MMR Vaccine and Autism: Vaccine Nihilism and Postmodern Science - Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Dr. Gregory Poland, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, discusses his article appearing in the September 2011 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings on concerns with the misrepresentation by the media regarding a relationship between vaccinations and autism. Available at:
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/86/9/869.abstract

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mayo Clinic
• Mayo Clinic Proceedings
• Autism
• Vaccines
• Poland

[intricatic]

@morepuppies You expect that he should have worked instead for a foodbank? People in science do science for companies. Some don't, but an overall majority do for lack of alternatives. Guilt by association is a fallacy for a reason.

[intricatic]

I think the problem comes to play whenever scientists try to use the very idea of certainty to describe the output of a skeptical practice - namely science. It's not so much the science and skepticism I, personally, have a problem with, it's the idea of statistical analysis, which I have as much trust for as George Orwell did. Also, large sums of money in the medical industry can raise suspicions just as much as it raises suspicions of politicians. I'm not anti-vax, but I'm not pro, either.

[Momsincharge]

If I were to send my child to school and find that someone has insisted putting their non vaccinated child into that school, I would find a private school that would insist on vaccinations.

[raytogh]

Yet the federal gov't has paid out probably 100 families for exactly this. BS!

[ArcanaKnight]

@morepuppies "MMR does not...contain thimerosal" He didn't say that MMR contained thimerosal, he was detailing the history of the anti-vax movement's claims. In fact, the UK only ever had one vaccine that contained thimerosal (it has since been removed), and their autism rate is comparable to the US's, yet that didn't stop the anti-vaxers from making their false claims. The autism rate has also been completely unaffected by falling vaccination rates, yet people still insist they're the cause.

[morepuppies]

Just read the paper. You fail to disclose that you are one of Merck's boys. From another paper:

"Disclosure: Gregory A. Poland, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Served as an advisor or consultant for: Novarax; Merck & Co., Inc.; Avianax; Emergent BioSolutions; Theraclone Sciences; Liquidia Technologies, Inc.; Dynavax; PaxVax, Inc; Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics; EMD Serono, Inc.

Received grants for clinical research from: Novavax; Merck & Co., Inc."

[morepuppies]

I should just post the whole disclosure.

"Served as an advisor or consultant for: Novarax; Merck & Co., Inc.; Avianax; Emergent BioSolutions; Theraclone Sciences; Liquidia Technologies, Inc.; Dynavax; PaxVax, Inc; Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics; EMD Serono, Inc.

Received grants for clinical research from: Novavax; Merck & Co., Inc."

Just found a copy of the paper you are talking about, and NOWHERE do you disclose that you are one of Merck's boys. Bad Doctor!

[morepuppies]

I should just post the whole disclosure.

"Served as an advisor or consultant for: Novarax; Merck & Co., Inc.; Avianax; Emergent BioSolutions; Theraclone Sciences; Liquidia Technologies, Inc.; Dynavax; PaxVax, Inc; Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics; EMD Serono, Inc.

Received grants for clinical research from: Novavax; Merck & Co., Inc."

Just found a copy of the paper you are talking about, and NOWHERE do you disclose that you are one of Merck's boys. Bad Doctor!

[morepuppies]

Do you think it is appropriate to make a video like this, pushing MMR, while distorting risk and research, while failing to disclose that you consult for, and receive research funding from, Merck, who makes the MMR?

How much money have your received from Merck?

"Served as an advisor or consultant for: Novarax; Merck & Co., Inc.; Avianax; ...; Liquidia Technologies, Inc.; Dynavax; PaxVax, Inc; Novartis Vaccines ...

Received grants for clinical research from: Novavax; Merck & Co., Inc."

[morepuppies]

Dr. Poland, you do realize that MMR does not, nor has it ever, contained thimerosal, right?