The Pentagon -- A Voice of Reason on Vaccines and Autism?

UPDATE - I recently received a response to my query from Paul Stone, AFIP Public Affairs. He wrote that: "Dr. Centeno's presentation, entititled 'Mercury Poisoning: A Clinical and Toxicological Perspective,' did mention Thimerosal. However, its inclusion was specifically intended to point out that although there has been some speculation about a potential association between Thimerosal and Autism, currently there is no data or science to support such a claim. Neither the AFIP nor Dr. Centeno have been involved in or conducted research on Autism."

I have asked Mr. Stone to clarify why Methly B-12, DMPS and glutathione GSH appear under the heading "treatments" on Dr. Centeno's thimerosal slide -- DK

When it comes to fighting autism, maybe we should send in the Army.

Autism and the military have a deep history together. Children of service members are reportedly almost twice as likely to have autism (1-in-88) than those in the general population (1-in-150). Meanwhile, the Department of Defense quietly spends millions in taxpayer dollars researching the possible causes of autism at far-from-the-spotlight centers around the country.

Recently, several documents have been brought to my attention which, when viewed together, suggest that the Department of Defense has legitimate concerns about vaccine injuries and their possible connection to autism, perhaps more so than other branches of the Federal Government.

These documents raise several questions that I am currently trying to get answered from DOD officials:

1) Autism may be an "adverse event" of Tripedia (DTaP) use

According to the website of the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network, run by DOD and CDC, autism is listed as an "adverse event" associated with use of the Tripedia triple vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

My questions are: Why does autism appear here? Does VHC consider autism to be a possible adverse event of DTaP use, or has it simply been reported that way by parents?

2) Patients who have bad vaccine reactions should avoid multiple vaccines in the future

According to this VHC slide, any patient who has a "Systemic Event" following immunization - defined as "symptoms and signs of illness after vaccination" and "any reaction that does not involve the injection site" - should avoid multiple vaccines in the future, if possible.

My questions are: Is that standard DOD policy? Is there an alternative schedule for these patients? Does this advice apply to children of service members as well? Why is this information not shared with civilian doctors and pediatricians?

3) Patients who develop serious neurological diseases might need vaccine exemptions in the future

This VHC slide says that a patient who develops a severe neurologic disease following vaccination might need temporary or permanent exemption from future vaccines. Such diseases include peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy (including autism, presumably) Guillain-Barré syndrome and progressive focal neurologic disease. Such patients should be given temporary exemptions from future vaccinations.

Meanwhile, risks for recurrent reactions should be assessed before additional doses are given, and "permanent vaccine exemption may be required."

Again, is this DOD policy? Are such exemptions given? Because autism is listed as a "severe neurological disease," would those patients (ie, children of service members) also be exempt from future vaccinations? And, on a related note, does VHC consider autism to be a "neurological disease," as opposed to a developmental/behavioral disorder?

4) Mercury, and possibly thimerosal may cause autism and dementia

According this slide (#22) on the vaccine preservative thimerosal, from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), "exposure to mercury in utero and children may cause mild to severe mental retardation and mild to severe motor coordination impairment." The slide also seems to indicate that autism and dementia might questionably be "health effects" of mercury or thimerosal exposure.

My question is: Why does autism appear on a list of health effects on a slide about thimerosal, even if it is followed by a question mark?

5) Alternative biomedical treatments may be prescribed for thimerosal exposure

The same slide says that "treatments" for thimerosal exposure include: "Methyl-B12, ointment DMPS, & glutathione (GSH)." These are all alternative (some would say fringe, radical and dangerous) treatments being used today by thousands of autism parents and their children's physicians, with varying degrees of success (including reports of full recovery).

Methyl-B12 - has been shown to repair damage to the process of methylation, and to restore methionine and glutathione levels in patients with autism to within normal ranges.

DMPS - is a sulfur-based amino acid used in the process of chelation - in which sulfur molecules bind with heavy metals such as mercury, and eliminate them from the system.

Glutathione - is a sulfur-based protein that binds with heavy metals and eliminates them from the system. It is also a powerful anti-oxidant. Many children with autism show signs of glutathione depletion, heavy metal accumulation and oxidative stress.

My questions are: Was the speaker simply refering to treatments that some people have tried, or is the AFID endorsing these treatments for thimerosal toxicity and/or autism? On what evidence is this based? Are Methyl B-12 and GSH, like chelation, considered standard of care in the military for mercury toxicity? Can you explain why autism families in the military have these treatments covered, (at thousands of dollars a year), even if they also have an autism diagnosis? Is this why military insurance will pay for visits to doctors in the Defeat Autism Now network, which advocates the use of these non-traditional treatments?

