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Autism And Vaccines
By Tim O'Shea, D.C.
At the hearing, Rep. Dan Burton (R), chairman of the Committee of Government Reform, convened the hearing in which parent after parent told very similar stories - how their normally developing babies had suddenly reversed their development soon after the MMR vaccination or the DPT shots. The children spiraled downward into the vegetable-like existence of autistic behavior, a condition that is usually permanent. Happy, bright children suddenly could no longer learn, communicate or recognize their parents. Experts in the field of autism, including Mary Megson, M.D gave amazing testimony. She explained how autism has gone from being an unknown condition in 1978, with an incidence of 1 in 10,000 at that time, to an epidemic in 2000, in which the incidence is in the range of 1 case in every 300-500 in many areas! Megson's research has shown total deficiency of vitamin A in almost all autistic children. What depletes the body of vitamin A at 15 months? The MMR vaccine! In addition, Megson found that pertussis toxin from the DPT shot disrupted a certain protein that is necessary for retinal formation. This would account for the prevalence of night blindness and loss of 3-D vision so common among autistics. Overwhelming Evidence John O'Leary, Ph.D., a world-class researcher and molecular biologist from Ireland, using state-of-the-art sequencing technology, showed how he had found measles virus in the gut of 96 percent of autistic children, compared to 6.6 percent of normal children. This virus did not come from the natural disease; it comes from the measles vaccine. In addition, Dr. O'Leary found measles virus present in 75 percent of children with Crohn's disease. Crohn's has traditionally been an intestinal disease of adults, following years of dietary abuse. Its appearance in children is a new event, and O'Leary's work points to measles virus from vaccines as the likely cause. V. Singh, M.D., who has studied over 400 cases of autism, found that these children had experienced an autoimmune episode, in which their own body has been made to attack the lining of the nervous system. Dr Singh characterizes the epidemic as a "hyper-immune response to the measles virus". He stated that 55 percent of the families said that autism appeared soon after an MMR shot, and that 33 percent of families said it appeared soon after a DPT shot. Such neurological damage is a well-established side effect of the mercury, aluminum and formaldehyde used in these vaccines. Andrew Wakefield, M.D., a brilliant researcher from the United Kingdom, noted an almost 100 percent incidence of "lymphoid nodular hyperplasia," or swollen lumps throughout the intestinal tissue of autistics. Such a condition is rare in normal children. Intestinal pathology is characteristic of the autistic child, and the condition generally follows soon after the MMR shot. Dr. Wakefield explained that as the fragile, newborn intestine cannot function because of its swollen condition, undigested toxins from vaccines and drugs are allowed to get into the liver, which is also in a formative stage. Liver pathology is very common among autistics. Wakefield's hypothesis is that these same "un-degraded toxins," having not been halted by the intestine or the liver, as normally happens, are then free to attack the nervous system, and that autism may well be the result. Kathy Pratt, Ph.D., director of the Indiana Center for Autism, stated that 1 child in 400 in Indiana is now autistic. With 500,000 cases now reported in the U.S. Dr. Pratt stated that autism is now more common than Down's syndrome. Pratt points out that autism presently may disqualify a person for medical coverage for other, unrelated conditions. Michael Goldberg, M.D., a California pediatrician and researcher, explained how it was impossible to have an epidemic based solely on genetics. That's the standard excuse the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health have been using to explain how autism has grown from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 300 in just 22 years. The Denial Process As I watched the live Congressional hearing, I saw the American democratic system in action. It soon became apparent how the control of information operates, even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence that we may be poisoning our own children. The requisite defenders of the status quo read their predictable prepared statements, denying the possibility of any connection between autism and vaccines. These included Paul Offit, M.D., Edwin Cook, M.D. and Brent Taylor, M.D. After they uniformly denied the vaccine/autism connection, it was most illuminating when Rep. Burton point-blank asked each one of them about the money each receives from the vaccine manufacturers. These are members of the Advisory Committee, the ones who make the decisions about which vaccines are to be included in the mandated vaccination schedule. Colleen Boyle, a representative from the Centers for Disease Control, read her prepared statement, in which she denied any connection between autism and vaccines, stating the present incidence to be "12 in 10,000." Burton then asked her one simple question: Did she think it was a conflict of interest for the same people who were funded by the vaccine manufacturers to be on the Advisory Board, making decisions about which vaccines should be given to American children? Boyle was speechless. Burton repeated the question. Still there was no answer. Boyle's inability to respond spoke volumes about the whole House of Cards. Burton had asked The Question that had never been asked. Equally inept and ill prepared was Deborah Hirtz, M.D., who represented the National Institutes of Health. She just barely managed to put across what she was sent there to say - The NIH has already spent some $40 million per year of taxpayer money 'looking into it.' Their answer: it needs further study. The performance of these representatives from the two government agencies who have almost sovereign power in the area of vaccines was frightening - their indifference, their lack of information and their condescension. They gave no sign of having understood one word of the critically important breakthrough research that had just been so brilliantly expounded by Drs. Megson, O'Leary and Wakefield. Government agencies have the same answers to every problem: more committees, more money, more study and more meetings. Meanwhile, 22 years have gone by, and all these people say is "we don't know.' After 22 years and $100 million, they don't know the incidence, the cause, or the cure for autism. But they'll definitely look into it. And, it is definitely not from vaccines. The Research Dilemma The shocking scientific findings of Wakefield and O'Leary obviously demand more research. So, then, why are the vaccines not suspended until that research