CDC Vaccine Committee Recommends More Shots for Children

The CDC has stated that they want children from 6 months old to 18 years old to receive the flu shot which still contains Thimerasol!  Unbelievable!   read more…

Valid 11/2002 – 01/2003Sigma Chemical Co.P.O. Box 14508St. Louis, MO 63178 USAPhone: 314-771-5765M A T E R I A L S A F E T Y D A T A S H E E TSECTION 1. – - – - – - – - – CHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION- – - – - – - – - -CATALOG #: T5125NAME: THIMEROSALSECTION 2. – - – - – COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS – - – - – -CAS #: 54-64-8MF: C9H9HGNAO2SEC NO: 200-210-4SYNONYMS((O-CARBOXYPHENYL)THIO)ETHYLMERCURY SODIUM SALT * ELICIDE * ETHYL(2-) TjETBT/PjCourier ACID SODIUM SALT * ETHYLMERCURITHIOSALICYLIC ACID SODIUM SALT *ETHYLMERKURITHIOSALICILAN SODNY (CZECH) * ETHYL (SODIUM O-) TjETBT/PjCourier 10 Tf72 MERTHIOLATE SODIUM * MERTORGAN * MERZONIN * MERZONIN SODIUM * SET *SODIUM ETHYLMERCURIC THIOSALICYLATE * SODIUM O-(ETHYLMERCURITHIO)BENZOATE * SODIUM ETHYLMERCURITHIOSALICYLATE * SODIUM MERTHIOLATE *THIMEROSAL * THIMEROSALATE * THIOMERSAL * THIOMERSALATE *SECTION 3. – - – - – - – - – - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION – - – - – - – - -LABEL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTSHIGHLY TOXIC (USA)VERY TOXIC (EU)VERY TOXIC BY INHALATION, IN CONTACT WITH SKIN AND IF SWALLOWED.DANGER OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS.MAY CAUSE SENSITIZATION BY INHALATION AND SKIN CONTACT.IRRITATING TO EYES, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND SKIN.CALIF. PROP. 65 REPRODUCTIVE HAZARD.TARGET ORGAN(S):NERVESKIDNEYSSENSITIZER.CAUSES IRRITATION.KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD, DRINK AND ANIMAL FEEDINGSTUFFS.AFTER CONTACT WITH SKIN, WASH IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OF WATER.IN CASE OF CONTACT WITH EYES, RINSE IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OFWATER AND SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.WEAR SUITABLE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR IF YOU FEEL UNWELL, SEEK MEDICAL ADVICEIMMEDIATELY (SHOW THE LABEL WHERE POSSIBLE).SECTION 4. – - – - – - – - – - FIRST-AID MEASURES- – - – - – - – - – -IF SWALLOWED, WASH OUT MOUTH WITH WATER PROVIDED PERSON IS CONSCIOUS.CALL A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY.IF INHALED, REMOVE TO FRESH AIR. IF NOT BREATHING GIVE ARTIFICIALRESPIRATION. IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, GIVE OXYGEN.IN CASE OF SKIN CONTACT, FLUSH WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATERFOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. REMOVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING ANDSHOES. CALL A PHYSICIAN.IN CASE OF CONTACT WITH EYES, FLUSH WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATERFOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. ASSURE ADEQUATE FLUSHING BY SEPARATINGTHE EYELIDS WITH FINGERS. CALL A PHYSICIAN.SECTION 5. – - – - – - – - – FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES – - – - – - – - – -EXTINGUISHING MEDIAWATER SPRAY.CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL POWDER OR APPROPRIATE FOAM.SPECIAL FIREFIGHTING PROCEDURESWEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING TOPREVENT CONTACT WITH SKIN AND EYES.UNUSUAL FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS HAZARDSEMITS TOXIC FUMES UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS.THIS MATERIAL, LIKE MOST MATERIALS IN POWDER FORM, IS CAPABLE OFCREATING A DUST EXPLOSION.SECTION 6. – - – - – - – - ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES- – - – - – - – -WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS, RUBBER BOOTS AND HEAVYRUBBER GLOVES.SWEEP UP, PLACE IN A BAG AND HOLD FOR WASTE DISPOSAL.AVOID RAISING DUST.VENTILATE AREA AND WASH SPILL SITE AFTER MATERIAL PICKUP IS COMPLETE.EVACUATE AREA.SECTION 7. – - – - – - – - – - HANDLING AND STORAGE- – - – - – - – - – -REFER TO SECTION 8.SECTION 8. – - – - – - EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION- – - – - -SAFETY SHOWER AND EYE BATH.USE ONLY IN A CHEMICAL