THE AAP STILL DOESN'T GET IT -- AND NEVER WILL

Managing Editor's Note:  It seemed appropriate to run this post above the link to Jenny McCarthy's City TV APPEARANCE where she states yet again, that it is parents looking out for our kids, not the mainstream medical establishment. And certainly not the American Academy of Pediatrics.

By DAN OLMSTED

Want proof? Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated Facts for Parents About Autism and Vaccine Safety HERE. They manage to turn the Poling case into some 1-in-6.5-billion anomaly featuring a mysterious and rare underlying mitochondrial disorder.

They drone on about better diagnosis and early identification. They even cite the 10-percent-genetic figure that Mark Blaxill recently demolished for Age of Autism. Remarkably, on March 7, the AAP had issued a release that said, "The recent Vaccine Injury Compensation Program case raised many questions for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP leadership is seeking access to official documents in the case so medical experts can examine the science and consider whether it raises implications for other children."

But in their Facts for Parents, they simply say the case "has raised questions" and go on to offer blanket reassurance: "Although details of the case and the decision cannot be disclosed by the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services, the agency published a statement on March 3, 2008, which said: 'HRSA (the Health Resources and Services Administration) has reviewed the scientific information concerning the allegation that vaccines cause autism and has found no credible evidence to support the claim.'
[Yeah, except the Poling case!] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this was a unique case and information about it has not been accurately characterized in the media and other public forums." So even though the AAP itself is still seeking answers to "many questions" of its own and does not yet have the information needed to "consider whether it raises implications for other children," they tell the parents of those "other children" not to worry their pretty little heads.

That's false reassurance even by their own criteria, isn't it? By now most of us are so fed up with the AAP that it hardly seems worth expending any more verbiage on them. So I won't.

Dan Olmsted is Editor of Age of Autism.

Comments

[Captain Seizure]

From -

"CDC clarifies preference on childhood vaccines
Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:29pm EDT

It found a rate of febrile seizure of nine per 10,000 vaccinations among MMRV recipients, and four per 10,000 among children who got separate MMR and chicken pox shots. Of 166 children who had febrile seizures after either type of vaccination, 26 were hospitalized and none died, the CDC said."

I wonder if the rate of febrile seizures will drop further if they split up the MMR as well. If I were the CDC I would have definitely carried out further analysis. Why look at half the picture when you can see the whole one. Maybe from 4 febrile seizures it might drop to nothing. I am sure parents would prefer a probability of "no seizure" to a possibility of "4 seizures."

This should be easy to do. Its not like you are out there looking for unvaccinated kids or something.

[Craig Willoughby]

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this was a unique case" Interesting they say that....unique except for the $1.5 billion other "unique" cases the VICP paid out to parties injured by vaccines, over 900 being cases where children began showing symptoms of autism after receiving a shot.

I think that the CDC needs to clarify for itself what the word "unique" means.

[Angela Warner]

Dan,

To say we are fed up is putting it mildly... As far as the AAP facts report - besides the fact that it is just a bunch of BS period - the interesting thing I noted is the prevalence rate the AAP used. They stated that the reports that 1 in 160 children are impacted by autism. Interesting... we went from 1 in 150 to 1 in 160 overnight. Hmmm... that doesn't really make sense to me given that the numbers are rising everywhere. I wonder what they would say to that? Ooops - I know - they'll say it was a typo because they would certainly NEVER state that children are recovering through bio-med intervention and behavior therapies.

Yeh... Fed up is putting it mildly.
Ang

[diane]

Guess AAP missed this news item about combined vaccines ...

CDC clarifies preference on childhood vaccines
Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:29pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Children who get a combined vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox are slightly more likely to have seizures compared to those getting two separate shots for the same diseases, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

The seizures are not usually life-threatening and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was no longer expressing a preference that children get the so-called MMRV combined vaccine rather than two shots -- the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) and a separate one against varicella (chicken pox).

The CDC said it made the change after seeing evidence that children who got the combined MMRV vaccine faced an elevated, but still very small, risk of suffering febrile seizures after vaccination compared to those who got the two shots.

A febrile seizure is a convulsion in young children associated with an increase in body temperature, often from an infection. While frightening, the seizures are not usually dangerous and only a small percentage of children who experience one go on to develop epilepsy.

Dr. John Iskander, the acting director of the CDC's Immunization Safety Office, said it remained very important that parents get their children vaccinated against these diseases.

"These are vaccines that have had enormous public health benefits," Iskander said.

The CDC said the availability of the MMRV vaccine, made by pharmaceutical company Merck, already was limited in the United States because of manufacturing constraints unrelated to vaccine safety, and was not expected to be widely available until 2009.

