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June 25,
2004
Little
Rock - The Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) jointly support a pivotal report issued May 18, 2004 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The report rejects a causal relationship between the measles-mumps-rubella(MMR) vaccine and autism. On the day the report was released, Ron M. Davis, MD and American Medical Association Trustee said, “Those who still remember the horrors of measles, mumps and rubella in the United States know that the importance of this immunization cannot be overestimated.” Davis continued, “The finding from the IOM rejecting a causal association between MMR vaccine and autism and rejecting a causal association between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism are significant. While all formulations of vaccines administered to children younger than six years of age are now thimerosal-free, this finding will allow research funding to be appropriately channeled into the investigation of the actual causes of autism, a complex set of severe developmental disorders.”
Dr. Eduardo R. Ochoa, an UAMS Assistant Professor and officer of the Arkansas Chapter of AAP, says, “The AAP recommends that infants and children be vaccinated to protect them from 12 vaccine preventable diseases. Parents shouldn’t kid themselves. Diseases like measles haven’t disappeared. They are kept at bay through widespread vaccination. At any time an unvaccinated child could contract one of these dangerous and life-threatening diseases. This report will help parents make an informed decision to fully immunize their children.”
Dr. Sandra Snow, Arkansas Department of Health Medical Director, Communicable Disease and Immunization, said more information about the Institute of Medicine and a copy of the report are available at www.iom.edu. The report is entitled “Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism.” Snow said the American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 57,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
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