FUME HOOD.WASH CONTAMINATED CLOTHING BEFORE REUSE.WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING.DO NOT BREATHE DUST.DO NOT GET IN EYES, ON SKIN, ON CLOTHING.AVOID PROLONGED OR REPEATED EXPOSURE.NIOSH/MSHA-APPROVED RESPIRATOR.COMPATIBLE CHEMICAL-RESISTANT GLOVES.CHEMICAL SAFETY GOGGLES.KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED.STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE.SECTION 9. – - – - – - – PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES – - – - – - -APPEARANCE AND ODORSOLID.PHYSICAL PROPERTIESMELTING POINT: 234 CFLASHPOINT >482F>250CSOLUBILITY:WATER -Z1076SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 0,5 GSECTION 10. – - – - – - – - -STABILITY AND REACTIVITY – - – - – - – - -STABILITYSTABLE.CONDITIONS TO AVOIDMAY DISCOLOR ON EXPOSURE TO LIGHT.INCOMPATIBILITIESSTRONG OXIDIZING AGENTSSTRONG ACIDSSTRONG BASESHAZARDOUS COMBUSTION OR DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTSCARBON MONOXIDE, CARBON DIOXIDEMERCURY/MERCURY OXIDESSULFUR OXIDESHAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATIONWILL NOT OCCUR.SECTION 11. – - – - – - – - – TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION – - – - – - – -ACUTE EFFECTSCAUSES SKIN IRRITATION.MAY BE FATAL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.CAUSES EYE IRRITATION.MAY BE FATAL IF INHALED.MATERIAL IS IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPERRESPIRATORY TRACT.MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED.POSSIBLE ALLERGIC REACTION TO DUST IF INHALED, INGESTED OR IN CONTACTWITH THE SKIN. HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS MANIFESTED BY ERYTHEMA,PAPULAR OR VESICULAR ERUPTIONS OCCUR OCCASIONALLY. ALLERGICCONJUNCTIVITIS HAS BEEN REPORTED.TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, ANDTOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED.CHRONIC EFFECTSTARGET ORGAN(S):NERVESKIDNEYSRTECS #: OV8400000MERCURY, ((O-CARBOXYPHENYL)THIO)ETHYL-, SODIUM SALTIRRITATION DATAEYE-RBT 8 UG MLD AJOPAA 78,98,1974TOXICITY DATAIAL-CHD LDLO:60 MG/KG/4W-I JOPDAB 104,311,1984ORL-RAT LD50:75 MG/KG PCOC** -,1130,1966SCU-RAT LD50:98 MG/KG CTOXAO 4,185,1971UNR-RAT LD50:40 MG/KG 30ZDA9 -,290,1971ORL-MUS LD50:91 MG/KG NYKZAU 58,235,1962IPR-MUS LD50:54 MG/KG NYKZAU 58,235,1962SCU-MUS LD50:66 MG/KG QJPPAL 12,212,1939IVN-MUS LD50:45 MG/KG QJPPAL 12,212,1939TARGET ORGAN DATABRAIN AND COVERINGS (OTHER DEGENERATIVE CHANGES)BEHAVIORAL (ANOREXIA, HUMAN)BEHAVIORAL (CHANGE IN MOTOR ACTIVITY)BEHAVIORAL (ATAXIA)BEHAVIORAL (COMA)LUNGS, THORAX OR RESPIRATION (OTHER CHANGES)GASTROINTESTINAL (NAUSEA OR VOMITING)KIDNEY, URETER, BLADDER (CHANGES IN TUBULES)EFFECTS ON FERTILITY (POST-IMPLANTATION MORTALITY)EFFECTS ON FERTILITY (ABORTION)EFFECTS ON EMBRYO OR FETUS (FETAL DEATH)TUMORIGENIC EFFECTS (UTERINE TUMORS)NUTRITIONAL AND GROSS METABOLIC (CHANGES IN: METABOLIC ACIDOSIS)TUMORIGENIC (NEOPLASTIC BY RTECS CRITERIA)TUMORIGENIC (TUMORS AT SITE OF APPLICATION)ONLY SELECTED REGISTRY OF TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES(RTECS) DATA IS PRESENTED HERE. SEE ACTUAL ENTRY IN RTECS FORCOMPLETE INFORMATION.SECTION 12. – - – - – - – - – ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION – - – - – - – - – -DATA NOT YET AVAILABLE.SECTION 13. – - – - – - – - – DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS – - – - – - – - -CONTACT A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE TO DISPOSE OFTHIS MATERIAL.DISSOLVE OR MIX THE MATERIAL WITH A COMBUSTIBLE SOLVENT AND BURN IN ACHEMICAL INCINERATOR EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTERBURNER AND SCRUBBER.OBSERVE ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.SECTION 14. – - – - – - – - – - TRANSPORT INFORMATION – - – - – - – - -CONTACT SIGMA CHEMICAL COMPANY FOR TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION.SECTION 15. – - – - – - – - – REGULATORY INFORMATION – - – - – - – - – -EUROPEAN INFORMATIONEC INDEX NO: 080-004-00-7VERY TOXICR 26/27/28VERY TOXIC BY INHALATION, IN CONTACT WITH SKIN AND IF SWALLOWED.R 33DANGER OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS.R 50/53VERY TOXIC TO AQUATIC ORGANISMS, MAY