By J.B. Handley
Like many recent articles, Newsweek is referring to an article written by Lisa Gross in the medical journal PLoS Biology titled, “A Broken Trust: Lessons from the Vaccine–Autism Wars.”
Ms. Gross’ article is wildly one-sided and written from the point of view that we parents are clearly mistaken in our belief that vaccines cause autism (she probably didn’t read Fourteen Studies too closely!). Her point is that public health has simply not done a good job in explaining this obvious fact to parents. She concludes:
“Researchers might consider taking a page out of the hero's handbook by embracing the power of stories—that is, adding a bit of drama—to show that even though scientists can't say just what causes autism or how to prevent it, the evidence tells us not to blame vaccines. As news of epidemics spreads along with newly unfettered infectious diseases, those clinging to doubt about vaccines may come to realize that several potentially deadly diseases are just a plane ride, or playground, away—and that vaccines really do save lives.”
Ms. Gross is advocating a strategy the CDC has actually employed for years: scare the hell out of parents to induce them to vaccinate their kids. No doubt, we will see more and more stories about kids dying from vaccine-preventable diseases in the coming months.
As we all know, the US vaccine program is based on public trust. In the last few years, I would argue that the public’s trust in vaccines has eroded dramatically. Don’t believe me? Ask any expecting parent if they are worried about autism and the number of vaccines they are being asked to give their kids.
Continue reading "Why Good Parents Believe Myths About Autism and Vaccines" »
By J.B. Handley
I’m grateful to the producers of The Doctors for running their show on Jenny McCarthy’s new book Healing and Preventing Autism and the debate over vaccines and autism(Details HERE). It takes courage in today’s media environment to put a show on national TV like that – hats off to them.
About two weeks before the show, I had an interview with one of the producers over the phone. This is a pretty normal part of preparation for any TV appearance where you discuss your plans for how to approach the show and the producers share some guidelines with you on their goals for the show, etc.
I did my best to explain to the producer that we would be bringing some serious energy and knowledge to the show. Specifically, I told her:
“You need to tell your doctors that they better be prepared and know their stuff. If we show up and they start making sweeping statement like ‘the science has shown that vaccines don’t cause autism’ we will kneecap them on their own stage.”
To further my point, I encouraged her to pass along a newly created website, Fourteen Studies, where the doctors could review all the science on vaccines and autism in one place and get a better understanding of our arguments. She took notes, wrote down the name of the new website, thanked me for all the background, and our call was done.
Continue reading "Behind the Scenes at “The Doctors” with Jenny McCarthy" »
Managing Editor's Note: We first ran this post on June 12, 2008.
By J.B. Handley
Critics have noted a change in our community’s perspective on the relationship between vaccines and autism from a singular focus on mercury to a broader focus on the entire vaccine schedule, including both the total number of vaccines our kids receive and how early and often they are given. The gripe is that we have “moved the goalposts” in terms of defining what happened to our kids because the Thimerosal theory, according to critics, is dying on the vine.
Continue reading "A of A Replay: GOALPOSTS" »
By J.B. Handley
I’d never heard of Dr. Steven Novella until I read his recent blog piece HERE rebutting Generation Rescue’s recently introduced website, FourteenStudies.org.
I don’t know Dr. Novella and I certainly have nothing against him personally, but I was stunned by the utter lack of knowledge and critical thinking that went into his critique of our new site. In general, I think the site so resolutely exposes the dirty underwear of the mainstream’s weak science on the vaccine-autism debate that most critiques of the site seem to center around the idea that “you have no need to go look at the site, and please pay no attention to the dirty underwear behind the curtain…”
Before I explain why Dr. Novella is so wildly ignorant and off base when it comes to the topic of vaccines and autism, let’s look a little more closely at who he is:
Dr. Novella is a clinical neurologist and assistant professor at Yale’s school of medicine. His areas of specialization are neuromuscular disease and botulinum injections (see appendix below). He appears to have done both his undergrad and med school at Georgetown University. Looking at his biography on wikipedia (which he undoubtedly wrote himself), he became a doctor 11 years ago and turns 45 years old this July. It doesn’t appear that autism, vaccines, immunology, toxicology, nutrition, or gastroenterology are part of his area of focus, expertise, or study.
Continue reading "Dr. Steven Novella, why is this so hard to understand?" »
By J.B. Handley
If you haven’t internalized what’s going on in the Florida legislature, now is the time to tune in. Through the efforts of a very active parent, Dr. Gary Kompothecras, Florida is positioned to potentially pass a bill that could become a model for future states to create a more flexible, open, and safe environment for vaccines.
The proposed Vaccine Safety Bill would do three things:
1. Ban thimerosal from childhood vaccines
2. Require full disclosure by pediatricians of the risks and benefits of vaccines
3. And, perhaps most importantly, give parents the right to choose the timing and schedule of required vaccines, so long as they are received by kindergarten.
Of course, the other side is circling, and we need the help of all parents to ensure the Senate of Florida has a chance to vote on the bill. Please read the below from Dr. David Berger, a Florida doctor who treats children with autism biomedically:
Continue reading "An Extraordinary Moment for Children in Florida – You Can Help" »
By J.B. Handley
Of all the remarkable frauds that will one day surround the autism epidemic, perhaps one of the most galling is the simple statement that the “science has spoken” and “vaccines don’t cause autism.” Anytime a public health official or other talking head states this, you can be assured that one of two things is true: they have never read the studies they are talking about, or they are lying through their teeth.
For me, it all started when Amanda Peet said the following in her “apology” to calling parents parasites:
"Fourteen studies have been conducted (both here in the US and abroad), and these tests are reproducible; no matter where they are administered, or who is funding them, the conclusion is the same: there is no association between autism and vaccines."
And, don’t think Amanda Peet is alone, the mantra comes fast and furious from all sides:
Groups of experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, agree that MMR vaccine is not responsible for recent increases in the number of children with autism. In 2004, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is no association between autism and MMR vaccine, or vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative."
- Centers for Disease Control
Continue reading "Fourteen Studies? Only if you never read them." »
JB Handley is on the Larry King Blog right now. Please click HERE to read "Autism Is Preventable and Reversible" and leave a comment. We've posted the piece below the jump here too.
Tune in to Larry King Live on CNN tonight to watch Jenny and company speak about autism, debate a doctor from mainstream medicine and introduce you to a family with a recovered child.
To hear more from Jenny, check her tour schedule at Generation Rescue. Her new book, Autism Healing and Prevention (written with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel) is available now. Stayed tuned for a signed copy contest later in the month.
Continue reading "Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey, Dr. Kartzinel, JB Handley on Larry King Live Tonight" »
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