They Might Be Curly Giants!

Here’s a case of a TV show, Eli Stone, irresponsibly dramatizing the plot with claims that a vaccine had caused one of the characters to have autism. Pffft!

“The key words to remember here are “fictional” and “TV.” The court case on the show isn’t based on reality. Numerous studies — including a recent, large study in the New England Journal of Medicine — have shown that there’s no link between autism and the mercury preservative that was once used in childhood vaccines. What’s more, the mercury preservative (called thimerosal) hasn’t even been used in the making of any childhood vaccines in this country (with the exception of some flu vaccines) since 2001, yet cases of autism are still on the rise.”

[link: Parenting.com]

This has prompted a response from the American Academy of Paediatrics condemning the show.

“A television show that perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism is the height of reckless irresponsibility on the part of ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co.,” said Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP. “If parents watch this program and choose to deny their children immunizations, ABC will share in the responsibility for the suffering and deaths that occur as a result. The consequences of a decline in immunization rates could be devastating to the health of our nation’s children.”

[link: American Academy of Paediatrics]