National Speech/Language Therapy Center - The Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialists

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National Speech/Language Therapy Center

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The Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialists

NEWS & INFORMATION

Could your child’s vaccination be the cause of their autism?

Written by: Sabra Gelfond Ingall and Betty Soret

In response to growing public alarm, government agencies have been investigating the link between autism (and other developmental disorders) and vaccines. Current thinking on the part of many investigators is that for some children, vaccines, or something in the vaccines, may be a cause of learning disabilities, including autism.

Here is a more visual approach to what is happening:

Childhood Vaccinations:

Hepatitis B
DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
H. Influenza Type b (Hib)
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

Increase of mercury in the body when Thimerosal is present in vaccine

Mettallothionein is present in the body at normal levels (a protein in the body that normalizes the metal levels in our blood and brain)

Mettallothionein IS NOT present in the body at normal levels (a protein in the body that normalizes the metal levels in our blood and brain)

THEN

Mercury levels normalize and are metabolized in the system to normal levels

Mercury poisoning (also known as neourotoxicity) may occur, which might result in speech delays, language delays, and autism

Increase of mercury in the body when Thimerosal is present in vaccine

Mettallothionein is present in the body at normal levels (a protein in the body that normalizes the metal levels in our blood and brain)

Mercury levels normalize and are metabolized in the system to normal levels.

Mettallothionein IS NOT present in the body at normal levels (a protein in the body that normalizes the metal levels in our blood and brain)

Mercury poisoning (also known as neourotoxicity) may occur, which might result in speech delays, language delays, and autism.

Either

Children receive a cocktail of vaccinations beginning at birth. Most of these vaccines, such as Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilis Influenzae Type b (Hib), and Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), are used as preventative measures of once deadly diseases. However, these vaccines also contain the preservative thimerosal, which is designed to minimize bacterial growth in the vaccine. Thimerosal contains mercury, which in low doses is metabolized by the body and does not produce any known problems; unless, the body is deficient in metallothionein (MT)—a protein in the body that normalizes the metal levels in our blood and brain. When both a low MT level and high mercury level is present, mercury poisoning (also known as neourotoxicity) can occur, which can further result in speech delays, language delays, autism, and other developmental disorders.

The question is: How and why do infants reach toxic levels of mercury?

Medication given to an infant has a dosing requirement and safety level. According to the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatricians, the mercury in the vaccines most children receive in their first 2 years of life exceeds one of the federal guidelines for the intake of (methyl) mercury. In fact, the FDA has turned back to the drug companies and asked that they make all childhood vaccines without mercury.

So, the question remains: To vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

Medically speaking, vaccination is an important step in stopping the growth of such diseases as measles, polio, diphtheria, influenza, and of course hepatitis B. Parents can take some preventative measures when vaccinating their child:

1. Before vaccinating your child, ask your doctor if the vaccine is thimerosal free. Although the drug companies have begun to create vaccines without thimerosal, some manufacturers are still making and selling the old vaccines, and many doctors are still giving them to children.

2. Don’t allow your child to have an unnecessary booster, be vaccinated when sick or be vaccinated for more than one disease at a time.

3. Talk to your pediatrician about the options that are available to you and any concerns you may have regarding thimerosal.

4. Be aware of the risk factors involved in early childhood vaccinations and keep up to date. We have found the following websites to be informative:

www.autism.com.ari

www.vaccinesafety.edu

www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/thimerosal.htm

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.