I came across an article today by F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP. He’s part of the loose coalition of people who support the MMR/Thiomersal/autism association. The article was mainly about how Thiomersal in Europe is displayed with a skull and crossbones. I may tackle that another time but for now I want to take issue with the following introduction:
In the United Kingdom, the issue of MMR remains in the forefront with a David and Goliath scenario unfolding for the last seven years: On one side, the mighty Government, the Prime-Minister personally, the Health authorities, the Press –some of it very ugly- and large useless epidemiological studies and on the other side, Andrew Wakefield with his study of 12 children and a small group of faithful devoted and informed parents.
There is enough scientific evidence to show that both the MMR vaccine and Thimerosal in other vaccines precipitate autistic regression in genetically-predisposed children, not withstanding the opinions of biased “experts,†a misleading IOM special committee report and obviously the CDC.
He also links to a more indepth article apparently but I can’t access it from the link provided.
Lets just tackle these statements as someone who _is_ British and lives in the UK.
The MMR issue is not in the forefront of anything. It remains sporadically in the news due to the efforts of Times journalist Brian Deer. Andrew Wakefield by comparison has fled the country and refuses to be interviewed by Deer. There is indeed a ‘small group’ of press and parents but whilst they are faithful and devoted, they are far from informed.
The facts of the matter are that Andrew Wakefield says he has found an autism related bowel disease in some autistic kids. He may well have, gastric issues are a known comorbidity in some people. There is however, _no link to MMR causing this condition_. No science exists that shows a causative link.
And far from there being just ‘large useless epidemiological studies’ to refute Wakefields claims there are actual ‘hard science’ studies that refute his work.
Firstly is the evidence of his _own lab_.
Even as Andrew Wakefield launched his attack on MMR in 1998, at a press conference and in a video, coinciding with a Lancet paper, he knew that his own laboratory had tested his theory: that the ultimate culprit for the children’s autism was measles virus in the vaccine. Royal Free researcher Nick Chadwick, carrying out sophisticated molecular analysis of samples from the children, using methods agreed by Wakefield, found no trace of measles virus.
And lately a new study (which will feature in a BBC documentary) shows that:
Scientists at Guy’s Hospital, in London, have been studying a large group of 100 autistic children. They examined their blood samples, looking for traces of the measles virus in their blood and in that of another group of non-autistic children. The samples were analysed in some of Britain’s leading laboratories, using the most sensitive methods available. The scientists found that 99 per cent of the samples did not contain any trace of the measles virus. Crucially, there was no difference between the autistic and non-autistic children
Its also worth noting that *all* of the co-authors of the original Lancet paper have rescinded their position leaving Wakefield standing alone. Next year he will face misconduct charges in the UK from the GMC.
Its further worth noting that at the time he began to criticise the MMR and implicate it in autism causation, Wakefield also claimed he had found another, safer way to vaccinate kids which he duly filed a Patent application for. He later denied this on a website and through his solicitors, however Brain Deer unearthed Wakefield’s Patent application for all to see.
F. Edward Yazbak talks of bias. We have a saying in the UK Sir – ‘people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’.
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