CAUSE LONG-TERM ADVERSEEFFECTS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT.S 13KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD, DRINK AND ANIMAL FEEDINGSTUFFS.S 28AFTER CONTACT WITH SKIN, WASH IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OF SOAP SUDS.S 36WEAR SUITABLE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.S 45IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR IF YOU FEEL UNWELL, SEEK MEDICAL ADVICEIMMEDIATELY (SHOW THE LABEL WHERE POSSIBLE).S 60THIS MATERIAL AND ITS CONTAINER MUST BE DISPOSED OF ASHAZARDOUS WASTE.S 61AVOID RELEASE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. REFER TO SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS/SAFETY DATA SHEETS.REVIEWS, STANDARDS, AND REGULATIONSOEL=MAKACGIH TLV-TWA 0.1 MG(HG)/M3 (SKIN) DTLVS* TLV/BEI,1999MSHA STANDARD-AIR:TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3DTLWS* 3,22,1973OSHA PEL (GEN INDU):8H TWA 0.01 MG(HG)/M3CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994OSHA PEL (CONSTRUC):8H TWA 0.01 MG(HG)/M3 (SKIN)CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994OSHA PEL (SHIPYARD):8H TWA 0.01 MG(HG)/M3 (SKIN)CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993OSHA PEL (FED CONT):8H TWA 0.01 MG(HG)/M3 (SKIN)CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994OEL-AUSTRALIA: TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, SKIN, JAN1993OEL-BELGIUM: TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, SKIN, JAN1993OEL-DENMARK: TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, SKIN, JAN1999OEL-FINLAND: TWA 1 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1999OEL-FRANCE: VME 0.1 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1999OEL-GERMANY: MAK 0.01 PPM (0.1 MG(HG)/M3), JAN1999OEL-HUNGARY: TWA 0.02 MG(HG)/M3, STEL 0.04 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1993OEL-JAPAN: OEL 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1999OEL-THE NETHERLANDS: MAC-TGG O.05 MG(HG)/M3, MAC-K 0.15 MG(HG)/M3,SKIN, JAN1999OEL-NORWAY: TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1999OEL-THE PHILIPPINES: TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1993OEL-POLAND: MAC(TWA) 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, MAC(STEL) 0.15 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1999OEL-RUSSIA: TWA 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, STEL 0.01 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1993OEL-SWEDEN: NGV 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, SKIN, JAN1999OEL-THAILAND: STEL 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1993OEL-UNITED KINGDOM: LTEL 0.05 MG(HG)/M3, STEL 0.15 MG(HG)/M3, JAN1993OEL IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN, KOREA CHECK ACGIH TLV;OEL IN NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, VIETNAM CHECK ACGIH TLVNIOSH REL TO MERCURY, ARYL AND INORGANIC-AIR:CL 0.1 MG/M3 (SK)NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992NOHS 1974: HZD 84569; NIS 83; TNF 5617; NOS 30; TNE 242717NOES 1983: HZD 84569; NIS 32; TNF 3695; NOS 41; TNE 152997; TFE 114190EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, POSITIVE: S CEREVISIAE GENE CONVERSIONEPA TSCA SECTION 8(B) CHEMICAL INVENTORYEPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001U.S. INFORMATIONTHIS PRODUCT IS SUBJECT TO SARA SECTION 313 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS -MERCURY COMPOUNDS.THIS PRODUCT IS OR CONTAINS CHEMICAL(S) KNOWN TO THE STATE OFCALIFORNIA TO CAUSE DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY.SECTION 16. – - – - – - – - – - OTHER INFORMATION- – - – - – - – - – - -THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT BUT DOES NOT PURPORT TOBE ALL INCLUSIVE AND SHALL BE USED ONLY AS A GUIDE. SIGMA, ALDRICH,FLUKA SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE RESULTING FROM HANDLINGOR FROM CONTACT WITH THE ABOVE PRODUCT. SEE REVERSE SIDE OF INVOICE ORPACKING SLIP FOR ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.COPYRIGHT 2001 SIGMA-ALDRICH CO.LICENSE GRANTED TO MAKE UNLIMITED PAPER COPIES FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY  

