Senator Gillibrand: Supporter of Vaccine-Autism Research

If media accounts about Kirsten Gillibrand of New York are correct, then I am pleased to be the first to report that my new Senator is a supporter of research into possible connections between vaccines and autism.

The presumptive Senator, a moderate Democrat from the Hudson Valley, is sure to join the growing chorus of voices in the US Senate -- and well beyond -- in calling for more Federal funding for scientific studies into vaccines and autism, including Senators Kennedy, Dodd, McCain, Lieberman and Enzi, among others, and former Senators Clinton and Obama.

In the 110th Congress, Representative Gillibrand was one of 22 Co-Sponsors of H. R. 2832, the "Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2007." This bill would direct the Secretary of HHS "to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated populations in the United States."

Ms. Gillibrand could hardly be labeled as "anti-vaccine" -- nor could the bill that she cosponsored, which was introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), another short-list contender to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.

"Securing the health of the Nation's children is our most important concern as parents and stewards of the Nation's future," the text of the bill says. "The Nation's vaccine program has greatly reduced human suffering from infectious disease by preventing and reducing the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases. Childhood immunizations are an important tool in the pursuit of childhood health."

But, the bill notes, "The number of immunizations administered to infants, pregnant women, children, teenagers, and adults has grown dramatically over recent years. The incidence of chronic, unexplained diseases such as autism, learning disabilities, and other neurological disorders appears to have increased dramatically in recent years."

And, it states: "Individual vaccines are tested for safety, but little safety testing has been conducted for interaction effects of multiple vaccines. The strategy of aggressive, early childhood immunization against a large number of infectious diseases has never been tested in its entirety against alternative strategies, either for safety or for total health outcomes."

The text of the bill reasonably concludes: "Public confidence in the management of public health can only be maintained if these State government-mandated, mass vaccination programs -- (A) are tested rigorously and in their entirety against all reasonable safety concerns; and (B) are verified in their entirety to produce superior health outcomes."

It goes on to note that there are "numerous" US populations "in which a practice of no vaccination is followed and which therefore provide a natural comparison group for comparing total health outcomes. No comparative study of such health outcomes has ever been conducted."

"Given rising concern over the high rates of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, the need for such (vaccine) studies is becoming urgent."

In addition to this, Rep. Gillibrand sent a staff person to attend a vaccine-autism briefing I spoke at on Capitol Hill in September, sponsored by Rep. Maloney. Despite the fact that it happened on the same day that the American economy was melting down (the day that John McCain temporarily suspended his Presidential bid), over 90 members of the House and Senate made sure that they had representatives at the briefing.

So there you are. Few things are more mainstream than a Senate seat from New York. Kristen Gillibrand is a decidedly mainstream politician who supports vaccine autism research. And she is in good company. Research into vaccines and autism and other neurological disorders has recently been supported by many, many illustrious institutions and individuals. But more on that very soon.

For now, suffice it so say that the as-yet unconfirmed appointment of Senator Gillibrand of New York marks a victory for those who support more Federal funding for vaccine-autism research.

For those who disagree, I suggest you take it up with the Senator.

Comments

[greenmom1]

I am glad for people like David Kirby. I agree that mercury in the vaccines caused autism. I know it caused by son's autism. Also, I know that the signs can be reversed once when the mercury is removed from the body. My son's story can be found at http://www.greenisthecure.com

[MNmommy]

How unfortunate.

[bluevalentine]

Thanks David! Maybe there is hope after all.

[Bitsko]

Great. Please continue to waste my hard earned tax dollars looking into this pseudoscience nonsense.

[meko]

The legislation is testing drug interactions. Giving that opting out of vaccines presents a danger to public health, debunking these myths (if they prove untrue) would be a valuable service.

Rigorous scientific investigation is back! I'm thrilled the Democrats are in office.

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

Would you prefer to pay the estimated $3,000,000 for each of my three children in lifetime costs related to their autism? I'll be happy to give you my address. Money orders only please.

We can't afford to be penny-wise and ton foolish.

Kim

[meko]

It's quite possible that vaccines didn't cause the increase in autism. Any research will lead to secondary areas of exploration. It was research (somatic) stem cells that has opened up the most promising lines of cancer research.

[bluevalentine]

Paying for autism research in the world we have today is a darn site better than bailing out banks, states and auto mannufacturers who blew their money on themselves.

