New Study: Autism and Vaccines Not Linked

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study in March that proves there is no connection between the number of vaccines a child received and his or her risk of autism spectrum disorder. The study also showed that even though more vaccines are administered, today’s vaccines contain fewer substances that provoke an immune response.

Frank DeStefano is the director of the Immunization Safety Office of the CDC and led the study. The CDC researchers compared the vaccine histories of 250 children who had autism spectrum disorder with those of 750 typical kids, looking at antigens. Antigens are substances in vaccines (also naturally found in bacteria or viruses) that cause the body to produce antibodies, proteins that help fight off infections.

DeStefano noted that the antigens from vaccines received during the first two years of life weren’t related to the development of autism spectrum disorder. It was also proved that there are fewer antigens in today’s vaccines. In the late-1990s there were several thousand antigens in vaccines, but today’s vaccine schedule only contains 315, because vaccines have become much more precise.

“The sad part is, by focusing on whether vaccines cause autism spectrum disorders, they’re missing the opportunity to look at what the real causes [of autism] are. It’s not vaccines,” states Ellen Wright Clayton, a pediatrics professor at Vanderbilt University who works with the Institute of Medicine.

Geraldine Dawson, the top scientist for Autism Speaks, an advocacy and research group, noted that the study results should clear the way for research on other potential causes of autism. Other causes of autism may include: nutrition (which can affect a baby’s brain development in the womb), medications and infections during pregnancy, or an infant’s exposure to pesticides or pollution.

Dawson concludes: “As we hone in on what is causing autism, I think we are going to have fewer and fewer questions about some of these things that don’t appear to be causing autism.”

Vaccine Watch encourages parents to carefully review the CDC study and consult with their child’s pediatrician to make informed choices.

Review of Vaccines and Autism

In February, the Liberty Beacon posted about a scientific review on the theoretical causes of abortion. Citing the 2011 article in the Journal of Immunotoxicology entitled “Theoretical aspects of autism: Causes—A review” written by Helen Ratajczak, the post claims that vaccines and autism are related.

Ratajczak is a retired senior scientist from a pharmaceutical firm who reviewed the body of published science since autism was first described in 1943. She states that autism is the result of genetic defects and/or inflammation of the brain, and discusses vaccine-related culprits. One culprit, she claims, is that the immune system is tricked into associating harmful viruses with human DNA.

“Because it’s human DNA and recipients are humans, there’s homologous recombinaltion tiniker. That DNA is incorporated into the host DNA. Now it’s changed, altered self and body kills it. Where is this most expressed? The neurons of the brain. Now you have body killing the brain cells and it’s an ongoing inflammation. It doesn’t stop, it continues through the life of that individual,” Ratajczak states.

The article in the Journal of Immunotoxicology continues that 92% of children have been given vaccines made using aborted fetal cell lines. According to Liberty Beacon, the polio, measles, mumps and rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A and rabies vaccines all contain aborted fetal tissue.

Dr. Jay L. Wile counters this argument: “…it is impossible for vaccines (or any other injected medicine) to contain human tissue. The reason is simple: if you are injected with anything containing tissue from another person, your body will immediately recognize it as an invader and begin attacking it. The immune response is often quite radical and can easily lead to death! That is why blood from a donor to a recipient must be carefully matched before the recipient can receive it. Thus, there is no human tissue of any kind in vaccines.”

Dr. Wile continues to point out that the vaccines listed above are grown in human cells and the anti-vaccine movement has latched onto that and created a lie. The cells used to grow the vaccines have been used for 35 years, as they are continually reproducing and creating more cells.

“This (the article in the Journal of Immunotoxicology) is a review of theories. Science is based on facts. To draw conclusions on effects of an exposure on people, you need data on people. The data on people do not support that there is a relationship. As such, any speculation about an explanation for a (non-existing) relationship is irrelevant,” states Dr. Brian Strom of the University of Pennsylvania.