I don't think the fat lady is singing yet over Autism and MMR.
The following came of the UK's National Autistic Society website.
Jenny Lesley
Is there a relationship between the MMR vaccine and Autistic Syndromes?
Those involved with the project wrote:
Dear Friends
Two recent studies have shown that during this decade, there has been an
alarming increase in the incidence of Autistic Syndromes in the United
States.
Both studies have also suggested that this increase will accelerate in the
coming years.
Because such 'outbreak' is so recent, we have postulated that :
Certain families seem to have a genetic predisposition to a fragile immune
system. When a mother is repeatedly exposed to certain antigens or toxic
environmental factors, she develops antibodies against them, which she
transmits to her children. If the immature immune system of those children
is attacked, early in life, by several simultaneous antigenic insults,
violent complex immune reactions take place, which affect their whole body,
and particularly their actively growing brain centers, leading to autism.
For the past few years, many parents of autistic children have reported a
temporal relationship between the administration of the MMR vaccine to their
children, and the onset of their symptoms.
To date, spokespersons for the CDC ( The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention), pro-vaccine groups, and vaccine manufacturers, have all
adamantly denied any such link. The many studies which they quote in support
of their argument, including one just published this week, have been, in
return, rejected by the parents' groups, because of flaws in design,
unsupported conclusions, short follow-ups, and the fact that some are funded
by vaccine manufacturers.
It is therefore obvious that, because of this polarization, and the present
very peculiar set of circumstances, it remains impossible to prove or
disprove, that the MMR vaccine contributes, or has contributed, to the
increase in autistic disorders.
Prospective studies can not be done because of all the vaccine mandates.
Retrospective case controlled studies have to include huge numbers of
patients, and need a lot of time, effort and resources. Health and vaccine
authorities have no interest in undertaking such extensive studies, which
may lead to a causal relationship between MMR and Autism, a relationship
they deny.
We are a team of independent investigators trained in paediatrics and
infectious diseases. We have two autistic grand children, and we are
devoting our lives to find the cause of their illness.
We are not looking for, and we will not accept, any financial gain from this
study, or from any other work we do, in the fight against autism.
We would like to investigate one unique aspect of the MMR controversy, never
examined to date.
Some mothers, who have been immunized as youngsters, against Measles, Mumps
and Rubella, either with single vaccines, or with the MMR, are found to have
inadequate Rubella (German Measles ) titres when they are tested before they
get married, or during a pregnancy. MMR vaccine is then usually administered
to them, usually at an appropriate, and recommended time.
Sometimes, after that booster, some of these mothers still do not show
immune titres of rubella antibodies, and another MMR is administered. We
think that it is possible that some of these mothers have produced sky high
titres of antibodies against Measles, which they subsequently have
transferred to their children. ( Note that they could have already had
adequate or high measles antibody titres, before the MMR booster or
boosters.) Similarly, many women starting college, are required to receive
an MMR booster, regardless of their immune status.
Distinguished investigators in the Unites States, have demonstrated
extremely high measles antibody titres, in mothers of autistic children
and in the affected children themselves ).
If we can identify a large number of mothers, who have received such MMR
boosters, we can then look and see if they were more liable to have autistic
children.
So, could you please help us.
To participate in this study you must have received for any reason, an MMR
vaccine as a booster, after the age of 16.
We need a large number of participants to draw meaningful conclusions. If
you are interested in taking part in this study please contact:
The TLAutStudy
P.O.Box 770
West Falmouth, MA 02574-0770, USA
Email [log in to unmask]
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The National Autistic Society
393 City Road, London, EC1V 1NG, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7833 2299; Fax: +44 (0)20 7833 9666
Email: [log in to unmask]
Registered charity number: 269425
ã The National Autistic Society 2000
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