Rise in Autism......

rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,124
edited April 2012 in A Moving Train
New CDC Study Shows Average Autism Prevalence Up 23% From 2009 Study

Boston, MA – A study out today from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) indicates Autism now affects an alarming one in 88 children, (one in 54 boys) a sharp jump from the previous numbers released in late 2009, and frighteningly distant rate from one in 10,000 cases seen in the 1980s.

Today’s study, conducted by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network office of the CDC, looked at eight-year-old children born in 2000. A previous study released by ADDM in 2009 showed autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affected one in 110 children. The number of children identified with ASDs in this study ranged from 1 in 210 children in Alabama to 1 in 47 children in Utah. CDC reports that the largest increases were among Hispanic and black children.

According to a CDC press release issued today, “One thing the data tells us with certainty – there are many children and families who need help,” said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “We must continue to track autism spectrum disorders because this is the information communities need to guide improvements in services to help children.

The National Autism Association again calls for swift government action, including the declaration of the autism epidemic as a national health crisis. An immediate focus on the following areas is critical:

Prevention:

Genetics alone cannot explain the rise in autism. Proper study into environmental cofactors should be a top priority among our government, researchers and Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).

This latest study confirms that the number of children diagnosed with autism continued to rise among those born in 2000, before the removal of the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from most routine childhood vaccines. The findings are also consistent with recent studies 1, 2 indicating an association between the hepatitis B vaccine and brain damage.

Parents have consistently stated that regression in their child occurred following immunizations. Further research on the increased use of vaccines is warranted and should be conducted with significant stakeholder input. Obvious research that has been ignored, such as health outcomes in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated populations must be undertaken.

Certain subgroups may be more susceptible to environmental regression, including those with a family history of autoimmune disorders, premature infants, and children that are ill at the time of vaccination. Researching ways to decrease adverse reactions while increasing the safety of vaccines benefits the overall health of the general public.

Treatment:

Children with autism have underlying medical conditions that often go missed, dismissed or misunderstood. These conditions deserve the full attention of our government health agencies and medical research community. A recently published review of the world’s medical literature strongly implicates biochemical abnormalities including oxidative stress, immune dysregulation or inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and toxic exposures.

Physicians should be sure and listen to each caregiver’s account of any medical issues their child with autism may have and not presume it to be behavioral.

Treatment, services and therapies should be available to all individuals with autism. Insurance coverage for co-morbid medical conditions should be mandated nationwide.

Studies on children that significantly progressed or completely lost a classic autism diagnosis should be conducted to uncover biological underpinnings.

Clinical studies on promising treatments are necessary.

Support:

Wandering-related deaths remain on the rise among children diagnosed with autism. A wandering prevention protocol should be in the hands of pediatricians to increase awareness & education. Just yesterday, yet another child with Autism drowned after wandering away from a safe setting.

School systems are overwhelmed by increased autism rates. Our community is in critical need of additional and properly trained special education personnel.

Cameras in special education classrooms are crucial.

Families are often unable to pay for basic speech and occupational therapies. Government aide is needed for these struggling families.

We will soon be faced with a disproportionate number of diagnosed adults in need of housing, job assistance, and lifetime care. Preparation should begin immediately and resources allocated accordingly.

A national strategy for autism is long overdue, as is a central federal web site dedicated to autism programs, assistance and information.

“Autism is a national health emergency. Our hope is that the government will finally declare it as such so that proper prevention, treatments and resources will be put in place,” says NAA Executive Director Lori McIlwain. “Immediate action is necessary for our community, and for members of the general public who just became one doorstep closer to autism."

For more information about autism, visit http://www.nationalautismassociation.org.

--March 29, 2012
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    Interesting reading, thanks for posting. I've read elsewhere that there are strong reasons to believe the rise in autism is more than just genetics. Besides vaccinations I wouldn't be surprised to hear about other environment factors- mercury in fish, heavy metals in the water etc.

    The next movie we're watching this weekend happens to be "Temple Granlin". Looking forward to seeing it. Granlin's an amazing woman!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,124
    oh yeah, what's the name of that movie?
  • Who PrincessWho Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    Rollings wrote:
    oh yeah, what's the name of that movie?
    It's just called "Temple Grandin." Really good movie.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    Rollings wrote:
    oh yeah, what's the name of that movie?
    It's just called "Temple Grandin." Really good movie.

    Oh, yes. We just watched it. What a great movie and what a great person Temple Grandin is. When I was a kid I used to wedge myself into tight spaces or corners when felt panic or fear. I get it. And I really, really want to lie down in the middle of a pen of cows. That would be so cool.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • __ Posts: 6,651
    Do they know that it's really more autism and not just more diagnosis?
  • stargirl69stargirl69 Posts: 6,387
    I have worked with children and young adults on the autistic spectrum for many years.There is a definite rise in children being diagnosed younger and with more certainty.

