Opinion On Vaccines, Mercury, and ASD

Jaquelyn McCandless, M.D.

Certified by American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology

21800 Marylee St., #48
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

To Parents and Physicians of Autistic Children:

June 28, 2001

I am a physician certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, conducting clinical practice in Southern California. In the last few years I have begun specializing in the treatment of developmentally delayed children, primarily those in the autistic spectrum disorder group. I was called into this work by one of my grandchildren being diagnosed with autism, and have since been non-stop researching and trying to understand and treat this disorder.

At this point I am treating as many children as I can handle in my practice, and the stories are all so similar that I must corroborate from my clinical experience what is becoming obvious to many throughout the world. The vaccines as part of the toxic world we live in are contributing to the weakening of the children's immune systems generally, borne out by the incredible rise in asthma/allergic disorders, diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases as well as autism. If there happens to be a genetic predisposition in the family, the combination of the genetics and toxic insult particularly during gestation or early childhood may lead to developmental delay from mild learning disorders and ADD/ADHD to full-blown autism. Statistics are bearing this out; one in 150-250 children are receiving the autistic diagnosis at this time, and literally millions of children are being treated for learning delay disorders with the numbers increasing every year.

Though the general feeling among clinicians such as I is that the injury most often starts with the injection at birth of the toxin thimerosal in the Hep B, (which has recently finally been removed from the newborn's vaccine) the cumulative effect of the vaccines injure the child's immune system starting a familiar chain of events. That is, multiple infections/antibiotics, gut disorders, food intolerances etc. with the MMR often being the final blow before their descent into autism.

My current recommendation is that any child and particularly one with a developmental disorder or with a family member with an autoimmune or developmental delay disorder be given special care by the physician ordering the vaccines. Several caveats are that the child should be in good health before receiving vaccines, all vaccines be thimerosal free, and all vaccines be given as separate components, e.g. M & M & R each being six months apart and boosters only for those testing negative for immunity. Hepatitis B should be given to a newborn only if the mother tests positive, otherwise the child can wait until 4-5 years of age. Pediatricians are recommended to read the July 2001 issue of Pediatrics for more recommendations; their report on Mercury in the Environment states that all recommended childhood immunizations are available in thimerosal-free forms now, and parents must insist on these for their children. Parents must be willing to be advocates for their children and help educate their doctors during this period of intense research and reform that is taking place regarding childhood immunizations.

Opinion On Vaccines/Bio-Medical Approach