Government Concedes Vaccine-Autism Case in Federal Court – Now What?

By David Kirby  Posted February 25, 2008 | 12:42 PM (EST)

After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims. \The unprecedented concession was filed on November 9, and sealed to protect the plaintiff’s identify. It was obtained through individuals unrelated to the case. The claim, one of 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal “Vaccine Court,” was conceded by US Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler and other Justice Department officials, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the “defendant” in all Vaccine Court cases.The child’s claim against the government — that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of her autism — was supposed to be one of three “test cases” for the thimerosal-autism theory currently under consideration by a three-member panel of Special Masters, the presiding justices in Federal Claims Court. Keisler wrote that medical personnel at the HHS Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation (DVIC) had reviewed the case and “concluded that compensation is appropriate.” The doctors conceded that the child was healthy and developing normally until her 18-month well-baby visit, when she received vaccinations against nine different diseases all at once (two contained thimerosal). Days later, the girl began spiraling downward into a cascade of illnesses and setbacks that, within months, presented as symptoms of autism, including: No response to verbal direction; loss of language skills; no eye contact; loss of “relatedness;” insomnia; incessant screaming; arching; and “watching the florescent lights repeatedly during examination.”Seven months after vaccination, the patient was diagnosed by Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a leading neurologist at the Kennedy Krieger Children’s Hospital Neurology Clinic, with “regressive encephalopathy (brain disease) with features consistent with autistic spectrum disorder, following normal development.” The girl also met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) official criteria for autism.In its written concession, the government said the child had a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder that was “aggravated” by her shots, and which ultimately resulted in an ASD diagnosis. “The vaccinations received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder,” the concession says, “which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of ASD.”This statement is good news for the girl and her family, who will now be compensated for the lifetime of care she will require. But its implications for the larger vaccine-autism debate, and for public health policy in general, are not as certain. In fact, the government’s concession seems to raise more questions than it answers. 1) Is there a connection between vaccines, mitochondrial disorders and a diagnosis of autism, at least in some cases? Mitochondria, you may recall from biology class, are the little powerhouses within cells that convert food into electrical energy, partly through a complex process called “oxidative phosphorylation.” If this process is impaired, mitochondrial disorder will ensue.The child in this case had several markers for Mt disease, which was confirmed by muscle biopsy. Mt disease is often marked by lethargy, poor muscle tone, poor food digestion and bowel problems, something found in many children diagnosed with autism.But mitochondrial disorders are rare in the general population, affecting some 2-per-10,000 people (or just 0.2%). So with 4,900 cases filed in Vaccine Court, this case should be the one and only, extremely rare instance of Mt disease in all the autism proceedings.But it is not.Mitochondrial disorders are now thought to be the most common disease associated with ASD. Some journal articles and other analyses have estimated that 10% to 20% of all autism cases may involve mitochondrial disorders, which would make them one thousand times more common among people with ASD than the general population. Another article, published in the Journal of Child Neurology and co-authored by Dr. Zimmerman, showed that 38% of Kennedy Krieger Institute autism patients studied had one marker for impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and 47% had a second marker.The authors — who reported on a case-study of the same autism claim conceded in Vaccine Court — noted that “children who have (mitochondrial-related) dysfunctional cellular energy metabolism might be more prone to undergo autistic regression between 18 and 30 months of age if they also have infections or immunizations at the same time.”An interesting aspect of Mt disease in autism is that, with ASD, the mitochondrial disease seems to be milder than in “classic” cases of Mt disorder. In fact, classic Mt disease is almost always inherited, either passed down by the mother through mitochondrial DNA, or by both parents through nuclear DNA. In autism-related Mt disease, however, the disorder