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Subscribe to RSSThere’s long been a prominent debate in the autism community over vaccines and whether they cause the disorder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found no evidence to support that fear. And diseases long thought to be wiped out in the U.S., like measles, for example, have made a comeback because of parents who have refused to inoculate their children.
This morning, as reported earlier, Michele Bachmann went even further, lending credence to a notion that Gardasil -- used in vaccines to prevent HPV, which can cause cervical cancer -- can cause mental retardation.
“I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa, Florida, after the debate,” Bachmann said. “She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter.”
Bachmann was using this in an attack on Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who had signed an executive order mandating that girls get the vaccine. And there are certainly questions over why Perry signed the order. His former chief of staff Mike Toomey, as the Washington Post points out, "was working at the time as an Austin-based lobbyist for Merck, which was in the midst of a multimillion-dollar campaign to persuade states to make the vaccine mandatory."
But there’s no evidence to suggest the vaccine causes mental retardation.
The CDC directed First Read to the side effects page for Gardasil. They include pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given, mild-to-moderate fever, headache, or fainting.
Not surprisingly, there was nothing on mental retardation.
CDC spokeswoman Rita Chappelle said in an email, “The Institute of Medicine released a report on August 25 looking at adverse events from vaccines, including HPV. Rare cases of anaphylaxis was the only type of adverse event seen with HPV vaccine.”
That's a severe allergic reaction.
And the Food and Drug Administration and CDC also reported: “Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has also been reported in individuals following vaccination with Gardasil. GBS is a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle weakness. It occurs spontaneously in unvaccinated individuals after a variety of specific infections. FDA and CDC have reviewed the reports of GBS that have been submitted to VAERS. To date, there is no evidence that Gardasil has increased the rate of GBS above that expected in the population. While we continue to carefully analyze all reports of GBS submitted to VAERS, the data do not currently suggest an association between Gardasil and GBS.”
The left and right have taken shots at Bachmann for her comments.
That's quite the accusation, one that Ben Smith has already gotten a rebuttal to from the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership. The CDC has recommended Gardisil, warning that the only verified side-effect has been rare cases of blood clots and an immune system disorder. I'm not doubting that a woman came up to Bachmann and said this. News flash: Vaccine luddism is rather widespread (especially so in some affluent areas where moms listen to Oprah, according to research I've seen from Seth Mnookin), and just because a mother might say something like this does not mean it reflects what actually happened. The fact that it's Bachmann embracing this -- Bachmann, who has a habit of endorsing or "just asking questions" about dark theories that she's overheard -- is totally unsurprising.
Even conservative blog Free Republic:
Huh? “Mental retardation” typically takes place in a pre- or neo-natal event. Autism becomes apparent in the first couple of years of life — and primarily affects boys. Gardasil vaccinations take place among girls between 9-12 years of age. Even assuming that this anecdote is arguably true, it wouldn’t be either “mental retardation” or autism, but brain damage. …
The “mental retardation” argument is a rehash of the thoroughly discredited notion that vaccines containing thimerasol caused a rapid increase in diagnosed autism cases. That started with a badly-botched report in Lancet that allowed one researcher to manipulate a ridiculously small sample of twelve cases in order to reach far-sweeping conclusions about thimerasol. That preservative hasn’t been included in vaccines for years, at least not in the US, and the rate of autism diagnoses remain unchanged.
The most charitable analysis that can be offered in this case for Bachmann is that she got duped into repeating a vaccine-scare urban legend on national television. It looks more like Bachmann sensed that she had won a point and wanted to go in for the kill, didn’t bother to check the facts, and didn’t care that she was stoking an anti-vaccination paranoid conspiracy theory, either. Neither shines a particularly favorable light on Bachmann.
Ironically, Rick Perry, who had been accused by Jon Huntsman of being “anti science” said this to NBC’s Carrie Dann today:
"You heard the same arguments about giving our children protections from some of the childhood diseases, and they were autism was part of that. Now we've subsequently found out that was generated and not true.” He added: “I would suggest to you that this issue about Gardasil and making it available was about saving people's lives.”
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Please everyone, do a lot more research on the subject on vaccinations and side effects. Immunizations have long been a flawed and incorrect science. Although I am not a fan of Bachmann's, her statement on vaccinations is true when you look at the real evidence, not the Merck based evaluation that is mentioned. Just ask your primary the contents of the vaccinations that they administer and I can assure you they do not know. They will hand you a pamphlet and say read this, the contents are hidden by the government, sad but true!!
Hey Doc, that does not mean that she knows what she is saying. Speculation is not a fact, and even though I despise the drug manufacturers in this country, I will take their word instead of that crazy idiot.
