A study shows a direct link between standard childhood vaccination series and autism-like symptoms in primates. Presented by one of the principal scientists behind it, Dr. Laura Hewitson, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, the research was presented as an abstract pending publication at the International Meeting for Autism Research. It has been presented in both London, UK and Seattle, USA.

The study compared vaccinated macaque monkeys with non-vaccinated macaques. The "poster presentation" of the study, upon which Dr. Hewitson based her abstract for oral presentation, requires a small form of peer review amongst the scientists and researchers attending. So far, no major flaws in the study have been revealed by any attending scientist. The vaccines used included the popular MMR series.

One of the key findings was a marked increase in gastrointestinal (GI) tissue gene expression and inflammation issues with those monkeys which received vaccinations. These issues are a common symptom of children with regressive autism.

Behavioral changes and developmental differences in those monkeys given the vaccines versus those who were not were also observed.

Although studies into individual vaccines or small groupings of them have been done in the past, no study including all of the vaccine series commonly given to children in the U.S. and UK (about 30 in all) has been conducted until now.

These studies support gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield's studies into links between vaccines and GI symptoms published in 1998. Dr. Wakefield contributed his GI research to this new University of Pittsburgh study.

While the Food and Drug Administration considers vaccines safe and lists them as such, they have done no studies into the effects of multiple vaccinations as given in the common childhood series which started in the 1990s.

"Compared with unexposed animals, significant neurodevelopmental deficits were evident for exposed animals in survival reflexes, tests of color discrimination and reversal, and learning sets," the study's authors reported. "Differences in behaviors were observed between exposed and unexposed animals and within the exposed group before and after MMR vaccination."

Since the study was revealed (it remains unpublished), one court has thrown out a case claiming a link between autism and vaccines while another has awarded a win to parents for the same link.

In addition, federally-mandated research from Congress was approved and was to begin this year, but the funds were rescinded in early January. Claiming "conflict of interest" because of ongoing court cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - a long-time supporter of vaccinations - withdrew the research plans.

For more information:
National Autism Association Press Release on research

NaturalNews American Society of Pediatrics Unleashes Hysterical Attack on Fictional Television Show About Vaccine / Autism Link

Age of Autism Sick Monkeys: Research Links Vaccine Load, Autism Signs

National Autism Association press release on court rulings

National Autism Association press release on CDC research reversal