Activists Hold Event on Capitol Hill
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Chris Smith (D-NJ) hosted a briefing on the Hill on July 17. There were approximately 60 attendees, including many young Congressional staffers. It did not appear that any reporters were in attendance.
David Kirby presented his usual arguments about mercury in vaccines and environmental toxins, citing various studies from the MIND Institute and the Burbacher study, while Mark Blaxill of SafeMinds talked about the “epidemic of autism” and showed charts that purported to illustrate a dramatic escalation in the prevalence of autism.
Finally, in his remarks, Rep. Chris Smith suggested that Kirby and Blaxill should testify in front of the Energy & Commerce Committee. He said that mercury is a serious problem which is not only harming children in the US, but as the UNICEF global vaccine program is unrolled, impacting children in Africa.
Autism Clinic Practicing Alternative Therapies Shut Down for Unknown Reasons
An autism clinic in Austin, TX was raided by the FBI and IRS this week. Neither agency has announced why. The CARE Clinics offer alternative treatments for children with autism, including chelation.
The autism blog Left Brain/Right Brain has noted that CARE Clinics is also being sued by an adult who claims he was falsely diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning at the clinic after his tests returned from Doctors Data.
NVAC and IACC Hold Joint Meeting
On July 15, IACC hosted a joint meeting with the NVAC Vaccine Safety Working Group to discuss vaccine safety and the feasibility of a vaccinated-vs.-unvaccinated study. Afterwards, the NVAC held five closed-door panel discussions for information-gathering purposes to “review the current federal vaccine safety system and develop a White Paper describing the infrastructure needs for a federal vaccine system to fully characterize the safety profile of vaccines in a timely manner, reduce adverse events whenever possible, and maintain and improve public confidence in vaccine safety.”
Resignation from Autism Speaks Highlights Growing Discontent with Group’s Vaccine Policies
Last week, Dr. Eric London announced his resignation from the scientific advisory board of Autism Speaks. Dr. London was co-founder of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), an organization that merged with Autism Speaks.
Dr. London declared, “…the pivotal issue compelling my decision is the position which Autism Speaks is taking concerning vaccinations. The arguments which Dr. Dawson and others assert–that the parents need even further assurances and there might be rare cases of ‘biologically plausible’ vaccine involvement–are misleading and disingenuous. Through its website and other communications, Autism Speaks has been influential and contributory in encouraging parents’ doubts. By preferentially investing and advocating for the use of limited financial resources on the ‘biological plausibility’ argument, the organization is adversely impacting the advancement of autism research.”
Science ran an article on the resignation in this week’s edition, outlining the growing disagreement in the autism community regarding vaccines.
Flu Summit Focuses on H1N1 Preparedness
An influenza summit meeting held in Washington, D.C., focused on preparations for H1N1 this week. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced that the federal government will fully fund any vaccination program that is launched this fall. School children are expected to be a key population for vaccination and may even be immunized in schools.
Measles Outbreak in Brooklyn
The New York Post reported on Monday that there’s been an outbreak of measles in Brooklyn. So far it has affected 11 people: nine children and two adults. It’s not certain how the outbreak began, but it has been reported that none of the patients had been fully vaccinated against measles.
H1N1 Coverage Continues
News outlets across the country continue to track the progress of the H1N1 flu virus, and predict its future impact. John Barry, author of The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post, pointing out that it is largely a waiting game for scientists and health officials. Until the flu season returns this fall, we can only monitor the virus’ mutations and try our best to develop an effective vaccine.
The Associated Press is reporting that as many as one million people may have contracted swine flu in the U.S. Up to six percent of urban areas may be infected. The numbers are still much lower than seasonal flu, which can infect between 15 and 60 million Americans each year.
Huffington Post Publishes Second Article in Series by Dr. Karp
Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician and popular author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, has published his second article on vaccines and autism on the Huffington Post. In this installment, Dr. Karp addresses several common myths connecting vaccines to autism, including misconceptions about the recommended immunization schedule.
Dr. Karp’s third and final piece in the series will be posted soon.
New Recommendations Issued by ACIP, CDC
The CDC is reinstating its recommendation that children receive a booster shot against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Beginning July 1, there will be enough Hib vaccine to ensure all children have access to the additional shot.
Additionally, the ACIP has voted unanimously to reduce the recommended rabies vaccination series to just four shots. The committee reviewed information demonstrating that 1,000 Americans who are exposed to rabies each year receive just three or four of the shots, instead of the previously recommended five, yet did not develop the disease.
