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Two separate studies, published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine and in Human Molecular Genetics, identified an abnormal region on Chromosome 16 that is found in 1% of kids with autism.
Obviously, this is not an explanation for all children affected by autism, but it may be the beginning of more research to come on predisposing factors for this developmental disorder.
A study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry this week, looked at the number of cases of autism in California BEFORE thimerosal preservative was removed from the standard recommended vaccination series in 2001 and AFTER. Guess what? The rates of autism are still climbing in California. This is the same thing that Denmark found when they removed thimerosal preservative from their childhood vaccines back in 1992.
Anti-vaccine folks will try to argue the technical flaws in the study, blame the number of vaccines themselves and not the thimerosal, or state that there is still thimerosal preservative in flu vaccines offered to pregnant women. We don't think any study will ever change their minds.
For everyone else, this is yet one more study that shows we've still got a problem with rising rates of autism and need to continue to aggressively search for the cause. It appears that thimerosal ain't it.
As expected, the Centers for Disease Control have recommended that the booster dose of HIB vaccine (given at either the 12 or 15 month well check) be postponed until the vaccine shortage is over. Children who are considered high risk of getting HIB infection are still prioritized to get their booster shots.
Babies will continue to receive their primary HIB vaccinations at 2 months and 4 months, +/- 6 months of age, depending on which HIB vaccination is used.
We will let you know when the shortage is over so if you have a toddler who misses that booster dose, you can get back into your doc's office to get it.
