Someone get Jenny McCarthy on the phone
A new report from the University of Sydney claims to provide solid evidence that there is no link between vaccines and autism. The study looked at seven sets of data and included over 1.25 million children who were vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella as well as diptheria, whooping-cough and tetanus.
Associate Professor Guy Eslick put the research report together because he realized that no one had compiled all of the data into one place in order to counter many of the conspiracy theories surrounding the link between vaccines and autism. “I thought, surely someone has put this data together. I searched; there was nothing,” Prof. Eslick said in an interview with the New York Post.
“There has been enormous debate regarding the possibility of a link between these commonly used and safe childhood vaccinations and the supposed development of autism.
“The data consistently shows the lack of evidence for an association between autism, autism spectrum disorders and childhood vaccinations … providing no reason to avoid immunization on these grounds.”
The Libertarian Republic has been covering the vaccine/autism debate for some time, working to inform readers about the history and background of research into the unproven claims made by quack scientists. The initial fearmongering began when a British gastroenterologist named Andrew Wakefield hypothesized that the MMR vaccine might cause autism. That initial question by Wakefield sparked an enormous debate, with celebrities and conspiracy theorists all speculating that children with autism must have developed it due to their vaccinations.
Due to the fearmongering press and the credulous public, the UK saw their MMR vaccinations fall to 80% in 2004. That led to 2012 England having the highest rates of measles cases in 18 years, and the United States has also been affected by this global craze.
The CDC has reported that the United States has had its biggest measles outbreak since 1996. California has had terrible outbreaks, with 58 people suffering from the respiratory disease and New York has suffered 24. Ohio has had 68 cases, mostly amongst the Amish who are unvaccinated.
Professor Eslick claims to have no vested interest in the argument, other than reporting the truth and debunking the many outrageous claims about vaccination.
“I did this because it was really interesting to me that there is a mass of people against vaccination and there really wasn’t any information to support that,” he said.
“I want my research to elucidate the truth and find out what’s real.
“When I saw the data, I would have to say I was a bit surprised but happy overall.”
Still, he says he has empathy for parents of children who have autism.
“(This study) will be cold comfort for them and I don’t think it will change their minds. You will probably never be able to change their minds,” he said.
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