The CDC said a study examined the risk for febrile seizures seven to 10 days after vaccination among 43,353 children ages 12 months to 23 months who received the MMRV vaccine and 314,599 children of the same age who received the MMR vaccine and chicken pox vaccine administered separately.

It found a rate of febrile seizure of nine per 10,000 vaccinations among MMRV recipients, and four per 10,000 among children who got separate MMR and chicken pox shots. Of 166 children who had febrile seizures after either type of vaccination, 26 were hospitalized and none died, the CDC said.

[Tim Kasemodel]

After stating "Therefore filing an FOIA request with them seems appropriate", Getitright asks:

"I don't know why this is not being done, routinely, by autism groups, for all sorts of things. Complaining about the FDA or the CDC is one thing. And holding their feet to the fire is another. FOIA could help with certain aspects."

The reality is the main reason this does not happen is that it is not free. I sent in a FOIA request about a year ago. It came back saying they would be glad to get the information for a paltry sum of approximately $1,400. Needless to say, I decided to buy food for my kids instead.

This is a barrier to most of us, with no guarantee that any of the information will even be of use. Then there is the frustrating issue that they tend to black out everything that might actually be of interest.

That said, it is good to remember that anyone with the $$$$ and motivation should be encouraged to try. After all, that is how our heroes in EOH found the Merck memo, and Verstraeten's generation zero data!!

Getitright, Do not wait for "autism groups" to do this. It might serve you well to remember that "autism groups" are often a bunch of people with NO MONEY. If you have an idea for a FOIA request, get someone to help back the funding and go for it, you just might strike informational gold !!

Good luck!!

Tim

[Kelli Ann Davis]

getitright,

First it’s a FOIA – not FOA.

Second, a FOIA request to obtain court records will not work. Why do you think Judges can issue “gag orders” and make them stick? It wouldn’t be possible if the records were obtainable under FOIA.

“I don't know why this is not being done, routinely, by autism groups, for all sorts of things.”

Third, how would you know what is and isn’t being done by autism groups? Pretty presumptuous statement to make, don’t you think? For the record, the reason we have the Verstraeten analysis is because Safeminds took the time to issue a FOIA for the documents! And by the way, ANYONE can issue a FOIA request – it doesn’t have to come from a group!

“Complaining about the FDA or the CDC is one thing. And holding their feet to the fire is another.”

Exactly right! So what are YOU personally doing to help hold their feet to the fire?

You’ll have to forgive me if I’m coming across a bit strong, but I have absolutely no patience for “armchair quarterbacks” who have nothing to do but point out the “shortcomings” of other parents/individuals who are actually trying to DO SOMETHING for our children and community!

A few months back, you went after Jim Moody – who happens to be one of my closest friends and one of the best minds in our community – and now, you’re doing it again.

Do me a favor – until you’ll willing to put your real name next to your comments, keep your negative thoughts to yourself.

Kelli Ann Davis

[Ginger Taylor]

Dan,

Did you see this post:http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/03/aap-president-tells-giant-easily.html The new head of the AAP said on the today show that basically, there is no such thing as vaccine injury.

"I think any of the vaccines we have today have been tested and proven to be safe, and the credible studies don't show any relationship between vaccines and permanent injury."

I came to the same conclusion. Time to start ignoring the AAP.

[Tim Welsh]

Check out htis story...The tide is turning...
She has her detractors, but Jenny McCarthy's pseudo-science has worked to 'cure' her child of autism; it might help yours, too

http://www.torontosun.com/News/World/2008/03/17/5026886-sun.html

So I was all prepared to completely discount the 35-year-old crusader and her Internet science. But it turns out that part of her message may actually have something to it.

According to Dr. Derrick MacFabe, assistant professor and director of The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, when those fatty acids are injected in small amounts into the brains of lab rats, they immediately produce bouts of hyperactivity as well as repetitive and anti-social behaviours resembling those seen in autism. Those actions disappear when the compounds are withdrawn.

So stories like McCarthy's do have merit, he says.

"An intriguing clue lies in the gut," believes MacFabe, who says more research must be done. "Not all children are helped by these diets but what is very true is this potential link between the digestive system and behaviour."

Dr. Marianna Ofner, a University of Toronto epidemiologist, had been intrigued enough to try removing wheat and dairy products from her autistic daughter's diet but had no success. "I would say try it. If it works for your kid, great."

[getitright]

.

The way to obtain official documents like the ones from this Vaccine Court case? File a FOA request.

That's Freedom of Information Act. FOA.

It applies to government entities, although there are exceptions. Does not apply to courts, apparently.