I eagerly await the replies from VHC and AFID officials, and will update this blog as soon as I hear anything.

Meanwhile, regardless of the Pentagon's positions on the above questions, we know for certain that DOD is concerned about the risk of injury from multiple vaccines.

In fact, it may even need to reconsider the practice.

"We have preliminary findings from one of our many on-going research studies that suggest a relationship between adverse events and multiple vaccinations exist," US Army Colonel Renata J. M. Engler, MD, director of the VHC, (a "collaborative network" of the Defense Department and the CDC), wrote to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). "These findings will require validation, but heighten our concern for the current clinical practice of multiple vaccinations."

"The more drugs one is exposed to, the greater the likelihood of having an adverse event so as vaccine numbers increase, and (sic) we will see more people who have efficacy or safety issues," Col. Engler said. "The standard of care (ie, in the context of mixing vaccines) is to minimize drug exposures because of the recognition that the more drugs being used, the greater the chance of a reaction and potentially a serious adverse event."

I wonder when the CDC and America's pediatricians will issue an equally thoughtful and cautionary statement, instead of their usual reassurance that small children can easily get 100,000 shots at once, without a single "serious adverse event" among them.

PS: For a list of scientists and government leaders who called for more vaccine-autism research in 2008, please CLICK HERE.

Comments

[TannersDad]

One Day for Human Rights Stop & Think for one minute about the Children with Autism

After you have taken the time to think about Human Rights that we all enjoy and are very thankful for. I want you to make sure you are comfortable that our own closets are clean. Who is speaking on behalf of the children with Autism. Are they shipped around like cattle?

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-poauti105959253dec10,0,535940.story

Are they being poisoned by the air, food, water, and vaccinations? We have been marginalized and berated because we speak up on the childrens behalf. divide, lie, and deny is the mainstream medical and pharmaceutical industries mantra.

This week they had to add another. Cover up as fast as you can. Thanks to ongoing digging by David Kirby and dedicated Parent advocates for our children dealing with Autism (Vaccine injury). We discovered a number of documents that were written by the Government stating that Autism was in fact an adverse event caused by Vaccines. As soon as that was pointed out in the blogosphere the information was removed from the website where it was posted. The wonderful thing we have is freedom to dig. Dig we did. We found the history and found the original documents. Because we were all blogging and twittering we managed to discover the time of the website change. Cover up and conspiracy you bet!

http://www.causecast.org/member/tanners-dad/blog_posts/476

[Josephius]

" We discovered a number of documents that were written by the Government stating that Autism was in fact an adverse event caused by Vaccines."

No you didn't. You found a web-based product information page that listed a number of adverse events REPORTED to VAERS for that product. It was what was REPORTED. That's all.

I'm willing to bet that your claims of autism (caused by vaccines) was reported to VAERS if, in fact, you reported your observation to your doctor.

[CraigWilloughby]

The same information was also listed on the package insert of the Tripedia vaccine. And it still doesn't explain why it was removed after it was mentioned by Mr. Kirby.

[Josephius]

Seriously now...which one is it? Is it the MMR like it started out in the UK? Or is it thimerosal, as you claimed it to be in your book (Evidence of Harm, available by clicking the link to your left)? Is it the adjuvants, like aluminum? A few weeks ago it was a susceptability group (H. Poling) and mitochondrial issues. We keep whipping the multiple vaccination horse too. An now...it's the DaTP. Well, I'm sure glad were making some progress here. We're narrowing it down to a handful...well, two handfulls of implicated causes.

My question is....why not the needle? Can't all of this be the result of needles? I mean, that is the only factor that is the same in each of the aforementioned culprits. Oh. Maybe it's nurses. Car rides to the doctors office?

[CraigWilloughby]

Well, Josephius, the same can be asked of you. Which is it? Refridgerator moms? Elderly fathers? Too much TV? Alcoholic moms? Notice that all of the options that you mentions all have one thing in common. Vaccines.

[Josephius]

Hence the needles comment. Notice that is also part. Why not the needle?

For someone who spends a lot of time surfing the web, you should have a good idea what research is being done, by whom, and what the current models are. Take a bit of advice from me, AoA and Kirby are not on the right track.

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

Obviously all of the drugs are potential sources. And maybe, just maybe, all of them contribute in some way. We don't know. That's why we want people to proceed cautiously. But most people have already figured this out. I'm mostly writing for your benefit.

Given that Dr. Offit, who seems to be your hero, has said that children are able to handle 100,000 vaccines at once, would you submit to an experiment such as the following?