    This has been because children are being referred far quicker to communication clinics etc.Even 10 years ago I worked with children who were reaching their 5th birthday before they were even referred to a specialist,then a lengthy process of anything up to another year before diagnosis.
    All a delay in the time that the child could have access to education,communication and behavioural support.

    Now I work with children who are being diagnosed as young as 28 months and certainly in my area of Scotland there is an excellent education and communication support service for the children that starts as soon as diagnosis is confirmed.

    Prior to this these children were 'fitted' into the Global Developmental Delay diagnosis,code for,'We don't really know what is wrong with your child'.

    I personally don't link vaccination with autism and I have only know less than a handful of parents who have vehemently believed that.I think it is a coincidence that when a child is vaccinated comes in line at the time when a toddler is becoming more communicative.
    Many parents I know have been able to see the difficulties their babies had from birth or very early in their development,I have also seen this in the children I work with prior to the MMR vaccination that was initially blamed.

    I also know a number of children who have had no vaccinations and still were diagnosed on the spectrum.It is a highly emotive subject that I suspect will never be resolved.Autism has been around since way before vaccines became the normal process in childhood and it is here to stay.
    Therefore priority should be to ensure robust support,education and funding is always available for the children and families affected by this disorder.
    “There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,121
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    edited April 2012
    Autism linked to vaccines and the coincidental rise of each?
    More vaccines ... more autism?


    This a hard thing to prove and probably never will be while mega giant drug companies
    are making millions billions off of vaccines and enlisting the support of the AAP and the like
    with mutual monetary gains, not to mention the government.

    For me the chickenpox vaccine leading to a shingles epidemic level is proof enough
    that vaccines mess with the natural order of our interaction with disease and the interaction
    of the viruses with each other in our environment. It also proves to me the chicken pox vaccine
    was unnecessary yet was a 200 million dollar a year prize for one company.

    It proves to me that whomever is making the vaccines, they figure out after the fact
    that they cause harm ... some admittedly so, some not.

    As the truth remains elusive, there remains a choice.
    Post edited by pandora on
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    edited April 2012
    Jason P wrote:
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    I just learned more about this illness recently and it can go undetected especially in mild forms.

    Probably all you can do is provide information to the parents and support group info.

    Perhaps if they see at this young age how beneficial it will be to get a diagnoses
    and that will make the child's life much easier and happier,
    this is all parents want for their kids.
    They are probably afraid. They can learn it is nothing to fear.
    Post edited by pandora on
  • stargirl69stargirl69 Posts: 6,387
    pandora wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    I just learned more about this disease recently and it can go undetected especially in mild forms.

    Probably all you can do is provide information to the parents and support group info.

    Perhaps if they see at this young age how beneficial it will be to get a diagnoses
    and that will make the child's life much easier and happier,
    this is all parents want for their kids.
    They are probably afraid. They can learn it is nothing to fear.

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    “There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    stargirl69 wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    I just learned more about this disease recently and it can go undetected especially in mild forms.

    Probably all you can do is provide information to the parents and support group info.

    Perhaps if they see at this young age how beneficial it will be to get a diagnoses
    and that will make the child's life much easier and happier,
    this is all parents want for their kids.
    They are probably afraid. They can learn it is nothing to fear.

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    sorry I will beware of the misused term... illness yes
  • stargirl69stargirl69 Posts: 6,387
    pandora wrote:
    stargirl69 wrote:

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    sorry I will beware of the misused term... illness yes

    and yet still .... :roll:
    “There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    stargirl69 wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    stargirl69 wrote:

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    sorry I will beware of the misused term... illness yes

    and yet still .... :roll:
    thank you again for your kindness and understanding on my oversight and misuse
    of terminology ...I stand corrected on the word use

    but not at all on my opinion of the subject debate :?

    actually it is a disorder as you have so kindly said ...yes?


    I tried to clarify by looking up the definition of Disease...
    a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,219
    edited April 2012
    _ wrote:
    Do they know that it's really more autism and not just more diagnosis?
    ...
    Yeah... is it because there are more cases... or that we've figured out and identified it?
    ...
    And please... if parents are not going to vaccinate their kids from measles, chickenpox, whooping cough... they need to keep them quarantined to their homes. There are a lot of little babies out there that are too young to be vaccinated and they do not need to be put at risk because of vaccine paranoia.
    Post edited by Cosmo on
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • pjtaperpjtaper Posts: 3,020
    I heard the autism rate on TV the other day and was SHOCKED! I had to google to confirm. Sad... Oh, the things I'd love to say... must bite tongue...
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    Cosmo wrote:
    And please... if parents are not going to vaccinate their kids from measles, chickenpox, whooping cough... they need to keep them quarantined to their homes. There are a lot of little babies out there that are too young to be vaccinated and they do not need to be put at risk because of vaccine paranoia.