[Dad4Truth]

http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/01/cdc-aap-paul-offit-feeding-a-hungry-lie.html

Since you are both misinformed, you would both be well served to read the above link. Warmly, Dad4truth

[Camel54]

I am all for continued study of this subject. As was pointed out by another commenter, the thimerasol was removed from immunizations years ago. In addition to that, they've banned the immunizations in Japan and the autism rate did not decrease. Of course, in Japan, they eat quite a lot seafood which is chocked full of mercury. It continues to be an on-one-han­d-but-on-t­he-other-h­and issue that needs to be studied every way possible. No one believed that ulcers were caused by bacteria until recent decades when a doctor proved it by giving himself horrible ulcers and then curing them with antibiotics.

I don't believe that anecdotal evidence from parents is truly evidence, but I don't believe it should be discounted either. Parents' gut feelings are often more valuable for their persistence if nothing else. I would love to believe the CDC so I could feel better about immunizing my daughter, but what is needed here is good science and plenty of it.

[nowGo4ward]

I would hope that the momentum will pick up to research to what extent we may be causing environmental health damage with vaccination and other industrial exposures. I do not understand the arguments that suggest that looking at this will roll back progress, especially while so much discussion is happening in health news about increasing cancer rates, asthma, diabetes, other autoimmune disorders, allergies, learning disabilities, other cognitive disfunctions, reproductive difficulties, premature births...

[SusiMom]

The legislation to which you so proudly refer is intended to gather enough scientific data to (hopefully) shut the mouths of the anti-vaccine apparatchiks for good. Perhaps you're unaware of the fact that there's been an unprecedented outbreak of meningitis in Minnesota; thanks to the HIb vaccine, typically given to infants at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, there are normally fewer than 20 cases a year in children under the age of five. However, a cluster of five cases occurred last year in central Minnesota in young children; three of the five, including a seven-month-old baby who died, were unvaccinated, by their parents' choice. Refusing to vaccinate children because of a totally unfounded belief that there is some connection somehow between some vaccines and autism is killing babies.

[guri]

Here is why I love Obama: you know many parents believe that their childs autism was caused by vaccinations, and yet you talk about "shut the mouths of the anti-vaccine apparatchiks for good". We
could have exchanged punches over weather or not you are fear mongering or which one of us is actually ignorant/m­isinformed­/cool aid drinker, but since we agree that legislation should pass and that the research should be conducted, why should we bother? That is Obamas approach, listening to him has actually inspired me to put up and shut up about you antagonism.

Lets do the research, and depending on the results one of us will have to say "Mea culpa"

[meko]

That was one of the concerns of the research. The best way to fight myths about vaccines is to do scientific research. Here's a link to more on the bill: http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_issues&task=view_issue&issue=294&Itemid=35

[bluevalentine]

Link please.

[Zenbuddha]

Someone please point me to an independent study of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated populations within the US Please.

And yes, I know mercury was supposed to be removed from vaccines in 1999 but it exists to this day in many flu shots pimped at the local inncoufests and school vaccine drives.

O, lets also make sure the control group has not been loading up on sushi and high fructose corn syrup as well since that can apparently skew the results since they may be loaded too with mercury if their bodies can not detox it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3013797

How does mercury affect children?
"Mercury's harmful effects .... include brain damage, mental retardation, incoordination, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak. Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems, and kidney damage." --CDC

There's another study that needs done. Do parts of the population not detox heavy metals as well as others? Shall we review what mercury is KNOWN to do inside the human body and to the neurological system? Can we compare the symptoms of ASD and heavy metal poisoning please?

When will we learn to not poison our bodies, environment, and food supplies. Our children are being poisoned unintentionally by well meaning people and no one wants to admit it. Our children are the canneries in the coal mine and we should get to the bottom of it.

[ConstanceReader]

May I ask why the mountain of research already completed on the subject is so inadequate? The most obvious possible answer is because the large body of existing research has not found any link between vaccines and autism. Autism typically presents during the same years vaccinations take place but correlation does not equal causation. And causation has never been proven.

[CrisOmg]

I agree with you 100%. I have 2 children, 3 years and 9 months, so the vaccination schedule is of real import to me. Before our oldest got any vaccines we had a discussion with both our pediatrician and our OB to determine if we were doing the right thing.

Both doctors, and all the doctors for all of my friends' children, said there is no credible link between vaccines and autism. (For confirmation anyone can look at results from the CDC, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the Institute of Medicine, the UK National Health Service, etc. for their findings.)

