Autism, Vaccines and the CDC: The Wrong Side of History

by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and David Kirby

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-david-kirby/autism-vaccines-and-the-c_b_161395.html

Even as the evidence connecting America's autism epidemic to vaccines mounts, dead-enders at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) -- many of whom promoted the current vaccine schedule and others with strong ties to the vaccine industry -- are trying to delay the day of reckoning by creating questionable studies designed to discredit any potential vaccine-autism link and by derailing authentic studies.

On January 12, a cadre of mid-level health bureaucrats left over from the Bush administration ignored Federal requirements for advance notice in order to vote to quietly strip vaccine research studies from funding allocated by Congress in the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006. Members of Congress had said that this money should be used to study the vaccine-autism connection.

These rogue bureaucrats -- members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee -- held an unannounced vote to remove previously approved vaccine studies from funding under the CAA. Nearly all of the "Federal" members of the panel voted to remove the two studies, whose estimated cost was $16 million - or 1.6% of the billion dollars authorized by Congress for autism. The panel's civilian members, in contrast, voted nearly unanimously to retain the funding.

IACC's action to halt vaccine-autism research flies in the face of congressional intent. The bill's authors clearly stated that vaccine research should be funded. Even the esteemed Institute of Medicine has condemned CDC's methods. In 2005, an IOM panel condemned CDC for its "lack of transparency" in vaccine-autism research.

The bureaucrats responsible for this scandal are on the wrong side of history and it's hard to not attribute an obstructionist motive to their act since vaccine-autism research has already entered the realm of mainstream science. Serious scientists (except those tied to the vaccine industry) no longer debate whether vaccine-autism research should be done, but rather how it should be done, and by whom.

Please click here to visit the Huffington Post website to read this piece in its entirety.

Feds Rescind Congressionally Mandated Vaccine Research

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: January 17, 2009

Contact: Rita Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 417-818-9030 Wendy Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-835-5828

Feds Rescind Congressionally Mandated Vaccine Research Advocates Demand Conflict-Free Vaccine Safety Studies Washington, DC – In an unprecedented move on Wednesday, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) removed previously approved vaccine safety research from the Strategic Plan for Autism Research objectives. With apparent backing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) representation, Committee chair and NIMH director Tom Insel implied that vaccine research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would constitute a conflict given the involvement of Health and Human Services with ongoing autism cases filed in federal vaccine court. The committee's action is in direct opposition to the majority of its public members who support vaccine research, and to the Congressional directive of the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (CAA) which specifically called for research into “potential links between vaccines, vaccine components, and autism spectrum disorder.” In addition to the CAA's mandate for vaccine research, the legislation also called for the establishment of key research activities to arrive from “meaningful public involvement and advice” through the IACC which includes both government and private representatives. “Ignoring the Congressional mandate for investigation into links between vaccines and the development of autism is a slap in the face to both Congress and the citizens of this country,” said National Autism Association board chair and parent Lori McIlwain. “Even the most basic studies comparing health outcomes in vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated populations are consistently ignored despite increasing support for them from legislators, physicians, and parents.” “Dr. Insel's observation that the NIH is incapable of conducting conflict-free research supports what a growing number of parents believe,” commented Ms. McIlwain. “While the motivation for refusing to allow this critical research to go forward is likely more related to fear of what such studies would reveal, it's clear that the system managing our vaccine program and vaccine safety issues is corrupt beyond repair and needs a complete overhaul.” In 2006, US Senators Ted Kennedy, Mike Enzi, and Chris Dodd agreed that the potential link between vaccines and autism warranted further study. “I want to be clear that, for the purposes of biomedical research, no research avenue should be eliminated, including biomedical research examining potential links between vaccines, vaccine components, and autism spectrum disorder,” stated Enzi. Autism now affects 1 in 150 children. Last week researchers from the University of California at Davis concluded the dramatic rise in autism cases since 1990 cannot be blamed on population increases or the way the disability is classified or diagnosed. The study's authors, from the university's MIND Institute, called for a switch in research emphasis from a genetic cause to environmental triggers including chemicals, medications, fertility treatments and childhood vaccines. “It's no wonder parents around the country are questioning vaccines when government agencies refuse to investigate legitimate vaccine safety concerns,” said Ms. McIlwain. For more information about autism, please visit www.nationalautism.org.

Dr. Julie Gerberding Has Resigned

Dr. Julie Gerberding-the director The Centers for Disease Control, who stuck it to kids for the last fifteen or so years has according to government emails, resigned-good ridden to bad rubbish!!!

Associated Press

By MIKE STOBBE – 3 days ago

ATLANTA (AP) — The woman who led the nation's public health agency in a post-Sept. 11 world of bio terrorist fears is out, her resignation announced in a Friday night e-mail to employees.

Dr. Julie Gerberding has resigned as director of the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and will be replaced on an interim basis by a deputy as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated.

The e-mail obtained by The Associated Press that discloses the news was sent Friday night to employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the umbrella agency over CDC.

Although an HHS housecleaning has been expected with the new administration, Gerberding's fate was somewhat unclear. The first woman to head the agency, Gerberding led the CDC through a post-Sept. 11 world of bio terrorist fears and was considered an effective communicator with legislators and the public.

In a November e-mail to staff, Gerberding said she expected she might be leaving her job after the Bush administration left office. But colleagues said she quietly had held out hope she would be allowed to stay on in the job.

Speculation that she might remain was fueled by Obama's selection of Tom Daschle to as HHS Secretary. Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader, is from South Dakota — like Gerberding. Last month, she issued a statement to the press praising Daschle and his "tradition of finding practical solutions to very tough problems."

But Friday's e-mail confirms she will indeed be leaving office, a CDC spokesman said.

"As part of the transition process, the Administration requested resignation letters from a number of senior-level officials, including Dr. Julie Gerberding. This week, the Administration accepted Dr. Gerberding's resignation, effective January 20," CDC spokesman Glen Nowak said in a prepared statement.............................

http://www.tacanow.org/enewsletters_archive/2009/enews-01-09-1.php#anchor6