Fax 202 736-1199 Associated Press (Press Release)
Fax 202
225-3516 Washington DC office of Congressman Dave Weldon
February 9,
2002
Press Release
I'm the father
of a 17 year old young man with autism and president of
an autism
research organization called the Autism Autoimmunity Project.
Yesterday,
Congressman Dave Weldon of Florida who is also a physician
called for the
parent choice of separating the Measles, Mumps and
Rubella
Vaccine. I support this intelligent decision since there has
been much in
the UK press over the last week regarding the research
findings of
Dr. Andrew Wakefield and Professor John O'Leary in the
Journal of
Molecular Pathology.
Our son was
born normal and was progressing normally until after he
received the Measles,
Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine in April 1986. In
early 1989 he
was diagnosed as having autism. In 1995, James Oleske, MD
and Vijendra
Singh, Ph.D. did blood tests on our son and found he had
elevated measles antibody titers. Titers that were ten
times higher than
normal. I have
been in contact with hundreds of parents across the
United States
that link the MMR vaccine to their children's autism.
There is an
epidemic of autism in the US and the UK. We are losing
children daily
to this life-long disability and the sad part is that we
can prevent
this as well as develop research to look into
immuno-therapeutic treatments that will help those
already damaged. Our
members and
myself believe this autism epidemic is being caused by an
immune insult
that is affecting the neurological and gastrointestinal
systems of these children. The medical community has
to be less arrogant
and more
willing to listen to the patient. The government health
officials and
medical community should try to fund independent research
that will
replicate what Dr. Oleske, Dr. Singh, Dr. Wakefield and
Professor
O'Leary are finding. We need the science, not denials and
pointing of
fingers.
In 1999, we
sent a biopsy of our son's inflamed colon to Professor
O'Leary's laboratory.
Eric fits the pattern of many of these children
with autism, a
neurological, immunological and gastrointestinal
dysfunction. In 1993, Japan did away with the MMR
vaccine because of the
reactions they
were having in their country. Unfortunately, the US and
the UK are now experiencing a bigger calamity. If we
are trading disease
control for an
autism epidemic, then we are treading on thin ice and
future
generations will not look kindly on those that could have
prevented
this.
Raymond
Gallup, President
Autism
Autoimmunity Project
Lake Hiawatha,
NJ 07034
Attached:
February 8, 2002 statement by Congressman Dave Weldon
>
> >
Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. Urges Physicians to Give
> >
> >
Parents Choice of Separating the Measles, Mumps,
> >
> >
and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Due to Growing Concern
> >
> >
> >
> > Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, a
Florida physician, urged
> > the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to
fully inform parents of
> > their choice in having the MMR vaccine
separated and administered at
> > different times. There is growing concern among parents and medical
> > researchers that concurrent exposure of the
measles virus with other
> > viruses may be linked to serious
developmental disorders in some
> > children.
A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Pathology (Ulmann
> > et al.) found persistent measles virus in
the intestinal tissue of 75
> > of 91 patients with developmental disorders
(i.e., autism) who also
> > exhibited severe bowel disease.
> >
> >
> >
> > "I am very disturbed by these findings
and believe it is critical that
> > we give children's health the highest
priority," said Rep. Dave
> > Weldon. "While the verdict is still out
on whether the MMR vaccine
> > causes regressive autism, an association has
been demonstrated in this
> > study and others. I call upon the AAP to urge pediatricians to give
> > parents all the facts about this safety
concern and allow parents to
> > make an informed decision about whether or
not they want to separate
> > the MMR vaccine for their children."
> >
> >
> >
> > "Vaccines have saved millions of
lives. However, there are growing
> > concerns about the safety of the MMR vaccine
that must be
> > independently studied," said Rep.
Weldon. "These clinical laboratory
> > findings cannot be dismissed with
epidemiological studies. The
> > Centers for Disease Control and the National
Institutes of Health must
> > apply vigorous, independent tests to
evaluate the concerns over the
> > MMR."
> >
> >
> >
> > There is an epidemic of autism among
children in the United States.
> > Ulmann et al. focus their research on a
cohort of autistic children
> > who develop what is known as regressive
autism. Children with
> > regressive autism meet normal developmental
thresholds, but shortly
> > after receiving the MMR (12-15 months of
age) they begin to regress.
> > Many public health officials have stated that
the timing is simply a
> > coincidence. However, Ulmann's discovery of measles in the inflamed
> > intestines of 75 of 91 children in this
recent study gives serious
> > cause for concern.
> >
> >
> >
> > It is believed that persistent measles virus
in the intestines of
> > these children may be the cause of the
severe bowel disease (lymphoic
> > hyperplasia and ileocolitis). Bowel disease is believed to result in
> > the neurological disorders in these
children. It has been established
> > by other researchers that developmental
disorders are associated with
> > severe bowel disease. Last year the Institute of Medicine urged
> > further study of this issue and the Congress
has included language
> > urging the National Institutes of Health to
support research in this
> > area.
Additionally, a research paper published in Adverse Drug
> > Reactions in January 2001, showed flaws in
the pre-licensing studies
> > of the MMR vaccine.
> >
> >
> >
> > ###