    It is babies they are vaccinating beginning on the day of birth then 2 months, 4 months, etc etc
    25 shots by age 15 months :o

    Interesting alternative???

    What Is the Alternative Vaccine Schedule?
    Experts debate the pros and cons of the alternative vaccine schedule and what it means for parents.
    By Katherine Kam
    WebMD Feature Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
    When pediatrician Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP, wrote The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, he envisioned giving parents more choices on how to vaccinate their children if they were concerned about a vaccine’s side effects or ingredients or the large number of shots that kids receive today.

    “A lot of parents don’t really trust the vaccine system,” Sears says. “I felt that if I could give parents a better understanding of vaccines -- as well as an alternative way to approach giving vaccines -- then these families who otherwise might not vaccinate could go ahead and feel comfortable with vaccinating.”

    Recommended Related to Children's Vaccines
    Meningitis Symptoms Warning Signs
    It's not easy to spot the symptoms of meningitis. People often confuse the early signs and symptoms of meningitis with the flu. In fact, meningitis may come on the heels of a flu-like illness or infection. That's why it's important to stay alert, learn the hallmark signs and symptoms of meningitis, and act quickly. It may help save a life.
    Read the Meningitis Symptoms Warning Signs article > >
    Sears, who practices in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., says that he isn't against vaccinations. Instead, his book suggests an untraditional “alternative” schedule that delays shots or spaces them further apart. If parents are skittish about any shots at all, he offers a separate “selective” schedule to encourage them to give their kids at least the "bare minimum" of vaccinations.

    But public health officials say that those approaches leave too many kids unprotected for too long and aren’t backed up by science.

    “These altered schedules have not been studied at all,” says Meg Fisher, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical director of the Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' section on infectious diseases. "I would rather stay with what we know is the most likely to protect the most people."

    Regular, Alternative, Selective Vaccine Schedules

    The regular vaccine schedule for children aged 0-6 is approved by the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

    It recommends 25 shots in the first 15 months of life. The shots immunize against whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, tetanus, mumps, measles, rubella, rotavirus, polio, hepatitis B, and other diseases.

    The alternative and selective vaccination schedules aren't reviewed or approved by the CDC or other public health group. They come solely from Sears.

    Sears’ alternative vaccine schedule spreads the shots out over a longer period of time, up to age 5-6 years. For instance, he recommends not giving kids more than two vaccines at a time. It also changes the order of vaccines, prioritizing what Sears believes are the most crucial vaccines to get, based on how common and severe the diseases are.

    As Sears writes, “If some of the theoretical problems with vaccines are real, this schedule circumvents most of them. If the problems aren’t real, then the only drawback is the extra time, effort, and cost for the additional doctor’s office visits.”

    For parents who are the most reluctant to vaccinate, his selective vaccination schedule includes what he calls the "bare minimum" vaccinations against serious and common diseases, such as whooping cough and rotavirus. It also omits some vaccines, including the one for polio.
  • justamjustam Posts: 21,392
    It has a genetic component. The specialist that diagnosed my son's Aspergers told us that it has remained in the gene pool because there are useful aspects to this condition. It's been around a long time.

    If you have a child that's on the spectrum, it's harder to hear people wanting to eliminate the "disorder" as if it's an illness or disease. It's not. These people just interact with the world differently. They can be trained to live relatively "normal" lives if they are prepared early.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    justam wrote:
    It has a genetic component. The specialist that diagnosed my son's Aspergers told us that it has remained in the gene pool because there are useful aspects to this condition. It's been around a long time.

    If you have a child that's on the spectrum, it's harder to hear people wanting to eliminate the "disorder" as if it's an illness or disease. It's not. These people just interact with the world differently. They can be trained to live relatively "normal" lives if they are prepared early.
    There was an informative show/ doc on the news recently about a man who is bringing
    awareness to this high functioning form of autism, Aspergers.

    He is a marvelous flute musician and spoke of how much music means to him
    and others with ASD that he teaches.
    I read a bit more about it and I thought, as you elude to, many were very positive traits,
    most especially the high level of focus to learning things enjoyed, higher learning capabilities,
    scholar level.

