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Congressional hearing investigates link to autism
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4-24-2000 Washington. A congressional panel recently held hearings to investigate the controversial theory linking childhood vaccines to autism, led by Dan Burton, R-Ind., chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. "The growing rate of autism has escalated to the point that what used to be considered a rare disorder has become a near-epidemic," said Burton, whose grandson, Christian, has autism. "If we want to find a cure, we must first find the cause." According to U.S. Department of Education statistics, California has experienced a 273 percent rise in autism cases in the past decade, while Florida has seen a 571 percent rise during the same period. Several theories examine how vaccines might trigger autism in children. One blames the mercury used as a preservative in many vaccines. Another says vaccines trigger an immune response that leads to a swelling of the brain. A third suggests that combination inoculations such as the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine simply overwhelm the child’s immune system. Critics note that such connections are purely circumstantial. "Vaccines are given in childhood, and that’s also when most autism cases develop," said Deborah Wexler, MD, executive director of the Immunization Action Coalition. "It’s normal for parents to make such a connection. But there’s not a shred of reliable scientific evidence linking vaccines to autism." According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the apparent increase in autism cases may be due to a broadening of the definition of autism as well as better recognition of the condition. Neither Burton nor the reform committee is discouraging parents from having their children immunized. "Rep. Burton remains a supporter of the wise delivery of vaccines," said Beth Clay, a committee staff member. "But some children get as many as six different vaccines in one day. Concerned parents should consider asking their doctor about spreading the vaccine schedule over several weeks instead."
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