Infant Vaccines Produce Autism Symptoms In New Primate Study By University Of Pittsburgh Scientists

June 15, 2008

Infant Vaccines Produce Autism Symptoms In New Primate Study By University

Of Pittsburgh Scientists

Main Category: Autism

Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines; Pediatrics / Children's Health

Article Date: 20 May 2008 - 0:00 PDT

Findings released Friday showed that infant monkeys given vaccines

officially recommended by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics

(AAP) exhibited autism-like symptoms. Lead investigator Hewitson of

the University of Pittsburgh and colleagues presented study results at the

International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in London. Safety studies

of medicines are typically conducted in monkeys prior to use in humans, yet

such basic research on the current childhood vaccination regimen has never

before been done.

The abstracts presented at IMFAR, the world's top autism science conference,

describe biological changes and altered behavior in vaccinated macaques that

are similar to those observed in children with autism. Unvaccinated animals

showed no such adverse outcomes. The vaccines given were those recommended

for U.S. Infants in the 1990s, including several with the mercury

preservative thimerosal and the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine. Rates of

autism spectrum disorder among children born in the 1990s surged

dramatically, from about 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 150 children.

" This research underscores the critical need for more investigation into

immunizations, mercury, and the alterations seen in autistic children, "

stated Lyn Redwood, director of SafeMinds. " SafeMinds calls for large scale,

unbiased studies that look at medical conditions associated with autism and

the effects of vaccines given as a regimen. "

The group's request for research echoes that of Dr. Bernadine Healy, Former

NIH Director, in a CBS interview earlier this week. She asserted that public

health officials have been too quick to dismiss an autism-vaccine connection

when the research has been insufficient. The government recently conceded a

federal vaccine court case which agreed that a child regressed into autism

as a result of 9 vaccines given on one day.

" The full implications of this primate study await publication of the

research in a scientific journal, " noted Theresa Wrangham, president of

SafeMinds. " But we can say that it demonstrates how the CDC evaded their

responsibility to investigate vaccine safety questions. Vaccine safety

oversight should be removed from the CDC and given to an independent agency.

More information about SafeMinds (including neurodevelopmental disorders,

autism and mercury exposure) may be found at http://www.safeminds.org

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