The story of the women who developed the HPV vaccine is truly inspiring. Anyone with daughters who aspire to achieve great things should let them read it. Dr. Thompson, the deaths caused by your quackery will be counted against you when you try and enter the pearly gates. For many, ignorance is an exonerating excuse for being anti vaccine. For you, the only reason for your stance is self-aggrandizement. That is unforgivable. Vaccines have been with us for thousands of years. The first recorded use of vaccines was a Buddhist nun in 10th century China. It was crude and, by modern standards, side effects were unacceptably high. To accuse Western Medicine and pharmaceutical companies of a conspiracy for improving on a medical practice developed in the East thousands of years ago is either the height of ignorance or of hypocrisy.
Scientific studies HAVE shown that side-effects from immunizations are very rare. And autism is NOT caused by immunizations. It's OK to believe what you want even if you are wrong.
I have done alot of research on vaccines and talked to numerous people in research and in the medical profession and I can't understand how you can be so wrong and yet so confident about it.
Whenever you read a comment that includes "hidden by the government" it's a good indication that you have a conspiracy theorist on your hands and you should ignore whatever they say.
Speaking of mental retardation America? The on going antics of "Crazy Cantor's Cronies," and the "Bonehead Boehner Bunch" in the House just spews on.They are going on their circus tour of political pukes. The "Hoodlum's in the House" are continuing their hatred of the President, and will destroy this Demorcracy in the process. They have nothing but mocking our President since the second he took office, and their legions of losers (the Tea Beggers) keep riding their Elephants everywhere. This is fact!
The GOP represents three core American values: Bigotry, Ignorance, and Greed. Bachmann was merely working on convincing voters that she is well qualified in the area of ignorance. Give her a break. Not everyone can be smart.
How do you spell "NUT CASE"? Why do they give this moron any attention at all?
RICK PERRY: Government can't do anything. Everything about government is wrong. Government is the problem. We gotta get government out of our lives.
NORMAL THINKING PERSON UNLIKE RICK PERRY: Mr. Perry, aren't you a member of government?
RICK PERRY: Well that's different! Hey!! I'm not a government!!! I'm the...I...err.....government is the problem!!! Ya know what Ronald Reagan said???? !!!??? Well!!!???
Michelle Bachmann the airhead strikes again. I can't believe this woman has any supporters.
Oh yes, she has supporters. The ignorant, the uninformed, the hateful, the narrow minded, the morons, and the rest of the Tea Party and Repugnican lunatics.
How sad she would lie about such a serious topic ........................ and she wants to be President....a sad day in America.......if she lied about this "What more have/could she lie about! Wake up people you are talking about people's lives. And I have 4 daughters I want to LIVE!
When oh when is someone going to shut this stupid woman's mouth! Everytime she opens her mouth she steps in it. I pray that she will be gone from our sight before too long.
She certainly is no valid candidate.
She never was!
Thats the leader of the teaparty, wake up folks! their all nuts & their ruining our country with all their nonsense & lies.
Bachmann, another lying, Christian hypocrite!
No, just stupid!
Diseases once common, then eradicated by science, now making a comeback, due to misinformation by religious fanatics. Praise Him?
How can you tell when MB is lying?
Her lips are moving.
She is not lying, she believes everything she says in her deranged state, that's what makes her a danger to this country.
Michele Bachmann: Hearing The Voice Of God As Mental Illness Symptom
July 22, 2011
Michele Bachmann has suggested to people starving that they should have faith in god and pray for food and shelter instead of using government programs that are in place to help the least fortunate. It is beyond insane to tell starving Americans to pray that god will provide shelter and drop food on their tables, but that is exactly what Bachmann told an audience in South Carolina earlier this month. It is certain that a huge percentage of the millions of Americans living in poverty are devout Christians who pray for food and shelter, and yet they are still destitute. Morons like Bachmann tell the poor to pray for food and shelter because it allows her to vote to slash government programs with a clear conscience, but it absolutely does nothing to help hungry Americans. Bachmann may believe that god will provide food and shelter, but it is more likely that she uses calls for prayer to excuse her inhumane opposition to government food programs. If praying for food and shelter worked, there would not be one starving child in America and there would not be a need for government assistance, but with the poverty rate at 13 percent (2008) and 16.7 million children hungry, it is obvious prayer is not working. However, crazy politicians hear voices that tell them to vote against food programs for children because it is easier to tell the poor to pray than deprive the wealthy and corporations of their entitlements.
http://www.politicususa.com/en/michele-bachmann-god-voice
So now mesianic deranged Dr. Bachmann has discovered what scientists are strugling to find out.
What a woman!! Let's make her President RIGHT AWAY!!
What does mercury poisoning cause? How about the shots for anthrax hows that working out? Did you get yours? Testing is done on the public not in a lab. If you think mixing all 5 drugs together to save money is a good idea - then realising you just increased a certain drug past safe levels x5; how do you hide facts destroy surplus. How many people know the real truth and how many make their own? Don't assume the drug companies are benevolent because they are not.
