The limitations of the studies discounting a vaccine autism connection has been described by Dr. Bernadine Healy, former American Red Cross and NIH head, who points out that such studies do not necessarily address at risk population subsets. See (Fighting the Vaccine-Autism War, Leading Dr.: Vaccines-Autism Worth Study).

"There is no evidence that removal of thimerosal from vaccines has lowered autism rates. But autism numbers are not precise, so I would say that considerably more research is still needed on some provocative findings. After all, thimerosal crosses the placenta, and pregnant women are advised to get flu shots, which often contain it. Studies in mice suggest that genetic variation influences brain sensitivity to the toxic effects of mercury. And a primate study designed to mimic vaccination in infants reported in 2005 that thimerosal may clear from the blood in a matter of days but leaves inorganic mercury behind in the brain.

The debate roils on - even about research. The Institute of Medicine in its last report on vaccines and autism in 2004 said that more research on the vaccine question is counterproductive: Finding a susceptibility to this risk in some infants would call into question the universal vaccination strategy that is a bedrock of immunization programs and could lead to widespread rejection of vaccines. The IOM concluded that efforts to find a link between vaccines and autism "must be balanced against the broader benefit of the current vaccine program for all children."

Wow. Medicine has moved ahead only because doctors, researchers, and yes, families, have openly challenged even the most sacred medical dogma."

Dr. Bernadine Healy,Fighting the Vaccine-Autism War, US News and World Report, April 10, 2008

In case anyone missed the last point, Dr. Healy indicated that the IOM in 2004 expressly discouraged research of a possible vaccine-autism war because of fear over the potential impact of such research on public confidence in vaccines.

Teresa Binstock, in 1999 also pointed out that vaccine-autism research, and environmental causes of autism research, were expressly discouraged by pressure to conduct genetic oriented bases of autism research. To receive research funding researchers had to subscribe to the "it's gotta be genetic" autism paradigm.

Dr. Julie Gerberding and Dr. Duane Alexandre have also stated that there is more research that could be done on the vaccine autism link. One such study in particular could look at autism prevalence in vaccinated versus unvaccinated groups . Apparently a study of incidence of whooping cough in unvaccinated children has been done recently so why not look at the incidence of autism in unvaccinated children and compare that rate to those who are vaccinated?

Simply repeating, ad nauseam, a less than accurate statement that a vaccine autism link has been "disproved" will not convince parents who see their children develop autism symptoms after vaccination.

It is time to do some real research, the type that was discouraged by the IOM in 2004. THEN you might convince everyone that vaccines are jim dandy safe. Or maybe the irrational belief that vaccines, although obviously of great benefit to the public could not possibly have any harmful effects, would suffer a setback.

Stop talking down to concerned parents. Prove your case, really prove your case and trust might be restored.