McCain Joins The Anti-Science Anti-Vaccine Crusade
March 6, 2008 8:06 AM   Subscribe

"There’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines," quoth Senator John McCain, speaking about the cause of the increase in autism. Apparently the Senator knows more than The Institute of Medicine and the American Association of Pediatrics. After mercury preservatives were removed from vaccines in California, rates of autism continued to rise. This while we're seeing measles outbreaks in San Diego.

There's no doubt that parents deserve investigation into the cause of autism, but by focusing so much attention on vaccines, we waste precious resources ignoring any number of other potential causes.
posted by gramcracker (28 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: if you want to have a debate on the issues and not people grouchy about vaccines and/or autism, it's really best to keep your snark somewhere inside the thread. -- jessamyn



 
The immunization/autism issue might be a good topic for a post (it might also result in nothing so much as a flamefest), but you've wandered way over into GYOB territory with all the editorializing, unfortunately.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:14 AM on March 6, 2008


I have a rock that keeps away tigers. You might think that it doesn't work, but I would point out that there are no tigers here. Therefore the rock works. Do you want to buy my magic anti-tiger rock? I would be happy to sell it to you for $1000, I have an unlimited supply of them*.

* intentionally placing the rock near a tiger will counter-act its affects. Once the tiger is removed the rock will resume working.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:22 AM on March 6, 2008 [4 favorites]


Bad science never dies...
posted by Artw at 8:23 AM on March 6, 2008


I guess this post would feel more relevant if you told us that "Two days ago, while campaigning in Texas, John McCain said..."

Even so, this is either going to turn into an argument about McCain or an argument about vaccines, or possibly a debate over whether Republicans cause autism.
posted by mecran01 at 8:24 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


Lisa, I would like to buy your rock.
posted by sicem07 at 8:24 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


I agree 100% with your post, but you should have saved that last paragraph for a comment.

(None of the rest is editorializing--it's contextualizing.)
posted by DU at 8:25 AM on March 6, 2008


middleclasstool: I disagree. There's definitely a certain degree of editorializing, but not over the top, especially considering what often gets on the front page.

That being said, I do not believe that there is a link between thimerosal and autism. Just the same, when I had a choice between thimerosal-containing flu vaccine for my daughter and the same vaccine without...I chose the one without. There's no reason to add mercury to a little person.
posted by Kickstart70 at 8:25 AM on March 6, 2008


...or possibly a debate over whether Republicans cause autism.

Or we could simply note that the "R" behind their names stands for "ignoRant".
posted by DU at 8:26 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


The fact that removing the preservative had no effect on autism rates pretty much indicates that it's not the cause, right? So why do people keep pushing this line? It seems like paranoia.

I've heard some people say they think it's caused by very small children watching television.
posted by delmoi at 8:27 AM on March 6, 2008


From your, "After mercury preservatives were removed from vaccines in California, rates of autism continued to rise.": "The preservative, thimerosal, has not been used in childhood vaccines since 2001, except for some flu shots."

Nothing was recalled. Kids were still being poisoned for several years after.
posted by Feisty at 8:28 AM on March 6, 2008


Good that this gets out before the election. You wouldn't want an irrational president to have access to the nucular button.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:30 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


I've heard some people say they think it's caused by very small children watching television.

It's actually my fault. I'm afraid I can't lay out the entire plan, and I certainly can't tell you how I'm doing it, but trust me: You'll all thank me when it happens and they make their move.
posted by aramaic at 8:31 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


"poisoning children"

Ending well so far!
posted by DU at 8:34 AM on March 6, 2008


Nothing was recalled. Kids were still being poisoned for several years after.

The study considered this, taking into consideration that in 2004, the flu shot began being recommended to infants and toddlers.
posted by gramcracker at 8:35 AM on March 6, 2008


An alternate explanation for some of the apparent rise in autism diagnoses in certain areas of the country that I published in Wired magazine 8 years ago: The Geek Syndrome. Note my careful use of language in this post to avoid the hysteria caused by loaded terms like "poisoned."
posted by digaman at 8:36 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


So why do people keep pushing this line? It seems like paranoia.

Parents who have severely autistic kids are devastated. They're hurt and angry over what's happened to their children, and the easiest way to deal with this hurt and anger is to look for something or someone to blame. See also "Dungeons and Dragons drove my kid crazy."

There's definitely a certain degree of editorializing, but not over the top, especially considering what often gets on the front page.

I think if you remove that last sentence, it's okay enough to stand. But taking a hot-button issue that people get really goddamn upset about and adding even a dash of editoralizing comes off very much looking like an advocacy post.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:37 AM on March 6, 2008


Vaccine-paranoia is probably the most frustrating conspiracy theory, maybe tied with HIV denial because they actually harm people. 9/11 nutters can be safely ignored but when irrationality starts actively impacting public health it's very difficult to stay calm and collected.
posted by Skorgu at 8:40 AM on March 6, 2008


"poisoning children"

Ending well so far!


It's mercury, a neurotoxin.
posted by Feisty at 8:42 AM on March 6, 2008


Drop it, Feisty. Every parent feeding their kid tuna is thereby "poisoning" their children.
posted by gramcracker at 8:43 AM on March 6, 2008


Vaccines don't poison children, John McCain poisons children. I'm happy to have cleared that up.
posted by cmonkey at 8:45 AM on March 6, 2008


So we've got LOLGOP and the highly charged vaccine debate? I personally think autism is caused by circumcision but there are studies that link it with obesity. And declawing.
posted by The Bellman at 8:46 AM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


Every parent feeding their kid tuna is thereby "poisoning" their children.

Yes. And our government has issued guidelines restricting amounts for children and those pregnant.
posted by Feisty at 8:47 AM on March 6, 2008


Give them a break.
posted by lilburne at 8:48 AM on March 6, 2008


Give them a break.
posted by lilburne at 8:48 AM on March 6, 2008


Vaccines are quite good, on balance. Mercury is very bad, also on balance.

Conflation is bad.

Being strongly opposed to ingesting mercury does not necessarily make one an anti-vaccination paranoiac.
posted by rokusan at 8:49 AM on March 6, 2008


Or we could simply note that the "R" behind their names stands for "ignoRant".

If I've learned one thing from the interwebs, it's that there's no rant like an igno-rant.
posted by rokusan at 8:50 AM on March 6, 2008


I blame rock and/or roll.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:51 AM on March 6, 2008


It's mercury, a neurotoxin.

You know what else is a toxin? Chlorine. That's right: it corrodes sensitive mucous membranes and can digest living cells. I therefore suggest you stay away from table salt -- it contains chlorine, you know. Clearly toxic!
posted by NucleophilicAttack at 8:52 AM on March 6, 2008 [4 favorites]


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