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.