In the Hannah Poling case, the U.S. Department of Health is and was involved. Therefore filing an FOA request with them seems appropriate.

I don't know why this is not being done, routinely, by autism groups, for all sorts of things. Complaining about the FDA or the CDC is one thing. And holding their feet to the fire is another. FOA could help with certain aspects.

.

[Jim Witte]

"I think he's actually going to feel like crap for destroying so many lives."

He may feel like crap (and won't be along - thousands of pediatricians may). But "officially" he can just blame the AAP for never telling him about treatments (they never researched them), never telling him early warning signs (they don't seem to be on the ball there either), reassuring him that ALL vaccines are safe, in any number given at once, over any space of time ("hell, why don't we just give ALL 39 VACCINES IN *ONE HOUR* and see what happens to the poor kid. Oh, and use thimerisol free vaccines too - just to prove that it's not the mercury." And to prove it's either the aluminum, formaldehyde, MSG, or just the damn germs themselves!)

I wonder, when and if (I nope there is no 'if) the AAP actually admits they $#@%@$'d up big-time, what will pediatricians do? Does the AAP do ANYTHING good? If not, why do they exist? I assume they subsist on the member fees of individual pediatricians, and whatever money they can scrape up from other places. Parents? not gettin' that no more I bet! Will we see pediatricians pull out of the AAP en masse? Wouldn't that be fun - see a "professional" (sic) organization just collapse.. Kinda like Enron.

What'd say the next phone/letter campaign be to ALL members of Congress to pass a law opening up at least some of the vaccine court cases - the autism ones certainly - I'd also include diabetes and other autoimmunities, allergies, asthma, skin allergic reactions, PANDAS, other childhood neurological disorders of rapid onset, encephalopathy (not resulting in autism), and epilepsy myself.

AND perhaps open the entire VSD on the Internet for public consumption. And sell the entire database on DVD or BlueRay disk for $100 a piece. Might raise some money for the vaccine compensation fund.. Boy might they need it - especially if the Shaw study on aluminum hydroxide gets "more out".. Something to send to ABC perhaps.

~ Jim, Reluctant Aspie

[Richard]

Since Easter is around the corner,I think it only appropriate to consider what Jesus might say to the AAP regarding the slaughter of the intellectual lives of innocent babies.
In my opinion this quote that Jesus spoke to the arrogant,foolish,pompous,evil religious leaders of that day seem to be the most appropriate.

Matthew 23
From the Blue Letter Bible
New Living Translation
Matthew 23
Mat 23:23 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income,[fn5] but you ignore the important things of the law-justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.
Mat 23:24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel!
Mat 23:25 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy-full of greed and self-indulgence!
Mat 23:26 Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too.
Mat 23:27 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs-beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity.
Mat 23:28 You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

[Scott]

"Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated Facts for Parents About Autism and Vaccine Safety HERE."

Thanks for that link to Facts for Parents. I was surprised to see that nowhere in that document was there any reference to genetic profiles of children who do get autism. I mean hopefully there should be some linkage to diseases present in the families of these children, to establish susceptibility to autism. That fact sheet looked like something one might turn in for an elementary school project.

Please tell me that there is such a study that the CDC or the AAP has done. I would be very interested in looking at it.

[Tom Blythe]

"Remarkably, on March 7, the AAP had issued a release that said, "The recent Vaccine Injury Compensation Program case raised many questions for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP leadership is seeking access to official documents in the case so medical experts can examine the science and consider whether it raises implications for other children.""

As a parent I would certainly like to know exactly what is contained in those official documents. This is mostly because as per reports on this forum it seems as though the pediatricians have no clue as to the reason why autism occurs and it further seems as though the pediatrician is incapable of even treating this condition once it does occur. What seems to be abundantly clear is that parents today need to do all the research pertaining to the health and well being of their child. I do not trust the CDC or the AAP even an iota in this regard.

If the AAP is now backtracking and looks like it does not want to pursue this any further, what are the options open to me as a parent to get access to those records. I feel it is my right to know this as I do not want to subject my child to any vaccine till I know for certain what exactly the science of it entails. Thank you.

[Diane]

The "better diagnosis" is one of my personal faves. How do you explain thousands of non-verbal eight year olds? And yeah, if they need medical information, I would gladly forward them my daughter's most recent blood tests. I'm dreading my kids' 5 year old "well visit". The only reason I go back is to get their medical forms filled out for their schools and camps. But I think their pediatrician secretly loves when we show up. He's always asking about the medical treatments my daughter gets through her DAN. Maybe he's learning something. In some strange way, I feel bad for him. The day the AAP, CDC, IOM, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH announce that they really *%#$@'d up, I think he's actually going to feel like crap for destroying so many lives.