For a long time the concern was that mercury-containing thimerosal was the culprit. However, thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 2001. So, if it were the cause, one would expect the number of autistic children to begin to decline beginning in 2004. However, from 2004 onward, the number of autistic children continues to climb.

Parents are also concerned about combination vaccines - M/M/R, for example. However, these have been studied as well and have been determined to be safe.

I'm all for the continued study of vaccines and their effects on children. They should be made as safe as conceivably possible. But continued diversion of funds into a field of study that is based on correlation and anecdote is only delaying the real goal.

[Dad4Truth]

http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/01/cdc-aap-paul-offit-feeding-a-hungry-lie.html

Since you are both misinformed, you would both be well served to read the above link. Warmly, Dad4truth

[MikeWag]

Your pediatricain, OB/GYN and all your friends pediatricians say vaccines are safe? Really! Do you think this has anything to do with the fact that the organization they work for administer 10's of thousands of these a year? Have you checked with the sellers of hydrogenated oil to see if it's safe. Have you checked with the cigerettee companies to see if cigerettes are safe?

[msfisk777]

1/23/09
10:38am
Indianapolis

I am looking forward to the results of the scientific studies because I am the mother of a 17-year-old who was diagnosed autistic at the age of 2. His symptoms began immediately after vaccinations.

My son was making progress and very happy with me when he was removed from my custody by the State of Connecticut at the age of 7. DCF claimed that I caused his developmental delays, not autism.
The fact that my son was receiving SSI because of his diagnosis made no difference to the court.
My son has been in foster care for 10 years now and I have been fighting with DCF the entire time--without benefit of a competent attorney because I am broke.

Since I am no longer my son's legal guardian, I have not been able to sue on his behalf. I think this may be the reason that I have never been able to regain custody. How many autistic children are in foster care, I wonder.

My son is doing well, I should add, because he is intelligent, because of his love of music, and because I have been advocating for him all along.

[jened]

msfisk777, I am so sorry for what has happened to you and your child' What an injustice. When he is of legel age I hope you will be able to circumvent this sham of a situation and I sense that your son loves you very much.
I am happy for the Senator to be an honest-sounding, open-minded individual.

[CamJam]

Your post breaks my heart and I am so very sorry you've been put through all of this while other well-knowns out there involved in such things as Scientology can get away with things the average parent of a child with disabilities can not! 10 years away from your son? Those are years YOU will never be able to get back. It is very unfair to you and your son. My heart goes out to you.

And thank you David Kirby for keeping us informed. I greatly appreciate it.
I was wondering if you have heard about this very interesting research called:
Pediatric Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior
http://www.safeminds.org/research/pediatric-vaccines-influence-primat-behavior.html

I also hope Gillibrand looks into the research as well.

[bluevalentine]

Your post breaks my heart also. I work with a wonderful woman whose son was diagnosed with autism 35 years ago. He was severe and institutionalized. When she went to see him, she was informed that he was property of the state and no longer her son. She was unable to care for his needs alone and that is why she thought the state would help. She has never been allowed to see him. She suffers greatly because of this, and after this many years says that she still cries at night wondering what kind of guinea pig he became for someone, and how things transpired without her understanding to a point that she lost him forever.

[guri]

The medical establishment argues that the Amish "might" have a lower rate of autism because of some common genetic traits in a rather closed genetic group. fine. But what about the jews?

some ultra-orthodox groups dont vaccinate their children, and these people would be easier to communicate
with and study then the Amish. So you have Some jews, the amish, the homeschooling, some immigrants,
siblings of autistic children whose parents decided against vaccinations because they believe or suspect that vaccines cause the older child to become autistic..­.

Is that not enough? Why would such a study be so difficult to conduct?

[AutismNewsBeat]

It depends on what level of statistical confidence you would settle for.

[sleeplessmom]

This is great news, David! It is a slow moving process, but it is moving. We are getting more people in high places interested in looking into the vaccine-autism issues. I just wish that this process will start rolling faster so we can get on with fixing it!
As always, thanks much for your persistence. (((HUGS))) to you David!

[glorialovelace]

Gillibrand is also a very active supporter of stem cell research.

[meko]

I like a senator who likes science, both high tech and biological.

[Thrillcat]

Thanks for the information David. I was hoping Rep. Carolyn Mahoney was going to be Patterson's choice (because she is so autism friendly). But, this good news. Please keep us updated.