is not typically found in other family members, and instead appears to be largely of the sporadic variety, which may now account for 75% of all mitochondrial disorders.Meanwhile, an informal survey of seven families of children with cases currently pending in Vaccine Court revealed that all seven showed markers for mitochondrial dysfunction, dating back to their earliest medical tests. The facts in all seven claims mirror the case just conceded by the government: Normal development followed by vaccination, immediate illness, and rapid decline culminating in an autism diagnosis.2) With 4,900 cases pending, and more coming, will the government concede those with underlying Mt disease — and if it not, will the Court award compensation? The Court will soon begin processing the 4900 cases pending before it. What if 10% to 20% of them can demonstrate the same Mt disease and same set of facts as those in the conceded case? Would the government be obliged to concede 500, or even 1,000 cases? What impact would that have on public opinion? And is there enough money currently in the vaccine injury fund to cover so many settlements? When asked for a comment last week about the court settlement, a spokesman for HHS furnished the following written statement: “DVIC has reviewed the scientific information concerning the allegation that vaccines cause autism and has found no credible evidence to support the claim. Accordingly, in every case under the Vaccine Act, DVIC has maintained the position that vaccines do not cause autism, and has never concluded in any case that autism was caused by vaccination.”3) If the government is claiming that vaccines did not “cause” autism, but instead aggravated a condition to “manifest” as autism, isn’t that a very fine distinction? For most affected families, such linguistic gymnastics is not so important. And even if a vaccine injury “manifested” as autism in only one case, isn’t that still a significant development worthy of informing the public?On the other hand, perhaps what the government is claiming is that vaccination resulted in the symptoms of autism, but not in an actual, factually correct diagnosis of autism itself. 4) If the government is claiming that this child does NOT have autism, then how many other children might also have something else that merely “mimics” autism?Is it possible that 10%-20% of the cases that we now label as “autism,” are not autism at all, but rather some previously undefined “look-alike” syndrome that merely presents as “features” of autism?This question gets to the heart of what autism actually is. The disorder is defined solely as a collection of features, nothing more. If you have the features (and the diagnosis), you have the disorder. The underlying biology is the great unknown. But let’s say the government does determine that these kids don’t have actual “autism” (something I speculated on HuffPost a year ago). Then shouldn’t the Feds go back and test all people with ASD for impaired oxidative phosphorylation, perhaps reclassifying many of them? If so, will we then see “autism” cases drop by tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people? Will there be a corresponding ascension of a newly described disorder, perhaps something like “Vaccine Aggravated Mitochondrial Disease with Features of ASD?”And if this child was technically “misdiagnosed” with DSM-IV autism by Dr Zimmerman, how does he feel about HHS doctors issuing a second opinion re-diagnosis of his patient, whom they presumably had neither met nor examined? (Zimmerman declined an interview). And along those lines, aren’t Bush administration officials somewhat wary of making long-distance, retroactive diagnoses from Washington, given that the Terry Schiavo incident has not yet faded from national memory?5) Was this child’s Mt disease caused by a genetic mutation, as the government implies, and wouldn’t that have manifested as “ASD features” anyway?In the concession, the government notes that the patient had a “single nucleotide change” in the mitochondrial DNA gene T2387C, implying that this was the underlying cause of her manifested “features” of autism. While it’s true that some inherited forms of Mt disease can manifest as developmental delays, (and even ASD in the form of Rhett Syndrome) these forms are linked to identified genetic mutations, of which T2387C is not involved. In fact little, if anything, is known about the function of this particular gene.What’s more, there is no evidence that this girl, prior to vaccination, suffered from any kind of “disorder” at all- genetic, mitochondrial or otherwise. Some forms of Mt disease are so mild that the person is unaware of being affected. This perfectly developing girl may have had Mt disorder at the time of vaccination, but nobody detected, or even suspected it.And, there is no evidence to suggest that this girl would have regressed into symptoms consistent with a DSM-IV autism diagnosis without her vaccinations. If there was such evidence, then why on earth would these extremely