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By
Luis Fabregas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, September 14, 2002
A leading autism expert said Friday more research is needed before a long-debated link between the disease and a common childhood vaccine can be dismissed.
Dr. Bernard Rimland, founder of the Autism Society of America in San Diego, was in Pittsburgh to discuss the group's national conference next July at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
At a news conference held at the City-County Building, Rimland said there hasn't been adequate, unbiased research to determine if the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine triggers the disease.
"The link is probably very real," Rimland said. "The vaccine industry and drug companies need to deal with it."
Autism is a developmental disorder that strikes young children, causing social detachment and communication difficulties.
At least two studies, including one published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show it is not possible for the vaccine to cause autism. The studies showed that autism rates increased far more dramatically than the use of the vaccine, suggesting there is no link.
But Rimland said a study published in a British journal in 1998 reported that widespread use of MMR could be related to an increase in autism. Further research had suggested that the measles component of the vaccine could cause the disease in some children who also received other vaccines, he said.
Rimland said the drug industry should get rid of vaccines that contain trace amounts of mercury because they can be harmful to children and possibly lead to autism.
"Those old vaccines are still being injected into children and they ought to throw them away," he said.
Robert L. Beck, executive director of the Autism Society, said many questions surrounding autism should be answered at next year's conference. He expects that about 2,000 people will attend.
About 1.5 million Americans are believed to have autism.
In the past, the Institute of Medicine has issued three reports saying there is no link between vaccinations and several diseases such as autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Some research has suggested the disease is caused by biological differences in the brain.
For more information about the conference, call (412) 856-7223.
Luis Fabregas can be reached at lfabregas@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7998.
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.