10,000 needle jabs with saline -- observe for 15 days for adverse affects
10,000 rides to the Dr's office -- observe for 15 days for adverse affects
10,000 jabs with a mixture of the 10 vaccines that were required for children in 1991 -- observe for 15 days for adverse affects

It seems like a really good way to determine whether Dr. Offit is correct or not. And, we can eliminate your snide alternatives at the same time.

If you're a reasonable person you'll figure out which one is most likely to have adverse affects ahead of time. But we still need to run the experiment to prove our case.

[Josephius]

"10,000 needle jabs with saline -- observe for 15 days for adverse affects
10,000 rides to the Dr's office -- observe for 15 days for adverse affects
10,000 jabs with a mixture of the 10 vaccines that were required for children in 1991 -- observe for 15 days for adverse affects"

OK! Run the study! Apply for a grant, get a small staff and lab together, define your observational methods, get approval for experimentation in human subjects, define and screen your test candidates, define your data collection methods, and define your adverse events. Then analyze and report the data.

"If you're a reasonable person you'll figure out which one is most likely to have adverse affects ahead of time."

I am a scientist, sir. I let the data form the conclusion, not what I think or want to 'find'. I think that is the difference between you and the scientific community. We are seeking answers....you, your "conclsuion", your vindication that your position is justified.

[AutismNewsBeat]

A according to some, if you can't say what causes autism, then it's impossible to say what doesn't cause it. So to your point, yes, it could be the needle.

Or it could be that people who have already made up their mind, sans evidence, are susceptible to confirmation bias.

[CraigWilloughby]

"Or it could be that people who have already made up their mind, sans evidence, are susceptible to confirmation bias."

Good to see that you finally realize that you have this problem.

[Josephius]

4) Mercury, and possibly thimerosal may cause autism and dementia

According this slide (#22) on the vaccine preservative thimerosal, from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), "exposure to mercury in utero and children may cause mild to severe mental retardation and mild to severe motor coordination impairment." The slide also seems to indicate that autism and dementia might questionably be "health effects" of mercury or thimerosal exposure.

My question is: Why does autism appear on a list of health effects on a slide about thimerosal, even if it is followed by a question mark?

Uhhh, perhaps because it was a topic under descussion several years ago when the slides were made. It might, just might Dave (work with me here)....just be part of the discussion.

BTW, you failed to mention...anywhere in your piece...that the author clearly indicates at the end of the slides that "the views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or US Government". I think you should have included that littel tid-bit!

[Josephius]

2) Patients who have bad vaccine reactions should avoid multiple vaccines in the future

According to this VHC slide, any patient who has a "Systemic Event" following immunization - defined as "symptoms and signs of illness after vaccination" and "any reaction that does not involve the injection site" - should avoid multiple vaccines in the future, if possible.

My questions are: Is that standard DOD policy? Is there an alternative schedule for these patients? Does this advice apply to children of service members as well? Why is this information not shared with civilian doctors and pediatricians?

David. If a patient has an adverse event following a series of vaccinations, it is better to not administer multiple simultaneous vaccines because of FORMULATIONS, not the concept of multiple antigen exposures. If one of the vaccines has a production issue or if it contains a particular component that the individual may be susceptible to, single administrations will allow the healthcare specialist to make that determination, thus deconvoluting the diagnosis procedure.

[Josephius]

I guess I don't understand what the hub-bub is all about. Perhaps someone here can clarify for me. Why is the fact that a POSSIBLE adverse event that was derived from VAERS (the 'R' stands for REPORTED and has nothing to do with the fact that the diagnosis or condition is attributed to or caused by the vaccine) is proof that that the military knows DaTP causes autism? Couldn't it be that the person put in place for listing some of the reported adverse events decided to include autism? There are not many adverse events listed (in terms of those that are available for any medical treatment/­procedure) and, judging by this blog and its cult following, some of those 'reports' include their claim that autism resulted.

Anyone can report to VAERS. Anything can be reported to VAERS. It is a database. A report is not a confirmation or acknowledgement that any claimed side-effect was caused by the vaccine. If a "vaccine causes autism" believer wanted to, they can report it to VAERS. It will show up on VAERS. So, then, why is this being used as "evidence" that the military knows that DaTP causes autism?!?!

http://vaers.hhs.gov/

[Houseoflife]

I am trying to find the link to the point #1, "According to the website of the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network, run by DOD and CDC, autism is listed as an "adverse event" associated with use of the Tripedia triple vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis." It takes me to the site, but not to the comment...can I get a more direct link? Thank you!

[CraigWilloughby]

They removed it. I have a hard copy of it, though, and I'm sure there are a few sites and resources on the web that will let you pull up archived sites.