well-funded government attorneys compensate this alleged injury in Vaccine Court? Why wouldn’t they move to dismiss, or at least fight the case at trial?6) What are the implications for research?The concession raises at least two critical research questions: What are the causes of Mt dysfunction; and how could vaccines aggravate that dysfunction to the point of “autistic features?”While some Mt disorders are clearly inherited, the “sporadic” form is thought to account for 75% of all cases, according to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundatio. So what causes sporadic Mt disease? “Medicines or other toxins,” says the Cleveland Clinic, a leading authority on the subject.Use of the AIDS drug AZT, for example, can cause Mt disorders by deleting large segments of mitochondrial DNA. If that is the case, might other exposures to drugs or toxins (i.e., thimerosal, mercury in fish, air pollution, pesticides, live viruses) also cause sporadic Mt disease in certain subsets of children, through similar genotoxic mechanisms?Among the prime cellular targets of mercury are mitochondria, and thimerosal-induced cell death has been associated with the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, according to the International Journal of Molecular Medicine among several others. (Coincidently, the first case of Mt disease was diagnosed in 1959, just 15 years after the first autism case was named, and two decades after thimerosal’s introduction as a vaccine preservative.)Regardless of its cause, shouldn’t HHS sponsor research into Mt disease and the biological mechanisms by which vaccines could aggravate the disorder? We still do not know what it was, exactly, about this girl’s vaccines that aggravated her condition. Was it the thimerosal? The three live viruses? The two attenuated viruses? Other ingredients like aluminum? A combination of the above? And of course, if vaccine injuries can aggravate Mt disease to the point of manifesting as autism features, then what other underlying disorders or conditions (genetic, autoimmune, allergic, etc.) might also be aggravated to the same extent?7) What are the implications for medicine and public health?Should the government develop and approve new treatments for “aggravated mitochondrial disease with ASD features?” Interestingly, many of the treatments currently deployed in Mt disease (i.e., coenzyme Q10, vitamin B-12, lipoic acid, biotin, dietary changes, etc.) are part of the alternative treatment regimen that many parents use on their children with ASD.And, if a significant minority of autism cases can be linked to Mt disease and vaccines, shouldn’t these products one day carry an FDA Black Box warning label, and shouldn’t children with Mt disorders be exempt from mandatory immunization?8) What are the implications for the vaccine-autism debate?It’s too early to tell. But this concession could conceivably make it more difficult for some officials to continue insisting there is “absolutely no link” between vaccines and autism. It also puts the Federal Government’s Vaccine Court defense strategy somewhat into jeopardy. DOJ lawyers and witnesses have argued that autism is genetic, with no evidence to support an environmental component. And, they insist, it’s simply impossible to construct a chain of events linking immunizations to the disorder. Government officials may need to rethink their legal strategy, as well as their public relations campaigns, given their own slightly contradictory concession in this case. 9) What is the bottom line here?The public, (including world leaders) will demand to know what is going on inside the US Federal health establishment. Yes, as of now, n=1, a solitary vaccine-autism concession. But what if n=10% or 20%? Who will pay to clean up that mess?The significance of this concession will unfortunately be fought over in the usual, vitriolic way — and I fully expect to be slammed for even raising these questions. Despite that, the language of this concession cannot be changed, or swept away. Its key words are “aggravated” and “manifested.” Without the aggravation of the vaccines, it is uncertain that the manifestation would have occurred at all. When a kid with peanut allergy eats a peanut and dies, we don’t say “his underlying metabolic condition was significantly aggravated to the extent of manifesting as an anaphylactic shock with features of death.” No, we say the peanut killed the poor boy. Remove the peanut from the equation, and he would still be with us today.Many people look forward to hearing more from HHS officials about why they are settling this claim. But whatever their explanation, they cannot change the fundamental facts of this extraordinary case: The United State government is compensating at least one child for vaccine injuries that resulted in a diagnosis of autism.And that is big news, no matter how you want to say it.David Kirby is the author of “Evidence of Harm – Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic, A Medical Controversy” (St. Martins Press 2005. 

