House Studies Possible Link Between Autism, Vaccines
House Studies Possible Link Between Autism, Vaccines
April 6, 2000 (Washington) -- In a marathon and emotionally charged hearing, a Congressional committee on Thursday examined an alleged link between routine childhood vaccines and autism.
"We're talking about an epidemic of autism," said Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Government Reform Committee. Burton, whose grandson is autistic, said he believes there is a link between vaccines and autism. Similarly, Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) says, "The problem may not be our children ... but in what our children are being given."
The onset of autism often coincides closely with the first administration of vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella.
But Coleen Boyle, PhD, an official with the CDC, testified that no link has been found between vaccines and the disease. And the American Public Health Association, American Medical Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics all issued statements asserting that vaccines do not cause autism, and provide far more benefit than risk.
Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), the committee's lead Democratic member, accused Burton of "sensationalism" in holding the hearing, which featured 19 witnesses. "Hearings like this have a real danger. Why should we scare people ... until we know the facts?" he said. He said the hearing could cause people to die if children fail to get vaccinated and then contract certain illnesses.
Autism is an ill-understood, lifelong neurological disease that severely hinders an individual's communication with the outside world. The hearing highlighted the fact that the number of children with the disease appears to have increased in recent years. California, for example, has reported a 273% increase in children with autism since 1988, while Maryland reported a 513% increase from 1993 to 1998. But some experts attribute the rise to better recognition of the disease and an evolving definition of the condition.
Regardless of its scientific merit, the idea of a connection between vaccines and autism appears to have garnered broad grass-roots interest. Four parents began the hearing by testifying to their belief in the link, saying that their children's autism symptoms began shortly after they had measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccinations between the ages of 1 and 2. Their impassioned testimony brought tears from both the audience and members of the committee.
"We're talking about an epidemic of autism," said Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Government Reform Committee. Burton, whose grandson is autistic, said he believes there is a link between vaccines and autism. Similarly, Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) says, "The problem may not be our children ... but in what our children are being given."
The onset of autism often coincides closely with the first administration of vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella.
But Coleen Boyle, PhD, an official with the CDC, testified that no link has been found between vaccines and the disease. And the American Public Health Association, American Medical Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics all issued statements asserting that vaccines do not cause autism, and provide far more benefit than risk.
Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), the committee's lead Democratic member, accused Burton of "sensationalism" in holding the hearing, which featured 19 witnesses. "Hearings like this have a real danger. Why should we scare people ... until we know the facts?" he said. He said the hearing could cause people to die if children fail to get vaccinated and then contract certain illnesses.
Autism is an ill-understood, lifelong neurological disease that severely hinders an individual's communication with the outside world. The hearing highlighted the fact that the number of children with the disease appears to have increased in recent years. California, for example, has reported a 273% increase in children with autism since 1988, while Maryland reported a 513% increase from 1993 to 1998. But some experts attribute the rise to better recognition of the disease and an evolving definition of the condition.
Regardless of its scientific merit, the idea of a connection between vaccines and autism appears to have garnered broad grass-roots interest. Four parents began the hearing by testifying to their belief in the link, saying that their children's autism symptoms began shortly after they had measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccinations between the ages of 1 and 2. Their impassioned testimony brought tears from both the audience and members of the committee.
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