Autism Doctor Fixed Vaccines Data

on February 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM

Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who sparked the scare over the safety of the mumps-measels-rubella (MMR) vaccine for children, changed and misreported results in his research, creating the appearance of a possible link with autism, a British Sunday Times investigation has found.

Wakefield's famous research was originally published in 1998 in The Lancet medical journal. It claimed that the families of eight out of 12 children attending a routine clinic at the hospital had blamed MMR for their autism, and said that problems came on within days of the jab.

Innoculations rates in Britain plummetted after the paper was released. And numerous CafeMoms choose not to vaccine their children for the very same reason -- see the private groups Educate Before You Vaccinate and Choosing Not to Vaccinate.

According to the Times investigation, in most of the 12 cases, the children’s ailments as described in The Lancet were different from their hospital and GP records. Although the research paper claimed that problems came on within days of the jab, in only one case did medical records suggest this was true, and in many of the cases medical concerns had been raised before the children were vaccinated.

But does this news change the minds of CafeMoms with strong feelings about vaccines?

"It doesn't matter of Wakefield did that or not," says one mom. "There is plenty of evidence against vaccines (and not just MMR or about autism either -- there are a TON more issues with all of them) that were not published by Wakefield and have nothing to do with him, so it doesn't matter. The evidence stands by itself, even without this one report by this one person.''

Another adds, "It doesn't matter if the vaccines cause autism or not. Wakefield is in a position where honesty is of the utmost importance. If he is against vaccines, it is his right to crusade against them -- not misalign studies to back his theories up."

In other autism news, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington has ruled that families whose children developed autism after taking a vaccine that contained thimerosal aren’t entitled to compensation from a $2.5 billion government trust fund. Read the full story on autism and vaccines in Healthy Living Buzz.

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: autism, doctor visits, health, safety

Comments (50)

Rachelou

on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:27 PM

I know so many people who have SEEN their children slip away almost immediately after getting this shot. My views on the link between vaccines and autism are not based on Andrew Wakefield's studies, they are based on firsthand accounts.

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aurorabunny

on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:47 PM

As a mother who does not vaccinate, I must admit I get sooo tired of hearing the "you don't vaccinate for fear of autism" thing. Sadly I think people really think this is the only fear. Vaxxing or not vaxxing is a tough decision and I respect any parent's choice, but with that said my son is ALREADY autistic and we still do not vaccinate. I'm not scared of autism because there are a lot worth things, like death.

That was supposed to be *worse things not *worth things. I'm going to fall on the floor and have a tantrum if we don't get a damn edit button soon.

Eddy_G

on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:49 PM

My son was vaccinated and is autistic

My daughter was not vaccinated and is not autistic.

don't care what the doctors say. I see my evidence every day.

RanaAurora

on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:51 PM

This is old news that that study was purposely altered.

However, vaccines need to be safer, period, and if it takes people being afraid of autism to put the spotlight on vaccines, then so be it.

MizzNicole

on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:54 PM

It doesnt change my my mind, but either way, I would rather take the chance and have y daughter protected and have her around, than to lose her something that could have been prevented.

I did a research paper on vaccines and I understand both sides and respect the way all mothers feel...............to each his own.

mrssundin

on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:14 PM

i will still vaccinate, as a friend of a couple who have an autistic son they do not blame vaccinations this is just the way god made him.

Alexsmom04

on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Id rather have a child with autism then a dead child who died from A disease that could have been prevented with an injection.

on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:35 PM

I genuinely believe that the vaccine debate on CM would be dead with a little understanding...

I don't believe that the vaccines available will protect my son from any diseases, however I do feel that they will and may have already harmed him. I reached this conclusion through MUCH painstaking research.

Another mom might have read the same research and come to a completely different conclusion than me...and that happens.

Lots of moms who do vaccinate AREN'T just blind and uninformed, and lots of moms who don't AREN'T irresponsible or lazy people who just don't want to take their children to the doctors. Each side genuinely feels we are doing what is best and smartest for our children. Just felt the need to throw that out there before this gets out of hand as it usually does...

i_am_tish

on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:38 PM

i will still vaccinate, i think this day in age it would be riskier not to, we are always looking for something to blame for autism, i think the truth is in the genomes of the families, i know many who have autistic children and they still vaccinate, i think we blame vaccines because we don't know alot about them and because it's the only thing we can blame really, because blaming our genetics would just cause unneccissary guilt. to each their own there will never be rest in the " to vaccinate or not debate"