is done? The underlying assumption is that the vaccines will continue until enough "research" proves they are dangerous, as with rotavirus and Quadrigen. Only then will MMR be suspended. This is the thinking that passes as logic. The key point here that no one seems to be noticing is that research should be done before mandating a vaccine is put into the bloodstream of American children. You don't just start mass injecting something into a population and then stand back and defy independent scientists to prove it isn't safe. That's exactly what we've done here. As a nation, as a government and as parents, Americans should be very certain, beyond a reasonable doubt, that any substance being injected into an unformed little nervous system is absolutely safe and does no harm. That is the minimum requirement. Drs. Wakefield, O'Leary and Megson have shown startling results from some of the only scientific research on autism and vaccines in the entire world that has not been funded by the vaccine manufacturers. And this research shows a high likelihood that MMR and DPT vaccines may cause permanent intestinal destruction, liver damage and autism. It also presents a very plausible hypothesis for the horrific increase of autism since 1978. So until we know for certain if they're right, why aren't the vaccines suspended? Gary Null's answer comes swimming to the surface: 'It's the Money, Stupid.' Rep. Burton's room was polarized into three groups by the end of the hearing: · Those who were convinced of a connection between autism and vaccines; · Those who admitted the possibility; and · Those who angrily denied the possibility, affronted that anyone would question their "scientific" opinions. It was amusing to see which people in the room were trying to discover the truth and which were trying their best to cover it up. Despite Rep. Burton's heroic efforts to bring these matters into public view, it's an uphill struggle. The big money is on the side of vaccines. It controls research, the press, 'scientific' journals and politicians. Seeing all these forces clash together in one room in just six hours has been the most instructive display of confusing the issues perhaps since the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Watching a live Congressional hearing like this, it soon becomes clear that for them, the real priority isn't necessarily finding the truth, but rather showing who's really in charge. The viewer begins to understand how autism could have gone from being unknown in 1978 to being a household word in just 22 years with so little fanfare. Without undue pessimism, the prospects for unbiased, objective scientific logic to prevail in deciding the future of MMR and DPT vaccines do not look bright. The mentality of the CDC and the NIH was well characterized in this videotape. The control of research and information by drug manufacturers was pervasive. Rep. Henry Waxman (D), leading minority committee member, did his best to divert attention from the issues to himself, to waste time on "points of order," and to prevent anyone who disagreed with him from being heard. Waxman's science champion, researcher Brent Taylor, M.D., has recently had an article published in Lancet that supposedly shows no possible connection between vaccines and autism. Now Dr. Taylor has refused to provide his data for the study when repeatedly asked by other researchers, like Dr. Bernard Rimland. Such a request is standard, and researchers commonly share their data when requested, unless they have something to hide. Taylor's combination of fear and arrogance is characteristic of the way that research, and ultimately, decision making on vaccines by the Advisory Committee, is conducted. The researchers who have unlimited funding may "prove" whatever they wish and publish it in the best journals, which are heavily advertised in by the drug companies, and then refuse to respond to valid objections, because they know that those opposing points of view will probably not be published. Despite these formidable obstacles, doubts are creeping into the overall public "consciousness" from many different directions about the safety of vaccines. At 1 in 500, the fact of autism as an epidemic can no longer be covered up. The work of Wakefield, O'Leary and Megson is going to be very difficult to explain away. The massive advertising campaign about the safety of vaccines in the popular media, which is certain to be stepped up in the next few months, is going to look very hollow in the light of clean, unbiased research that is not funded by parties who stand to make billions from certain pre-determined results. Note: Material was excerpted from the forthcoming third edition of The Sanctity of Human Blood. Reprints from the April 6, 2000, hearing can be obtained from Office of Government Reform at (202) 225- 2276; and videotapes can be ordered at wwwc-span.org. About The Author-- Tim O'Shea, D. C., a 1986 graduate of Life Chiropractic College West, is a noted author, lecturer and seminar presenter in the areas of soft tissue injury, disability and nutrition. A member of the California Chiropractors Association, he has been in private practice in San Jose, Calif., since 1990. He previously managed a large practice in Sicily, and he has designed the New West Diet, a nutrition program for athletes. For more information, write to him at New West, 58 N. 13th St., Son Jose, CA 951272- call (408) 298-1800; fox POS) 298- 1200; or E-mail shiloh@netmagic.net. References 1. C-SPAN, (wwwc-span.org) 'Government Reform Committee Hearing on Vaccines and Autism," aired April 6, 2000. 2. Testimony of Hirtz, D., from the National Institutes of Health, before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 3. Testimony of Megson, M., from the American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 4. Testimony of Wakefield, A., M.D., from the Royal Free University College Medical School, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 5. Testimony of O'Leary, J., Ph.D., from the Coomb's Women's Hospital, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 6. Testimony of Singh, V., Ph.D., from Utah State University, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 7. Testimony of Boyle, C., M.D., from the Centers for Disease Control, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 8. Testimony of Offit, P., M.D., from the Univ. of Pennsylvania, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 9. Testimony of Taylor, B., M.D., from the Royal Free University College Medical School, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 1 0. Testimony of Rimland, B., Ph.D., from the Autism Research Institute, San Diego, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000. 11. Testimony of Goldberg, M., M.D., from the NIDS Research Institute, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, April 6, 2000.
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