Resistance to Antivaccine Crusade in Autism

Taken from ‘Book Is Rallying resistance To the Antivaccine Crusade”.
The New York Times, Donald McNeil, Jr. 1/13/09

Paul A. Offit, author of a new book, “Autism’s False Prophets”, defends vaccines. Dr. Offit, a pediatrician and chief of infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is disturbed that parents believe that vaccines hurt their children when there is no evidence to support it. The book caused a backlash to the degree that Offit’s children were threatened by opponents of vaccines. He argues that vulnerable parents are manipulated by doctors promoting false cures and lawyers filing class action lawsuits.

Opponents of Offit named him “Dr. Profit” because of the millions in royalties he gets for a drug he invented that is sold by drug companies. Jenny McCarthy, actress, and mother of an autistic son, as well as many others oppose his position. They point to Generation Rescue, an advocacy group treating autism with wheat and dairy-free diets, vitamins, and chelation to remove mercury from the body.

Offit’s book provides the history of autism theories. He summarizes 16 epidemiological studies that show no link between autism and either measles or thimerosal. The topic continues to be heated, with the physicians and scientists saying there is no connection between autism and vaccines, while parents contend that there is.