    Seems from the definition of disease, illness, disorder they are similar,
    interchangeable almost... as with my mistake in terms.

    In my family, mental illness is the general term to cover the different disorders
    some of us have.
  • __ Posts: 6,651
    Cosmo wrote:
    _ wrote:
    Do they know that it's really more autism and not just more diagnosis?
    ...
    Yeah... is it because there are more cases... or that we've figured out and identified it?
    ...
    And please... if parents are not going to vaccinate their kids from measles, chickenpox, whooping cough... they need to keep them quarantined to their homes. There are a lot of little babies out there that are too young to be vaccinated and they do not need to be put at risk because of vaccine paranoia.

    I agree. We're having a whooping cough epidemic here lately and little babies have died. We have this big campaign going to get people vaccinated particularly to protect the babies. :(
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    The campaign is bringing awareness to vaccinate young adults /adults that are carriers
    often to their own infants or those in the childcare industry.
    Pertussis protection wanes over years and boosters are needed.

    We also have had a rise in whooping cough here the last few years.
    This baby shot can frequently have an allergic reaction in kids, as with my son,
    so he as others, were unable to be fully protected then or still.
  • chadwickchadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    http://youtu.be/1Sa69AsniD0
    http://youtu.be/igCxMYviSTA
    good clips

    i am flippin out a bit with the mercury in my teeth
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."

    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • chadwickchadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    http://youtu.be/KOhcUvHOTVk
    only 1:30 in and i am interested in what this dr. says
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."

    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,120
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4pU9980Hm0

    They are special in their own way.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    g under p wrote:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4pU9980Hm0

    They are special in their own way.

    Peace

    So true!

    In her outstanding book, Thinking in Pictures, Temple Grandin talks about her difficulty with abstract concepts such as will or moving to the next stage in life. When she comes across a section of the book that is difficult for her she can make a photo copy of the page in her head and go back without the book and study that page in here mind.

    Here's a cool passage from her book:

    "After I left the company I was forced to do all my own drafting. By studying David's drawing for many hours and photographing them in my memory, I was actually able to emulate David's drawing style. I laid some of his drawings out so I could look at them while I drew my first design. Then I drew my new plan and copied his style. After making three or four drawings, I no longer had to have his drawings on the table. My video memory was now fully programmed."

    Her technical drawings are works of art- really amazing.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • MayDay10MayDay10 Posts: 11,604
    Anyone else notice a huge rise in a vocal minority of lunatics who do not have any clue what they are talking about against vaccines?

    Its maddening.

    My friend and his wife (he is a plastics engineer and she is an (ex) school teacher) were over last week trying to push us about eliminating vaccines and/or altering the schedule.

    We are also friends with our pediatrician (who we trust with our babies' life) and she really explained how dangerous these people are.
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,303
    MayDay10 said:

    Anyone else notice a huge rise in a vocal minority of lunatics who do not have any clue what they are talking about against vaccines?

    Its maddening.

    My friend and his wife (he is a plastics engineer and she is an (ex) school teacher) were over last week trying to push us about eliminating vaccines and/or altering the schedule.

    We are also friends with our pediatrician (who we trust with our babies' life) and she really explained how dangerous these people are.

    I think the problem is these people have access to the internet where they can find misinformation to validate their suspicions. They are mostly of the conspiratorial variety. I seem to run into these idiots weekly on my Facebook feed.

    You can't force people to get the shots and we live in a time so far removed from these terrible epidemics that they no longer see them as a danger. But these outbreaks are starting to happen more and more now that the herd immunity is no longer what it should be, thanks in part because of the Jenny Mccarthys of the world.

    Even though the link between vaccines and autism has been completely debunked, people still find the incorrect information they are looking for on shitty blogs that they point to as evidence. It is very frustrating, but this is the world we live in.

    Just look to the flu shot thread, some good misinformation in there.
  • backseatLover12backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
    edited January 2014
    dignin said:


    Just look to the flu shot thread, some good misinformation in there.

    Exactly what are you saying is misinformation in that thread? Why not join the debate rather than judge from another thread?
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,303

    dignin said:


    Just look to the flu shot thread, some good misinformation in there.

    Exactly what are you saying is misinformation in that thread? Why not join the debate rather than judge from another thread?
    Only so much time in the day.

    One thing that really stuck out for me was the comments about scientists and medical health professionals "guessing" about which strains of flu would be coming around each season. That couldn't be farther from the truth. But I don't really want to get into it.

    I agree with what your saying in that thread by the way.
  • riotgrlriotgrl LOUISVILLE Posts: 1,892
    dignin said:

    dignin said:


    Just look to the flu shot thread, some good misinformation in there.

