WASHINGTON, March 6, 2008

Vaccine Case: An Exception Or A Precedent?

First Family To Have Autism-Related Case "Conceded" Is Just One Of Thousands

  • Video Are Vaccines Linked To Autism?

    Katie Couric speaks with Dr. Jon LaPook about the current controversy about autism and its possible link to childhood vaccinations.

  • Video Eye To Eye: Vaccines & Autism

    "Only On The Web": Sharyl Attkisson speaks to Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., about the Hannah Poling case and the heated debate over vaccines and autism. Weldon, a doctor, wants more research on the issue.

  • Hannah Poling, left, stands with her parents Terry and Jon Poling, right, at a news conference in Atlanta, Thursday March 6, 2008. Government health officials have conceded that childhood vaccines worsened a rare, underlying disorder that ultimately led to autism-like symptoms in Hannah, and that she should be paid from a federal vaccine-injury fund.

    Hannah Poling, left, stands with her parents Terry and Jon Poling, right, at a news conference in Atlanta, Thursday March 6, 2008. Government health officials have conceded that childhood vaccines worsened a rare, underlying disorder that ultimately led to autism-like symptoms in Hannah, and that she should be paid from a federal vaccine-injury fund.  (AP)

  • Interactive Breaking The Silence

    Find out more about autism, and where to get help for someone who may have this neurological disorder.

  • Interactive HealthWatch

    Explore health issues including AIDS, cancer and antibiotics.

(CBS)  It's a very controversial question that's been debated for some time: Is there a link between childhood vaccines and autism? For the first time, federal officials conceded that vaccines contributed to autism-like symptoms in one child. The case involved a 9-year-old girl whose family filed a legal claim against the government. And some believe that what happened to her could have major implications for other families, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.



Terry and Jon Poling spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about a case being watched by thousands of families with autistic children.

"My daughter, who had been completely normal until getting nine vaccinations in one day, was suddenly no longer there," said Terry Poling, mother of 9-year-old Hannah.

Hannah Poling appeared to be like many children. At 19 months, her pediatrician noted she was "alert and active" and "spoke well."

At that same visit, she got five shots - nine doses of vaccines. She almost immediately developed fever, seizures and severe health problems.

Eight years later, the government has quietly conceded that vaccines aggravated a cell disorder nobody knew Hannah had, leaving her with permanent brain damage and autistic-like symptoms.

Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., is also a doctor.

Weldon has long been pushing the government to aggressively work to develop ways to screen for children who might be the most susceptible to ill effects from vaccines.

The government has been telling the public for more than a decade that there's absolutely no reason to be concerned about any link.

"I wouldn't recommend they say something like that in light of the Poling case and the admission on the part of the government," Weldon said.

But Thursday, the head of the Centers for Disease Control responded.

"This is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of a very simple situation of one child with an unusual disorder, and it would be completely wrong to say that this has bearing to the vast majority of children with autism," Julie Gerberding said.

FYI: More information and resources on autism and vaccines.
Couric & Co. Blog: Autism, Why The Debate Rages.
While the Poling case is the first of its kind to become public, a CBS News investigation uncovered at least nine other cases as far back as 1990, where records show the court ordered the government compensated families whose children developed autism or autistic-like symptoms in children including toddlers who had been called "very smart" and "impressed" doctors with their "intelligence and curiosity" … until their vaccinations.

They were children just like Hannah Poling.

What's still being debated is whether the Poling case is an exception ... or a precedent.


© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 149 Comments
by prairiemom1 March 10, 2008 1:07 AM EDT


VARIVAX
Varicella Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, and processed gelatin. Medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).

* Warning: Thimerosal is a chemical compound that contains 49.6 percent mercury as a preservative. Mercury is one of the most dangerous toxins known to scientists. This is 100 times the exposure that the Environmental Protection Agency''s Poison Control Center guidelines consider safe for the average-sized infant, as mercury is known to cause neurotoxicity and brain damage that mirrors the symptoms of autism. For more information, see the website of Concerned Parents for Vaccine Safety.

Source:http://www.naturodoc.com/library/public_health/vaccine_who_how.htm


You know, if someone walked into a school with a suringe and told you what the ingrediants were, but didn''t tell you it was a vaccine, would they let them inject the children, or would they throw them in jail for attempting to endanger the life of a minor?
Reply to this comment
by prairiemom1 March 10, 2008 1:06 AM EDT


MMR
Measles Mumps Rubella Live Virus Vaccination. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using sorbitol, neomycin, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Mediums: M & M -- chick embryo. Rubella -- human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).