[CraigWilloughby]

Here you go Houseoflife. Hopefully, HuffPo will let me post this link. I hope it helps :)

http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:AwylZVQHsd0J:www.vhcinfo.org/subpage.asp%3Fpage%3Dvaccines/vaccine_dtap+vaccine_dtap+site+vhcinfo.org&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=safar

[bklaw]

I don't know where you get the idea that military dependents are getting DAN! treatment covered, according to you, to the tune of thousands of dollars. As a military spouse and a mother of an autistic child, I know for a fact that it is nearly impossible to get Tricare to cover chelation, or any I.V therapies related to autism and methly b-12 is not covered either. Some of the lab been covered, but under the guise of allergy testing and other indirect rule out. The only way any others get these covered is if their DAN! Dr. is willing to get creative with billing and authorizations. We were told, in these exact words; that DAN! protocol "amounted to nothing but snake oil." That is was not covered and that Tricare will not pay for it. We pay for all of our sons DAN! treatment at our own expense with the exception of some of the initial labs.
Please try to be 100% accurate on this point in the future. The military only pays for ABA for treatment for autism.This is damaging to those hopeful that the military will cover these procedures. We don't want anyone heading down to the local recruiters because they were just told that the treatments they desperately want for their child will be covered if they join. I know many parents would be more than willing to go to that length for our child if that is what it took.

[carolinedixwellcabot]

Dear David,
Hang in there, Jan. 20 brings science back to Washington, and soon we will have some long awaited biomedical research being funded. It has been a long journey, but the science will eventually receive the backing it needs. Caroline Dixwell Cabot

[AutismNewsBeat]

And the research proposals will pass through the office of an evidence-based autism czar with a mainstream medical background. Can't wait.

[foe2Hg]

That's right, Ken. Real research on what is happening medically to our kids.
Immunological, neurological, gastrointe­stinal--yo­u can't hide it anymore with fantasy statements ie -- a cut/paste job from a fictional novel a la Offit.

Integrity and Accountability -- here it comes!

[TannersDad]

From Safety Last to Children First: A White Paper

Secret Government bailout for Pharmaceutical Companies will cost Taxpayers trillions Autism Hurts

I am a witness...

http://www.causecast.org/member/tanners-dad/blog_posts/465

[KJmom]

I find it rather interesting that the source is now revising its website for the following statement :

"According to the website of the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network, run by DOD and CDC, autism is listed as an "adverse event" associated with use of the Tripedia triple vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. "

[SpectrumDad]

- "My question is: Why does autism appear on a list of health effects on a slide about thimerosal, even if it is followed by a question mark?"

Just a wild guess here. The PDF is over 3 years old. There was still speculation about hypothetical thimerosal-autism link back then. The question mark is your potential clue here Mr. Kirby.

[AutismNewsBeat]

It's a shame that Mr. Kirby didn't call the public affairs office at the AFIP earlier. This article ranks right up there with ignoring the Clinic for Special Children.

[CraigWilloughby]

It's a shame that Kenny doesn't have any REAL evidence to back up his claims. Typical. Oh, and Kenny? It wasn't Mr. Kirby who did the report on the Amish.

[JohnDanStone]

Paradym

Lots of opinions and not much hard research in there - you are just telling me that other people think the same things as you do. As to the main piece of research, Sallie Bernard's detailed critique of the data is available on the open web here:

http://www.safeminds.org/research/docs/Hviid_et_alJAMA-SafeMindsAnalysis.pdf

Can you tell us why Hviid is right and Barnard is wrong?

[Paradym]

Trying to figure this out...

You state "Lots of opinions and not much hard research in there...", disregarding The Journal of the American Medical Association for one, and your counter is one person from an organization that has an obvious agenda? Mrs. Bernard is neither a doctor nor clinician, her objectivity is questionable as she is a parent of an autistic child, and her organization's purpose is based upon a conclusion, not in trying to find the cause. I applaud her conviction, but that doesn't make her assertions correct.

[camsmom]

Thanks, David.

I think it's time to use some common sense when it comes to medical interventions. Pediatricians are so stubborn and have such big egos, they are having a dificult time accepting that their hypervaccination and overuse of antibiotics is causing major problems for children. Even their constant recommendations for cough syrup is now proven to be a mistake. Parents need to take control, educate themselves about vaccination and make their own decisions. Get exemptions from vaccination, dump the pediatricians who are only walking antobiotic prescribing walking vaccine givers, and when a medical professional says "the risks outweigh the benefits" run for your life because it NEVER does.

