3, ex-campaigner for Autism Information Matters (A.I.M)
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: MMR/Autism link IS REAL
I stumbled across this thread of comments while researching this
topic for a (non-scientific) friend of mine who has a child who will be
having vaccinations soon, and is worried about the issue. I said I would
do some research for her so she could make an informed decision. Reading
these comments (especially William's!) has quite brightened up my day.
I read the paper Dr Wakefield wrote without having any prior
knowledge of this particular subject (bar, of course, via the media, and
some very basic researches on autism for my friends), and it seemed to me
to say 'Certain children may have a genetic deficiency which may possibly
cause them to respond to the MMR vaccine by developing autism, possibly
linked with colitis and ileal lymphoid hyperplasia'? I am unsure of where
this idea that all children may be at risk of developing autism has come
from. Perhaps from the Channel 5 documentary? Please forgive me, those
parents and grandparents of children who developed these problems, if you
know for certain that your child was not positive for this allele.
Perhaps (obviously after more research) a simple screening for this
gene would suffice to put worried parents' minds at rest, and even warn of
a risk of autism for their child later on? Those whose children test
positive may then opt for the single vaccine. Informed consent is, of
course, a given. Once again, I beg forgiveness, this time for my habit of
assuming pharmacogenetics solves all ;)
I completely agree with Alan's comments regarding the risks of live
vaccines... this is a matter that should be addressed during informed
consent (see above), and there is undoubtedly a neurological risk from
injecting what are after all, live viruses adapted to live in the nervous
system, into children's bodies. I am not certain here: Are the single
vaccinations any more or less live viruses with a chance of causing these
problems? Are they using different strains?
At the risk of sounding discompassionate (I have no children.. you
may consider me biased now if you wish) we have a cost-benefit situation
here. The risk of possible neurological damage versus the risks associated
with these three diseases, when a frightened parent decides not to
vaccinate? Which is greater? I am inclined to go with the latter.
I do not know Dr Wakefield personally (I would like to, then I could
get a primary source), nor did I see the documentary, but based on his
paper, I would say the villains Dr Fitzpatrick should be railing at are
Channel 5 and the media who terrify parents with this so they can sell
papers/gain ratings (although not Juliet Stevenson who I quite liked in
"Truly, Madly, Deeply"). If this review were directed at them, I should be
quite behind Dr Fitzpatrick the whole way. Dr Wakefield seems to have been
the unfortunate man with his hand on the opener when the worms all came
wiggling out of the can.
As for the scruples of big companies when their profits are
endangered.. I ain't sayin' nuffink ;)
References
Please see everyone else's posts.
Competing interests:
Employee of pharmaceutical company.
Close friend of Asperger's sufferer
Competing interests: No competing interests