Letter to the Wall Street Journal re: Autism and Vaccines

To the editor:

As a physician for 30 years, a strong advocate for vaccines, a conservative Republican and supporter of tort reform, I must say you missed the boat in this article. Not only did you not do your homework, your obvious bias on this issue harms your own credibility. I did attend the IOM meeting last week in Washington, D.C. and the SCIENTIFIC evidence was overwhelming...thimerosal IS a toxic substance and causes neurological damage in a subset of children (approximately 1 in 150). The only "evidence" in question is the epidemiological (statistical) studies conducted by those with a vested in interest in the outcome. Their studies have been questioned by even the strongest vaccine advocates such as John Hopkins pediatrician, Dr. Neal Halsey, former chairman of the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices). The lead author claimed to be with the CDC, when in fact he is an employee of GlaxoSmithKline in Belgium. As a physician, I much prefer to base medical decisions on biochemical, molecular and toxicological studies done by respected colleagues in the medical profession rather than computer printouts generated from "bean counters" with an agenda and a hefty grant from the vaccine makers. I suggest you read the minutes of the meeting held at Simpsonwood in June 2000 by the CDC, FDA, ACIP and vaccine manufacturers before you criticize parents dealing with children suffering from mercury poisoning. You should check your sources (and their sponsors) before regurgitating their agenda.

Alan D. Clark, M.D.

Carthage, Missouri