What about the new study that claims that autism rates in California have declined at the same time that thimerosal was removed from vaccines?
Two outspoken critics of thimerosal, Dr. Mark and David Geier, recently published a study in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons reporting that two separate data sources showed decreases in autism during the period 2002-2005, after thimerosal was removed from all vaccines routinely administered to children during the first six months of life. They used the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and quarterly data from the California Department of Developmental Services for their study. There are two major problems that invalidate their results. First, VAERS data cannot be used to estimate the incidence of anything, especially autism. It is a passive reporting system. People report things to VAERS that they think might be caused by vaccines. If people think autism is related to vaccines they will report it. Second, and more disconcerting, is their misinterpretation of the California autism data. The California data actually show no evidence of a decrease in autism, a
Related Questions
- What about the new study that claims that autism rates in California have declined at the same time that thimerosal was removed from vaccines?
- Could thimerosal have been a factor in Great Britains rise in rates of autism in children born in the 1980s and early 1990s?
- How is this study different than previous studies on thimerosal and autism?
- How is this study different than previous studies on thimerosal and autism?
- Have Autism Rates Declined Since Thimerosal Was Removed From Vaccines?
- Have Autism Rates Declined Since Thimerosal Was Removed From Vaccines?
