The Associated Press headlines on March 6, 2008, proclaimed that "officials concede vaccines' link to illness like autism."
Petitioner Hannah Joling, now 9 years old, received five vaccines at once in 2000. According to a document that AP obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder, causing metabolic dysfunction manifesting as worsened brain function with features of autistic spectrum disorder.
A recent AAPS release notes an attorney representing the federal government said that it "has not conceded that vaccines cause autism." The document drew no conclusions as to the role of thimerosal. The government has previously denied any link at all between vaccine components and autism.
Although these writers have previously raised health concerns about several vaccines, we are alarmed that misinterpretation of this single case could set off a wave of unjustified and extremely harmful litigation.
Stories are conflicting about the time of onset of young Hannah's symptoms.
Some state that she had suggestive symptoms at age 3 months; others that she was developing normally until the vaccines were given at 19 months. Her father Jon Poling, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist; and her mother, who is a lawyer and nurse, contend that the vaccines were also responsible for their daughterıs mitochondrial disorder (Kent Heckenlively, Age of Autism 3/5/08).
A Portuguese study suggested that 7 percent of autistic children might have a mitochondrial disorder, compared to 0.02 percent in the whole population.
The Joling family has filed a request with the court to unseal the documents on the case. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice, which represents the government in all cases, refused to grant interviews or to explain to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution why it isnıt releasing the records (Alison Young, Atlanta Journal-Constitution 3/6/08).
Approximately 5,000 families seeking compensation for autism or other developmental disorders they blame on vaccines, are encouraged by the decision, the first of its type. However, each case needs to be proved on its own merits, and the decision is so narrowly worded that it may not be a helpful precedent.
Whatever the cause, the number of children receiving Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) for disability has more than tripled in 20 years.
In 1960, only 1.8 percent of U.S. children or adolescents were said by their parents to have a limitation of activity due to a health condition of more than three months duration. This rate had increased to more than 7 percent by 2004.
Potential causative factors, according to Journal of the American Medical Association, include maternal smoking (although its prevalence has decreased), poverty (which is stable), and "fast foods." The only suggested role for the large increase in the number of vaccines is that less or less normal stimulation of the immune system — owing to less exposure to viral infections in early childhood — could cause greater susceptibility to allergens (JM Perrin, et al., JAMA 6/27/07).
There is also a significant increase in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children, at least partly attributed to obesity (RB Lipton, JAMA 6/26/07). Some wonder whether this too could have a link to vaccines.
Hemophilus immunization has been associated with autoantibodies to islet cells.
A CDC panel voted unanimously to recommend influenza vaccine annually for all school-age children (WorldNetDaily 2/28/08). New Jersey officials have told parents that their babies canıt attend day care without their flu shot.
Most influenza vaccine contains thimerosal.
Establishing the role of vaccines in any chronic, disabling condition could open floodgates of demand for compensation. And this single case of compensation for autism is making public health officials and pediatricians worry that parents will skip vaccinations.
Two other vaccine-court cases testing the alleged connection between thimerosal and autism go to trial in May.
What we all face from the above imbroglio is an ethical, moral, and medical dilemma. One anecdotal case should not be the basis for thousands of lawsuits, parents withholding necessary vaccines and drug companies electing not to produce vaccines.
This would be a devastating scenario for everyone.
Editor's Note: Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D. submitted this week's column.