MUMPSVAX
Mumps Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).

ORIMUNE
Poliovirus Vaccine Live Oral Trivalent. Lederle Laboratories, 1-800-934-5556. Produced using three types of attenuated polioviruses, streptomycin, neomycin, calf serum, and sorbitol. Medium: monkey kidney cell culture.

Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 1-800-366-8900, extension 5231. Produced using betapropiolactone, aluminum phosphate, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicyate (thimerosol),* and phenol red. Medium: fetal rhesus monkey lung cells.

RECOMBIVAX
Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using thimerosol* and aluminum hydroxide. Medium: yeast (residual; less than 1 percent yeast protein).


Reply to this comment
by prairiemom1 March 10, 2008 1:05 AM EDT


HAVRIX
Hepatitis A. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 1-800-366-8900, extension 5231. Produced using formalin, aluminum hydroxide, phenoxyethanol (antifreeze), polysorbate 20, and residual MRC5 proteins (from medium). Medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).

IM0 VAX
Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed. Connaught Laboratories, 1-800-822-2463. Produced using human albumin, neomycin sulfate, and phenol red indicator. Medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).

IPOL
Inactivated Polio Vaccine. Connaught Laboratories, 1-800-822-2463. Produced using three types of polio virus, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol (anti-freeze), neomycin, streptomycin, and polymyxin B. Medium: VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells.

MERUVAX II
Rubella Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).

M-R VAX
Measles and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Mediums: M & M -- chick embryo. Rubella -- human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).





Reply to this comment
by prairiemom1 March 10, 2008 1:03 AM EDT
The following is a description of the various chemical compounds added to vaccines for stability and other marketing purposes that have nothing to do with children''s health. The information was obtained from the 1997 Physician''s Desk Reference. This is a representative, not a comprehensive, list of various types of vaccines. For several entries, there are direct phone numbers.

Common vaccines and their production details
BIAVAX
Rubella and mumps virus vaccine live. Merck & Company, Inc., 1-800-672-6372. Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Medium: human diploid cells originating from human aborted fetal tissue.

DPT
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 1-800-366-8900, extension 5231. Produced using aluminum phosphate, formaldehyde, ammonium sulfate, washed sheep red blood cells, glycerol, sodium chloride, and thimerosol.* Medium: porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolysate of casein.

FLUSHIELD
Influenza Virus Vaccine, Trivalent, Types A & B. Wyeth-Ayerst, 1-800-934-5556. Produced using gentamicin sulfate, formaldehyde, po!ysorbate 80, tri(n) butylphosphate, and thimerosol.* Medium: chick embryos.

FLU VIRIN
Influenza Virus Vaccine. Medeva Pharmaceuticals, 1 -888-MEDEVA (716- 274-5300). Produced using embroyonic fluid (chicken egg), neomycin, polymyxin, thimerosol,* and betapropiolactone. Medium: embryonic fluid (chicken egg).









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by barbjc1 March 9, 2008 10:23 PM EDT
Not only sue the government, how about the pharmaceutical association, and the insurance companies. Oh, don''t forget the AMA and the Pediatricians and Family Practioners of this country. The doctors and pharmacists are not stupid, the have caved in to government and corporate America pressure.
I ask how many of their children have been exposed to this poisoning?
Reply to this comment
by barbjc1 March 9, 2008 10:19 PM EDT
You know what scares me, when a nation starts to disable or murder its children, it is a nation destined to fall.
My children had all of the standard vaccines, diptheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, measles(rubella), mumps and polio. No one had an adverse reaction. Plus the doctor and us(the parents) took into account this was a very small body being vaccinated. Our children are being vaccinated like they do in the military, like an assembly line. Immunizations are not that expensive, if your insurance company is being a jerk about cost, pay for it yourself or go to the county health department.
IT IS YOUR CHILD NOT THEIRS.
Reply to this comment
by gaye5 March 9, 2008 10:43 AM EDT
There is also a thought that there is a Correlation between Autism, Cell Phones, and Wireless Computers, but it is strange that children seem to be totally normal until about 15 months or 2 years old. But I feel that it is not just immunization that is the problem but everything un-natural that is put in our food, or what is taken out of our food. The body can perhaps cope with a few chemicals but not as many as we have now days, and it appears that no one looks at what happens when one chemical interacts with onother or many others in the body where the body has its own interactions with its own...
It appears that per head of population that disease is drastically on the increase in adults and in children, WHY???..Goodness, I never had my children to the dr, they got their measles, mumps and chicken pox and parents came to help their kids get theirs so as to get it over and done with, and we never ever thought that a problem develope as our Dr''s told us that they were just mild childhood diseases..
Reply to this comment
by gaye5 March 9, 2008 9:36 AM EDT
teeus...
The Age of Autism: The Amish anomaly