Mike Worthley of www.HelpYourAutisticChild.com has been offering educational aids for parents of autistic children for over a year. Now he has opened www.HelpYourAutisticChildBlog.com, where those parents and other educators can come together to discuss working methods and techniques, as well as sharing their stories about dealing with autism in their families. 

When his daughter Olivia was diagnosed with autism 4 years ago, Mike Worthley dedicated himself to researching the condition and how best to overcome the limitations and difficulties it presents. His years of study on the subject led to the creation of www.HelpYourAutisticChild.com, a storehouse of information and products revolving around the world of autism. “I discovered these products, tried them with Olivia, liked them, and decided I needed to share them with the rest of the world,” explains Mike. “I find something good to share with the autistic community, then I do what I can to get it out there.”

 Autism is a growing issue, with 1 in 150 children being diagnosed with various levels of autism and related disorders. “It’s bigger than any childhood ailment, and no one is paying attention to it,” says Mike, who has grown very active in the online community of autistic parents. “There are things we can do as parents that can really help with the autistic symptoms of our kids. I’m suggesting things that I’ve tried that have had a positive effect on my own child, and I’m bringing them to market. It’s shameful that a lot of these therapies and nutritional items aren’t covered by insurance.” 

As part of his goal to help bring these products to the attention of the autism community, Mike has begun a blog at www.HelpYourAutisticChildBlog.com where his customers can read articles about his products, new studies in the field of autism, and advice from other parents of autistic children. “I’m constantly doing research, taking input from other parents as far as what is working for them,” says Mike, who hopes the blog will be as beneficial to him as it will be to his customers. “I’m hoping to bring access to things like ABA, which is a type of therapy for autistic children. We used a product that is similar to Floor Time, which is another product that’s out there. I’m looking to make sure that people have more than one resource on my site; I want to take it to the point where if you want to have a home speech therapy course, you can come to my site, find it, buy it, or get the information to find out what you can do on your own.”

Mike wants to focus equally on positive stories and informational facts. “I’m going to have a Feel Good section. There are success stories that people aren’t hearing about. My own daughter made the Honor Roll in a normal first grade class –that’s a feel-good story. I want it to be a positive, uplifting experience,” says Mike, who sees community support as vital to his business. “I plan on putting articles up, and I’m trying to put up as much independent research as I can. It’s going to be an opinion blog, of course.”

 One of the major areas of research that Mike has studied is the connection between mercury poisoning and autism. “I think a lot of symptoms of autism match up perfectly with mercury poisoning,” he explains, going into detail with his articles and giving strong opinions on childhood vaccinations and Thimerasol, as well as products like PCA-Rx, which remove harmful mercury from children. “There will be nothing on the site or on the blog that I haven’t tried personally, as a parent,” explains Mike, who focuses always on the welfare of the children. “Everything is thoroughly researched; anything on there will only go out if there have been major testimonials from parents. I’m the parent of an autistic child; that’s the number one thing.”

LONDON: They were certainly creative geniuses. But what was the common trait in Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton? Well, both had “autism”.A leading psychiatrist at Trinity College in Dublin has claimed that both Einstein and Newton displayed signs of autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome, which were the same as those associated with creative genius.

He came to the conclusion after comparing the characteristics of around 1,600 people he has diagnosed with ASDs and the known biographical details of famous people.

What’s in Vaccines?

by Dr. Stephen Sherry’s Vaccine Presentation to other SPD Bay Area Resource Group, San Jose, CA  on 2/15/05

An Interesting History Tip:  A major cause of the Roman Empire’s decline, after six centuries of world dominance was its replacement of stone aqueducts by lead pipes for the transport and supply of drinking water.  Roman engineers, the best in the world, turned their fellow citizens into neurological cripples.

• Mercury (thimerasol): One of the most poisonous substances known.  Has an affinity for the brain, gut,liver,bone marrow and kidneys.  Minute amounts can cause nerve damage.  Symptoms of mercury toxicity are similar to those of autism.
• Ammonium Sulfate (salt):  Suspected gastrointestinal, liver, nerve, and respiratory system poison.
• Beta-propiolactone:  Known to cause cancer.  Suspected gastrointestinal, liver, respiratory, skin, and sense organ poison.
• Genetically modified yeast, animal, bacterial, and viral DNA:  Can be incorporated into the recipient’s DNA and cause unknown genetic mutations.
• Latex rubber:  Can cause life-threatening allergic reactions.
• Monosodum glutamate (MSG) / glutamate / glutamic acid:  Being studied for mutagenic, teratogenic (developmental malformation and monstrosities) and reproductive effects.  A neurotoxin.  Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe.
• Aluminum:  Implicated as a cause of brain damage; suspected factor in Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, seizures, and comas.  Allergic reactions can occur on the skin.
• Formaldehyde (formalin):  Major constituent of embalming fluid; poisonous if ingested.  Probable carcinogen; suspected gastrointestinal, liver, immune system, nerve, reproductive system, and respiratory poison.  Linked to leukemia, brain, colon, and lymphatic cancer.
• Micro-organisms:  Live and killed viri and bacteria or their toxins.  The polio vaccine was contaminated with a monkey virus now turning up in human bone, lung-lining (mesothelioma), brain tumors, and lymphomas.
• Polysorbate 80:  Known to cause cancer in animals.
• Tri(n)butylphosphate:  Suspected kidney and nerve poison.
• Glutaraldehyde:  Poisonous if ingested.  Causes birth defects in experimental animals.
• Gelatin:  Produced from selected pieces of calf and cattle skins, de-mineralized cattle bones and pork skin.  Allergic reactions have been reported.
• Gentamicin Sulfate and Polymixin B (anitbiotics):  Allergic reactions can range from mild to life threatening.
• Neomycin Sulfate (antibiotic):  Interferes with Vitamin B6 absorption.  An error in the uptake of B6 can cause a rare form of epilepsy and mental retardation.  Allergic reactions can be mild to life threatening.
• Phenol/phenoxyethanol (2-PE):  Used as antifreeze.  Toxic to all cells and capable of disabling the immune system’s primary response mechanism.
• Human and animal cells:  Human cells from aborted fetal tissue and human albumin.  Pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain, guinea pig, dog kidney, cow heart, monkey kidney, chick embryo, chicken egg, duck egg, calf serum, sheep blood and others.

