Autism and vaccines

My professional journal just released this statement regarding the connection between autism and vaccines. I thought it was very interesting...

In response to their public statements linking autism to vaccines, ASHA President Kate Gotffred has sent letters to the two presumptive presidential candidates asking them "to consider strongly the critical need for evidence-based decision-making."

A long-running court case alleges a link between autism and thimerosal, a preservative in some vaccines given to young children. Three leading medical organizations—the World Health Organization, the Institute of Medicine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—have rejected the link. At least five major studies have found no link between autism and thimerosal, including a California Department of Public Health study that found an increasing rate of autism in children even after manufacturers stopped using the preservative in vaccines (see The ASHA Leader, Mar. 25).

"Science is critical to the enlightenment and facilitation of decisions regarding health care and public policy," Gottfred said in identical letters to Sens. Barak Obama and John McCain. "Parents who think that vaccines cause autism may not have their children get the vaccinations they need, a choice with serious potential health risks.

"Moreover, these parents are making this choice even though the scientific evidence supporting it is quite weak and indirect."

In an April rally in Pennsylvania, Obama said, "Some people are suspicious that it's [autism] connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science right now is inconclusive, but we have to research it."

McCain made a similar statement at a February meeting in Texas, saying "there's strong evidence that indicates it's [autism] got to do with a preservative in vaccines."

"As you help lead the way toward meeting the many challenges facing our nation with respect to autism," Gottfred said in the letters, "we urge you to do everything you can to ensure that the way is informed by an evidence-based approach."

I know that it must be VERY hard to be a parent of a child with autism. Finding a cause or source might make it feel more justified. But the truth of the matter is, there is no conclusive evidence at this point to say that there is any connection between late "onset" of autism (when a child appears developmentally normal until a certain point, and then exhibit a regression) and administration of vaccines. I think that there are a variety of things that can "cause" autism. Not one thing is going to be pointed out. Some kids respond to a change in their diet, suggesting that there may be some sort of metabolic contribution. Some kids don't. Some kids respond to controversial medical procedures, most do not. There is not one right or surefire way to treat autism. The best thing to do is to identify early and enroll in services quickly.

Sorry for the soapbox, but it just really makes me sad and a little angry that certain theories and cures are propogated by individuals and groups that are either very poorly informed (giving people hope) or are not shown to work for the majority of cases. I've read a few blogs lately, if you can't tell. There is SO much that has been done in autism research...let's use those things that we KNOW work.....