Science has proven that there is no link between childhood vaccinations and autism. But an old, flawed study from the Lancet medical journal and celebrity pronouncements have combined to create a perpetuating culture of fear about the issue. Seth Mnookin writes about that in his book, “The Panic Virus.” He uses the fear about vaccines as a jumping off point to examine how our culture responds to perceived threats. Mnookin says the junk science that identified a link between vaccines and autism gained traction partly because mainstream media outlets didn’t challenge researcher Andrew Wakefield’s findings and supporters. The fear about vaccines has resulted in deaths amidst outbreaks of diseases like whooping cough and hib.
You can find Seth Mnookin’s blog about “The Panic Virus” here.
History records evidence of autism for centuries, but over the past three decades, more children than ever have been diagnosed. The cause of the disorder remains unknown for certain, but the effects on families are difficult and long-lasting. Composer Allen Shawn writes about his twin sister Mary, who has autism, in the memoir “Twin.” Mary was diagnosed in the early 1950s, only a few years after autism was intially described in medical studies. She has lived in institutions since she was eight years old. Shawn says his parents were forced to make a difficult choice about how to care for their only daughter. Mary’s life at home was tormented, but with help from professionals, she thrived. In the book, Shawn writes about the long process of reconnecting with his sister as an adult.
Concerned Mother, your continued denial of a growing body of evidence discrediting any significant link between vaccines and autism is worrying. Reverting to ad hominem arguments that Mr. Edwards and his guest were smug & "smirky" demonstrate the baselessness of your entire argument. "Maternal instinct" cannot now, nor ever, replace sound science. "Concerned" parents who refuse to vaccinate their children are becoming a threat to the public health, a threat against which drastic measures may have to be taken. Do we have to start planning for schools and institutions where vaccinated children have to bs segregated from unvaccinated ones?
The "hero" of the movement has been thoroughly discredited and barred from practicing medicine, brought down not by some vast conspiracy but by his own hubris and avarice. It's time to wake up and re-examine the real science behind this frightening movement.
I believe Bob Edwards referred to "all the scientific controversy" surrounding this issue, sounding as if some group of serious researchers still have cause to argue for a vaccination-autism link, or at least think there is still some evidence worth further investigation. Isn't this simply not the case? Wasn't all of the publicity and debate on this issue a direct result of the Lancet paper that we know for certain to be entirely fraudulent? Without that paper, there's nothing left at all to even constitute a "scientific controversy"–such a thing needs to be about actual, bona-fide evidence of some sort.
This was exactly the point the guest was making about false equivalences beloved by much of the media. (On the other hand, I may not be up to date on other sources or foundations for this whole argument; I plan to read his book.) In any case, I do very much appreciate that guests on this show get a chance to explain things in some detail. Thank you.
I was struck by the criticism of the use of a limo by the family to visit Mary, the twin sister of the memoirist/composer who wrote about his experience in 'Twin.' While it certainly touches on frustration of the many ordinary and not wealthy folks who can't afford a lot of helpful resources, it made me wonder, also, if the author's parents themselves may have had their own cognitive conditions that prevented them from learning the complex task of driving. While they may excel in other areas, some people with Asperger's syndrome have difficulty driving. Just an observation from a person who has been learning about autism spectrum disorders and issues surrounding this topic.
Your smugness and smirkiness your guest's smugness and smirkiness are not helping in the debate. Your guest compared people who question vaccinations to people who are birthers -people your guest said are "not sane." Not helpful. There is a lot of information that allows questioning.