We all know about the first amendment, but sometimes one thinks that an editor should use a policy not to publish alarming (shouting fire in a crowded theater) and grossly inaccurate and misleading letters.
Arturo Bravermann has, once again, raised the hoary specter of autism and vaccines.
Unfortunately, some ignorant persons may believe him, with potentially disastrous consequences for their children.
The CDC, which has no axe to grind, as they do not manufacture or sell vaccines, has shown in several studies, that there is no link between vaccines and autism.
A large study in Denmark, to investigate a possible cause due to Thiomerosal, which was used as a preservative in vaccines, showed that there was no change in the incidence of autism in the time before and after it was removed from vaccines, which were not shown to cause the disease.
Mr. Bravermann has, presumably, never seen the effects of the once common infectious disease epidemics, before vaccines came into use.
Diphtheria, measles and whooping cough were killers, or left children with chronic lung, brain and eye diseases. We need not mention smallpox, a disease prevented by a vaccine dating back centuries.
Some may recall the time of polio, which killed some children, but left many others with varying degrees of paralysis. A recent case in Pakistan left a small child, who was not immunized, , who complained that “she could no longer go out and play with the other children”.
After a scare campaign about whooping cough vaccine brain damage in the media in England, many people stopped immunizing their children. This was followed by a large epidemic of the disease, in which many more died or were left with damaged lungs or brains, than those purported to be due to the vaccine.
Subsequent investigation revealed that many of the cases broadcast by the media actually had brain damage BEFORE being vaccinated.
As is the case with many other agents, vaccines are not perfect. However, their cost-benefit is overwhelmingly in their favor. We do not need a return to the scare tactics that can lead to adverse effects in children.
Dr. J. Marcus
Great Neck