[Paradym]

Just a few criticisms by others:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/13/1763

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/mmr/sub2.cfm

http://www.autismvox.com/vaccine-awareness-from-david-kirby/

http://autism-news-beat.com/?p=91

Pick any article here: http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?s=david+kirby

http://www.neurodiversity.com/evidence_of_venom.html

http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=341

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/28/hlsa0728.htm

[CraigWilloughby]

Well, Paradym, I was actually willing to have a reasonable and serious discussion with you. However, seeing that you linked over to Kenny's site as a source (I know, I'm still laughing about it), you've lost all credibility with me. Sorry man, but it appears as if you are following the rest of the herd.

[Paradym]

"Well, Paradym, I was actually willing to have a reasonable and serious discussion with you."
Really? Why the change?

"However, seeing that you linked over to Kenny's site as a source (I know, I'm still laughing about it), you've lost all credibility with me."
I wasn't aware I had any credibility with you, but thanks for the credit. Go ahead and throw out Kenny, what about JAMA, AMED, NICH? If I had the time and room I would be happy to cite all the research that states no causation. But that's what JAMA and AMED are for.

"Sorry man, but it appears as if you are following the rest of the herd."
Aren't we all following some sort of herd? There are times when the vast majority are correct, especially when they have a preponderance of evidence to support them.

[Paradym]

"Reliance upon testimony or anecdotal evidence rather than research. This is perhaps the single most ubiquitous characteristic of pseudoscience – reliance upon poor quality data. Scientists have evolved protocols over the past few centuries for carrying out high quality reliable experiments, and evaluating the outcome of such experiments. In order to read and appreciate the technical literature, scientists must also know how to evaluate the quality of an experiment, to look for flaws in the design, and determine if the study has the power and sensitivity to detect what the experimenters are trying to detect. Good experiments have built into their design protections against self-deception on the part of the experimenter or the subjects, if there are any. Once published, the scientific community will then pick apart an experiment looking for flaws, and will try to replicate them to see if the results hold up. In this way, science slowly grinds forward.
Pseudoscientists, by contrast, will tend to accept any testimony or anecdote that supports their desired belief. They will present large volumes of such evidence, implying that a large amount of poor quality evidence equates to high quality evidence, but this is not true. [removed for posting brevity] This is a lesson that good scientists have learned, and pseudoscientists deride." - Dr. Steven Novella

For the full article: http://www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=30

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

From your article:

Scientists:
"Professional scientists have almost all undergone a standard formal education, and have studied with other older scientists who have taught them how to think and behave like a scientist. They are educated in the findings of science, at least within their discipline, the methods of science, and how to participate in the scientific community."

Like those from Columbia, Northeastern, UoKentucky, UoWashington who have done real science that strongly supports the idea that vaccines or their additives might be causing autism.

Pseudo-scientists:
"Use bold or absolute statements." Like "vaccines do not cause autism" -- which is a negative that can never be proven.

"Fail(ure) to consider all hypotheses"... Like maybe the epidemiology that has been done actually wasn't sufficiently powered to identify an issue in a small percentage of the population. What hypotheses have come from the mainstream medical community to explain the cause of autism???

"The fundamental feature that separates the process of science from pseudoscience, in my opinion, is that science is a genuine search for what is true, regardless of what that might be..."

Your position, as I understand it, is that the epidemiological studies that have been done that didn't find a connection is good enough for you. AND, that the empirical science that has been done by reputable institutions showing a probable cause either doesn't exist or what??? There is a common theme to many of Mr. Kirby's articles -- more science is needed. Why does the truth scare you?

[Paradym]

You just love that word "epidemiological", it seems.

Anyhoo, I'm not scared at all. Please cite the peer reviewed studies that conclusively show causation.

I agree, more science is needed... to find the REAL culprit(s) of autism. The vaccine connection doesn't exist, according to the scientific community. Mr. Kirby is a journalist, not a scientist or medical doctor. With all due respect to him, I will listen to the world authorities on health and medical experts in the field in their interpretation of complex research and studies. It is far too easy for laypersons to misunderstand and misinterpret research studies, as it's takes very close review for even experts in the field to understand studies and determine whether or not they were performed correctly and if the findings are accurate and relevant.

The great error in this argument is starting with a result - vaccines are a cause of autism - then trying to fit the evidence to support it. Good science starts blind and lets the result occur despite what may be anticipated.

[foe2Hg]

Quoting Dr Novella's opinion is like reading out of Offit's soap opera novel--all of your "prophets" sound more like fiction than science.

Teresa

[Paradym]

Wow, really? That's the best you've got? Prophets?

Steven P. Novella is an American clinical neurologist, assistant professor and Director of General Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine.

That there's some pretty impressive credentials fer a prophet.