    Exactly what are you saying is misinformation in that thread? Why not join the debate rather than judge from another thread?
    Only so much time in the day.

    One thing that really stuck out for me was the comments about scientists and medical health professionals "guessing" about which strains of flu would be coming around each season. That couldn't be farther from the truth. But I don't really want to get into it.

    I agree with what your saying in that thread by the way.
    Please enlighten me as to why the scientists that manufacture the flu vaccine aren't to a certain extent 'guessing' which strain of influenza will be dominant in any given year? Perhaps my response should have been more precise, however, they are speculating, forecasting, predicting, take your pick, which strain of the flu will be going around each year. Yes, I understand that scientists evaluate which strains were dominant last year and create a trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine to address Strain A and Strain B influenza but the CDC also freely admits that the vaccine may not protect you if you contract a different strain of the flu that was not covered in the shot/mist you were given. This can happen because they are working off data from the previous year or because of viral mutation that can occur during a given flu season. Please see the official CDC key facts which I link to below and the relevant paragraph that addresses my statements.

    cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

    It's not possible to predict with certainty which flu viruses will predominate during a given season. Over the course of a flu season, CDC studies samples of flu viruses circulating during that season to evaluate how close a match there is between viruses used to make the vaccine and circulating viruses. Data are published in the weekly FluView. In addition, CDC conducts studies each year to determine how well the vaccine protects against illness during that season. The results of these studies are typically published following the conclusion of the flu season and take into consideration all of the data collected during the season. Interim studies also may be conducted that provide preliminary estimates of the vaccine’s benefits that season using data available at that time. For more information, see Vaccine Effectiveness – How Well Does the Flu Vaccine Work?

    Flu viruses are constantly changing (called “antigenic drift”) – they can change from one season to the next or they can even change within the course of one flu season. Experts must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine many months in advance in order for vaccine to be produced and delivered on time. (For more information about the vaccine virus selection process visit Selecting the Viruses in the Influenza (Flu) Vaccine.) Because of these factors, there is always the possibility of a less than optimal match between circulating viruses and the viruses in the vaccine.
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...

    I AM MINE
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,303
    riotgrl said:

    dignin said:

    dignin said:


    Just look to the flu shot thread, some good misinformation in there.

    Exactly what are you saying is misinformation in that thread? Why not join the debate rather than judge from another thread?
    Only so much time in the day.

    One thing that really stuck out for me was the comments about scientists and medical health professionals "guessing" about which strains of flu would be coming around each season. That couldn't be farther from the truth. But I don't really want to get into it.

    I agree with what your saying in that thread by the way.
    Please enlighten me as to why the scientists that manufacture the flu vaccine aren't to a certain extent 'guessing' which strain of influenza will be dominant in any given year? Perhaps my response should have been more precise, however, they are speculating, forecasting, predicting, take your pick, which strain of the flu will be going around each year. Yes, I understand that scientists evaluate which strains were dominant last year and create a trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine to address Strain A and Strain B influenza but the CDC also freely admits that the vaccine may not protect you if you contract a different strain of the flu that was not covered in the shot/mist you were given. This can happen because they are working off data from the previous year or because of viral mutation that can occur during a given flu season. Please see the official CDC key facts which I link to below and the relevant paragraph that addresses my statements.

    cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

    It's not possible to predict with certainty which flu viruses will predominate during a given season. Over the course of a flu season, CDC studies samples of flu viruses circulating during that season to evaluate how close a match there is between viruses used to make the vaccine and circulating viruses. Data are published in the weekly FluView. In addition, CDC conducts studies each year to determine how well the vaccine protects against illness during that season. The results of these studies are typically published following the conclusion of the flu season and take into consideration all of the data collected during the season. Interim studies also may be conducted that provide preliminary estimates of the vaccine’s benefits that season using data available at that time. For more information, see Vaccine Effectiveness – How Well Does the Flu Vaccine Work?

    Flu viruses are constantly changing (called “antigenic drift”) – they can change from one season to the next or they can even change within the course of one flu season. Experts must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine many months in advance in order for vaccine to be produced and delivered on time. (For more information about the vaccine virus selection process visit Selecting the Viruses in the Influenza (Flu) Vaccine.) Because of these factors, there is always the possibility of a less than optimal match between circulating viruses and the viruses in the vaccine.

    Not trying to be a dick but I think you made my point. Hardly a "guess". Calling it a guess is a misrepresentation of what really happens. It's a bit of a slap in the face of the professionals who work on these vaccines. My wife is working on her Phd in immunology so I hear all about it.
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