By Dan Olmsted

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Lancaster, PA, Apr. 18 (UPI) -- Part 1 of 2.

Where are the autistic Amish? Here in Lancaster County, heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, there should be well over 100 with some form of the disorder.


I wrote about trying to find autistic Amish people here in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, and noted there should be dozens of them -- if autism occurs at the same prevalence as the rest of the United States.
So far, there is evidence of only three, all of them children, the oldest age 9 or 10, probably because a minority of Amish families do now in fact, vaccinate their children these days, partly at the urging of public health officials.
One of the three children found with autism was an adopted child from China, who recieved all her vaccines before the family got her.
The Amish are not all anti-vaccine. Some Amish kids go to public school and must be vaccinated.
Reply to this comment
by gaye5 March 9, 2008 9:10 AM EDT
dbtmellis, you are correct, but even if one child is effected then isnt that not on when it can easily be solved with not putting these poisons in the immunizations, or simply by using homeopathic which although there are homeopathic hospitals where real drs work, the world is not yet excepting of it.. Neither was I up until I saw someone go to the Dr for irritable bowel for 30 years and has not had any problems after using homeopathic medicins, dont ask me how as I feel it is just water but it worked where other things didnt and this person only tried it to keep his wife shut up as he also didnt believe in it.
Reply to this comment
by gaye5 March 9, 2008 9:05 AM EDT
drinuk, thanks so much for that site, I have sent it off to many people.. good one.. People have to wake up to the deception, it is like fluoride which many countries have taken out of their water, but we here in Queensland are about to have it forced on us. If they can force medication on us what else do they do???
Reply to this comment
by gwtwboofy March 9, 2008 6:04 AM EDT
BSA0001, I totally agree with you and thank you for your comments.

For those like dbtmellis who are completely ignorant to the fact that mercury HAS indeed been linked to autism, I suggest you go to www.autismhelpforyou.com

Dr. Boyd Haley from the U of KY has proven that mercury in vaccines does indeed contribute to autism and Alzheimer''s. He testified in front of Congress on his findings. The ''safe'' amount of mercury in vaccines given to a baby was actually equivelant to the ''safe'' dosage of a 140lb. man.

In that meeting, one of the pharmaceutical companies ADMITTED THAT THEY LIED on exactly what the ''safe'' amount of mercury was. They ADMITTED that they made a mathematical error but didn''t want to do their research again as it would cost them too much money. They covered up their mistake and produced the vaccines and released them for distribution.

So, dbtmellis, YOUR child and all our children were the victims of their lies. By the way, do you know exactly what is in the vaccines you are touting? Do you have a clue what some of the ingredients are? Monkey feces, mouse brains, one is made from aborted fetuses,9 AND YOU THINK SHOTTINGYOUR KID UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE''S DNA IS OK??) partially developed chicken embryos.... GO READ THE LIST IF YOU WANT THE OTHER INGREDIENTS.

If I knew then what I know now, my child would NEVER have had the first shot.
Reply to this comment
by kspoon28 March 8, 2008 11:42 PM EST
Teeus, on your reference to Amish and Autism could you provide an article or study on the many Autistic Amish? I''ve read an interesting article by Dan Olmstead on the Washington Times on this very same issue http://www.nomercury.org/science/documents/Articles/UPI-The_Age_of_Autism-Mercury_and_the_Amish_5-21-05.pdf.

It appears that most Amish do not vaccinate their children and therefore, not experiencing the Autism epidemic that our vaccinated kids are experiencing.

Vaccines clearly are a link to autism, autism like sypmtoms and other neurological and immune disorders.

