Article reference: http://www.laleva.org/eng/2004/05/national_autism_association_questions_iom_and_cdc_cover-up_--_how_far_will_they_go_to_protect_toxic_vaccines.html

National Autism Association Questions IOM and CDC Cover-Up -- How Far Will They go to Protect Toxic Vaccines?

National Autism Association Questions IOM and CDC Cover-Up -- How Far Will They go to Protect Toxic Vaccines?

18/05/2004
Source: PrNewswire.com

Riddled With Conflicts of Interest, Institute of Medicine Releases Report
         Derived From Flawed Data, Says National Autism Association

   WASHINGTON, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A report released today has parents and
researchers shocked at how far the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) will go to protect the reputation of the vaccination
program. After CDC-funded hearings were held in front of an IOM panel on
February 9th regarding the connection between vaccines and autism, IOM
released its decision today by stating there is no connection, despite strong
clinical evidence from accredited doctors and researchers that suggests
otherwise.

   To reach their decision, the IOM relied heavily upon CDC's Vaccine Safety
Database (VSD) study published in the Journal of Pediatrics in November, 2003.
Many critics have come forward questioning its validity. The study's author,
Dr. Thomas Verstraeten, works for a leading vaccine manufacturer. He also
authored the first CDC VSD study in 2000, obtained through FOIA, which found a
statistically significant link between thimerosal containing vaccines and
autism, but the study was not released to the public.

   The National Autism Association (NAA), supporting families and physicians
looking for effective treatments for autism and other neurodevelopmental
disorders, says the report proves the IOM has not been able to divest itself
from vaccine policies. And tragically, in doing so, they have failed society
by their blindness to the issue at hand. "It appears the IOM's admitted fear
of an undermined vaccination program has led to this decision, not scientific
evidence," says Lori McIlwain, Executive Director of the National Autism
Association.

   NAA states they are for safe vaccines and stand by the clinical evidence
that was presented to the IOM from highly accredited researchers, along with
medical records of affected children. "Thousands of parents have seen the
regression of skills in their children following thimerosal-containing
vaccines," says Jo Pike, President of the National Autism Association. "Many
of these same children are progressing rapidly with biomedical interventions
addressing mercury poisoning. The cause and effect should not be ignored," she
says.

   In their report, the IOM panel dismissed strong clinical and
epidemiological evidence presented during the hearings. These studies include:

    - Dr. Mark Geier and David Geier presented epidemiological evidence that
      children who received thimerosal-containing vaccines were six times
      more likely to have autism than children who did not.

    - Mady Hornig, MD, showed mice that had been given thimerosal-containing
      vaccines and subsequently developed harmful repetitive behaviors
      similar to those of autism.

    - David Baskin, MD, showed the neurotoxic affects of ethylmercury and how
      such damage can lead to apoptosis of cells.

    - Jeff Bradstreet, MD, showed that autistic children had six times more
      mercury in their bodies than age and vaccine-matched controls.

    - Boyd Haley showed that autistic children have less mercury in
      their hair than controls hypothesizing that autistic children can not
      detoxify as easily as regular children.

   "The IOM took over 10 years to acknowledge Gulf War Syndrome and over 20
years to acknowledge Agent Orange poisoning," says Laura Bono, NAA Chairman.
"We are asking the IOM to affirm the mass poisoning of thousands of children
through mercury in their vaccines. We are confident that the truth will
eventually come out and we will not be deterred until it does."
   For more information, visit http://www.NationalAutism.org .

    Contact: Lori McIlwain, (919) 468-6455
             Laura Bono (919) 403-9443