Thimerosal Study Isn’t Reassuring: Poll

[Guest guest]

Thimerosal Study Isn’t Reassuring: Poll

October 4th, 2007 8:51 am By Ed Silverman

Last week, a widely publicized study in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that thimerosal doesn’t raise neurological risks. And the researchers wrote that the large federally-funded study should reassure parents about the safety of vaccines their kids received a decade or more ago. However, the study didn’t look at autism.

The CDC researchers didn’t find a clear link between early exposure to thimerosal and problems with brain function and behavior in children ages 7 to 10. The results are in line with past research that found no connection between vaccines and neurological problems or autism. “It’s good news for families,†said Goldstein, vp of the American Academy of Neurology. “There’s no evidence that these vaccines have caused injury.â€

As with any study, though, there were reasons for pause. For instance, among girls there was a negative association with language development. And among boys there was a detrimental association with behavioral regulation and motor and phonic tics, suggesting the need for further study. So we asked if you felt reassured. Most of you don’t. Bear in mind, this isn’t a scientific poll. But the results do indicate concern, if not skepticism.

Do you feel reassured by the study?

No - 287 votes, or 90 percent;Yes - 33 votes, or 10 percent.

Total Voters: 320

Tags:Autism, Thimerosal, VaccinesSee what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.