I now know personally of 18 families that have children with autism. How many do you know?

More interesting articles on http://www.ageofautism.com/


Reply to this comment
by teeus March 8, 2008 8:02 PM EST
I think this topic is dead (no pun intended), but there is a huge gray area that needs to be clairified.
Posted by dbtmellis

Well, to those of you to whom this is "an intellectual debate" the topic is dead--it''s true we can not definitavely declare a winner to this little debate session.

Those of us caring for these children for the rest of their lives prefer to keep the topic alive.
Reply to this comment
by teeus March 8, 2008 7:57 PM EST
Just for thought, has there ever been a case of Autism where a child has not recieved any shots yet?
Posted by dbtmellis

Of course. There are cases of Autism among the unvaccinated (Amish, etc). But the point is the number of cases is a fraction of the vaccinated population.

Autism is not new. It has been documented for years. It''s the explosion of cases that is new.
Reply to this comment
by dbtmellis March 8, 2008 7:33 PM EST
Just for thought, has there ever been a case of Autism where a child has not recieved any shots yet?
Reply to this comment
by dbtmellis March 8, 2008 4:23 PM EST
So then who is right?

The so called "Experts" hired by big companies/Goverment or the Indviduals about a particular topic?

I think this topic is dead (no pun intended), but there is a huge gray area that needs to be clairified.



Reply to this comment
by teeus March 8, 2008 3:56 PM EST
Where do you assume I live? In Fantasyland?Hello...I live in the real world too!...however I do (as well as you and everyone else) have the right my own thoughts and opinions.
Posted by dbtmellis

Are you being delibertly obtuse? I understand you occupy the same plane of reality as the rest of us. I MEANT that the TOPIC of AUTISM is NOT JUST AN INTELLECUAL EXCERCISE for some of us--as you have already stated that it is for you.

We live it because our children live it, and it slightly less fun to argue about.

I never said you dont have a right to an opinion. Im just trying to counter some of your misinformation and glibness. And I have that right, too. Dont like it? Dont post in a public forum.
Reply to this comment
by dbtmellis March 8, 2008 3:29 PM EST
Posted by teeus at 12:07 PM : Mar 08, 2008
This is real life for some of us.

Where do you assume I live? In Fantasyland? Gee... I don%u2019t work my @$$ off to live in a place as wild as that.
Sometimes I wonder if a lot of people choose to move there, stay there permentanly, (or have yet to return), and they cry and scream afoul when they see that the grass is NOT greener on the other side.
Hello...I live in the real world too!
So...all those who don%u2019t want to vaccinate their children...go ahead. I really can%u2019t stop you; however I do (as well as you and everyone else) have the right my own thoughts and opinions.
Reply to this comment
by teeus March 8, 2008 3:17 PM EST
"If mercury is OK to put in shots, why did they ban it YEARS ago from shots for our pets? Hint: It was unhealthy and dangerous."

Hint: Pets are not humans, chocolate is FATAL to dogs but not people, cats need taurine found in meat in their diet to survive, dogs dont, a dog''''s stomach can twist 180 degrees on its axis and kill the dog, a human''''s cant- people and pets are not the same, we dont react the same to this stuff.
A teaspoon of antifreeze can kill a dog.
Just because you claim they have taken thimerisol out of pet vaccines doesnt mean thimerisol is dangerous for PEOPLE
Posted by newster1

Well no. Of course it doesnt prove anything. Thats what FACTS are for. What an annoying....sigh. OK.

Here you go: These are undisputed facts. Thimerisol has been outlawed from animal vaccinations. There is mercury in thimerisol. Mercury is harmful to humans.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IS TOLERABLE FOR HUMANS? The drug manufacterers say one amount. We--whose childrens bodies are unable to expel heavy metals like mercury--say another.
Reply to this comment
by teeus March 8, 2008 3:07 PM EST
My Response: Get a life. I come to this chat board to have an intelectual debate, not to hurl insults at each other.
My Repsonse: That is only a half percentage point. Barley a scratch on the surface on the millions of children that are out there.
dbtmellis

Get off your high horse. Between comments like those above, and others youve made previously that amount to "autism isnt so bad--Id rather have that than whooping cough or pertussis" YOU are fairly insulting.

How nice you come in to pose acedemic and theoretical arguments. This is real life for some of us.
Reply to this comment
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