Michael Wagnitz: Don’t rule out mercury as a factor in autism

Letter to the editor — 2/07/2008 10:32 am
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/letters/271425

Dear Editor: Amazing what a silly television show can do to get the attention of the mainstream medical community.

Despite letters bordering on hysteria from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the March of Dimes, ABC went ahead with the show “Eli Stone.” The first episode was about a case where the jury awarded a family compensation for a vaccine ingredient (thimerosal, 50 percent organic mercury) linked to their child’s autism.

Because of this show we have now seen over 1,000 headlines that say “Once and for all, mercury does not cause autism.” Who says it does?

The studies I read are saying that mercury is a neurotoxin and causes/exacerbates neuroinflammatory disease. There are now 11 published papers that define the underlying medical condition of autism as neuroinflammatory disease.

The most in-depth paper, “Neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism,” was done at Johns Hopkins University. It was done by analyzing brain tissue of deceased autistic patients.

One might think the most logical question would be: What is causing the neuroinflammation? If you go to the most popular health search engine and type in “mercury and inflammation,” you will get 156 published papers to review. Many of these papers explain the role of mercury and activation of microglial cells in the brain. In a paper published in the Journal of Neuroinflamation, “Microglia and neuroinflamation: a pathological perspective,” the authors define activation of microglial cells as being synonymous with neuroinflammatory disease.

We now know that primates exposed to ethyl mercury via vaccines retain twice as much inorganic mercury in their brains as primates exposed to equal doses of methyl mercury. These primates were exposed to mercury levels at a rate equal to what U.S. children received via standard childhood vaccines in 1991-2003.

Why has research in this area been stopped? Maybe someone from the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can answer this question. They seem to have billions to waste on chasing that elusive, spontaneous, mutating autism gene.

Michael Wagnitz

Michael Wagnitz is a Madison resident with over 25 years of experience evaluating material for mercury and other heavy metals. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Autism Association.

Just a quick update.  Olivia tied her own shoes, yesterday!  She got a new pair of Reeboks with the circles on the bottom of them.  She has an extreme fascination with shoes, to the point where she will stop a complete stranger and ask to see his/her shoes up close including the bottoms of the soles.  Anyway, she tied them both and is very, very proud.  We have been seeing good progress since we started using the AF-x a couple of months ago.  It is natural nutrition that is sprayed under the tongue.  Olivia actually looks forward to getting her “shot” before bedtime.

[youtube VImCpWzXJ_w nolink]

From Dr. Donsbach’s  “Let’s Talk Health”

Thousands of users of Gardasil Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine have gotten sick from its use.  Side effects ranging from seizures and numbness to dizzy spell, fainting and paralysis have been reported.  More than seventeen girls a week in Australia have experienced such reactions after receiving the vaccination, although no details are being released. (Ed. Note: This is common procedure with all vaccines — side effects are noted in the records but never shared with the public).  As of November 30, 2007, 496 adverse reaction reports were filed with Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Association.  Of these, 468 listed the cervical cancer vaccine as the sole suspected cause of the problem.  In the U.S., over 4,000 girls have reported adverse reactions from the Gardasil including at least ten deaths!

But here is the real shocker: The maker of Gardasil (Merck) reports in their literature: “Gardasil does not protect against some ‘non-vaccine’ HPV types”.  Some states have already passed laws mandating that this vaccine be given to girls as young as twelve years of age.  The law now states that you must vaccinate your child with a vaccine that does not protect fully, can have fatal side effects and which is used to overcome a virus that the body clears up 90 percent of the time on its own.

Here are the statistics in the U.S. as of Nov. 2007:

4,414  Adverse reactions to Gardasil

10  Dead

65  Life threatening

2,760  Required a visit to emergency room

1,000  Plus still requiring medical care

102  Girls Disabled in one way or another

Please consider that viruses only can inhabit a cell that is undernourished and weak to begin with.  A strong immune system almost always will overcome such viral invasion.