There is no mercury in the vaccines given to young children. Hasn't been for almost a decade. Unfortunately no change in the incidence of autism or mental retardation either. Watch someone post "how about other preservatives?" How about death from meningitis from eschewing vaccines? That is not a theoretical concern, it is real.
I did not say anything about side effects. I asked a question you chose not to answer. I still say testing is done on the public. We hear about the lawsuits all the time as to side effects from numerous drugs. Also many recalls and companies asking you not to take the FDA approved drug. However you must be an expert on these things since you are adamant in your position. I will not banter about what is or is not in vacines as I do not no and unless you are a chemist, or work there neither do you. It could have dead bugs in there for all any of us know.
True, there is no reported credible evidence to link vaccines to autism or mental retardation. But the studies are incomplete as they do not study the effects of giving multiple injections during one single office visit, which is practiced by many pediatricians. And the fact that it came out of Michele Bachmann's mouth gives it even less credibility.
Let's give the woman some credit. She's talking about mental retardation, something she's an authority on.
I find it amazing that most people seemingly don't realize that all candidates are rehearsed on how to respond to questions.
I will say this one more time, the last thing this country needs is more hot air out of Texas or another career politician for president.
Reads a headline. Easter bunny real? Moon made out of cheese? Bachmann ___— (insert any subject this idiot has spoke on) claim true?
Judging by your whit, your shots must ALL be up to date Mrs Bachman.
Why in the world would MSNBC stoop to putting this on their front page? Why pay ANY attention to her? She's dangerous enough as it is. Please stop publishing stories about the whacked-out, crazy lies she tells. We're just reinforcing her behavior.
Tell that to Zeda Pingle. But since Gardasil has left her almost completely no responsive, she won't be able to argue with you.
After careful study, Bachmann believes in the tooth fairy. Bachmann really needs to learn to find facts instead of Urban Legends. What a dufus she is.
I get hives from eating Brocolli, must be science since that is what I believe.
Oh for garden seeds sakes -- this is not news or newsworthy. Why can't the liberal MSM report real news and stop reporting drivel? It seems the Democrats are really running scared if this the best they can do.
Why don't you go back to Fox Propaganda and get the real news?
Perry also had monitary gain from making this law, he has stake in the company that provided the vaccine! Shame on him!
the allergic reaction to peanuts or milk sounds like a more realistic allergic than the attempt to keep youth from getting cervical cancer .
Death toll linked to Gardasil vaccine rises
Complications include shock, 'foaming at mouth,' convulsions, coma
Original Report: June 30, 2008 (World Net Daily)
"Anaphylactic shock," "foaming at mouth," "grand mal convulsion," "coma" and "now paralyzed" are a few of the startling descriptions included in a new federal report describing the complications from Merck & Co.'s Gardasil medication for sexually transmitted human papillomavirus – which has been proposed as mandatory for all schoolgirls.
The document was obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration byJudicial Watch, a Washington group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, and it has details of 10 deaths just since September.
The organization's work uncovered reports of about one death each month since last fall, bringing the total death toll from the drug to at least 18 and as many as 20. There also were 140 "serious" reports of complications including about three dozen classified as life-threatening, 10 spontaneous abortions and half a dozen cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
The document reveals the case of an 18-year-old woman who got the Gardasil vaccine, was found unconscious that evening, and died. Another woman, age 19, got the drug and the next morning was found dead in her bed.
Judicial Watch said one of the reports, VAERS ID: 310262-1 (D), had this to say:
"Information has been received…concerning a 20-year-old female with no medical history reported, who on 01-APR-2008 was vaccinated with a dose of Gardasil….The patient died four days after…patient sought unspecified medical attention. An autopsy was performed which ruled out suicide and anything suspicious."
Another report said, "Information has been received from a physician concerning a female patient who on an unknown date was vaccinated with a dose of Gardasil. Subsequently, the patient experienced a coma and is now paralyzed. At the time of this report, the patient's outcome was unknown. VAERS ID: 303188-1"
Judicial Watch earlier uncovered reports such as this:
"Initial and follow-up information has been received from a physician concerning an 'otherwise healthy' 13 year old female who was vaccinated with her first and second doses of Gardasil. Subsequently, the patient experienced … paralysis from the chest down, lesions of the optic nerve…At the time of the report, the patient had not recovered."
Read more:Death toll linked to Gardasil vaccine rises#ixzz1XsIDC1h3
none of those are "mental retardation" that describes a allergic reaction comparable to the one to peanuts .
Judicial Watch is a right-wing propaganda organization. The only thing they investigate is things they don't like.
you are correct dhenry.
sanevax.org
truthaboutgardasil.com
advancedhealthplan.com/TMIW_cancer_vaccination.html