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The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Immunization Safety Review (ISR) Committee released its final report examining the hypothesis that vaccines, specifically the Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines, are causally associated with autism.  The committee concluded that “the body of epidemiological evidence favors a rejection of a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism…and that the body of epidemiological evidence favors a rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.” 

The ISR was formed in early 2001 to provide independent, non-biased advice to vaccine policymakers, practitioners and the public. The committee is chaired by Marie McCormick, M.D., Sc.D. of the Harvard School of Public Health and is comprised of experts from a range of relevant disciplines. This report titled Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism is a follow up to the following seven reports:

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism, April 2001
• Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, October 2001
• Multiple Immunization and Immune Dysfunction, February 2002
• Hepatitis B Vaccine and Demyelinating Neurological Disorders, May 2002
• SV40 Contamination of Polio Vaccine and Cancer, October 2002
• Vaccines and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy, March 2003
• Influenza Vaccine and Neurological Complications, October 2003

Dr. McCormick responded to a host of questions from the media during an IOM hosted teleconference and appeared on several national news interviews including NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw where she encouraged parents to receive timely vaccines.  During the interview Dr. McCormick, who is the aunt of two autistic children, stated that she would not hesitate to vaccinate her children with life-saving immunizations.

In this final report, the committee does not recommend a policy review of the current schedule and recommendations for the administration of either MMR vaccine or thimerosal-containing vaccines.  The committee also recommends that funding for autism research be directed towards efforts that will result in promising outcomes.  The full report can be found on the IOM website at http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=20155

This report spurred much news coverage.  Following are a few examples:

"Vaccine, Preservative Do Not Cause Autism - Report" Reuters News (May 18, 2004)-- "Neither the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine nor a mercury-based preservative used in many childhood shots cause autism, a U.S. health panel said on Tuesday in the most definitive report yet on the purported link."

More >> http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=5183214

"Autism Link With Vaccine Is Disputed" Associated Press (May 18, 2004)-- "There is no evidence that a controversial mercury-based vaccine preservative causes autism, concludes an eagerly anticipated scientific review that says it's time to lay vaccine suspicions to rest and find the real culprit. Tuesday's conclusion by the prestigious Institute of Medicine pointed to five large studies, here and abroad, that tracked thousands of children since 2001 and found no association between autism and vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal."

More >> http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/nation/8695154.htm

The following Web sites ran the articles above:

1. Grand Forks (ND)
2. USA TODAY
3. CNN
4. Centre Daily Times (PA)
5. Charlotte News Observer
6. Palm Beach Post
7. Washington Post
8. MSNBC
9. Biloxi Sun Herald
10. Kansas.com
11. Atlanta Journal Constitution
12. Canada.com
13. Mlive.com (MI)
14. Montgomery County Record (PA)
15. New York Newsday
16. Times Picayune (LA)
17. WTOP (DC)
18. Times Daily (AL)
19. Tuscaloosa (AL)

"Government Says There is No Autism-Vaccine Link" KOLD-TV (CBS Affiliate in Tucson) (May 18, 2004)-- "The Institute of Medicine concludes that autism is not linked to the vaccines. The IOM reviewed five recent large studies, here and abroad, that tracked thousands of children since 2001. The IOM says the "overwhelming evidence" indicates that neither the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal, nor the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR vaccine, are associated with autism."

More >>  http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=1878156

"Experts Reject Vaccine-Autism Link National Vaccine Reform Group Questions Experts' Motives" WebMD Medical News (May 18, 2004)--" An expert panel says conclusively that the mercury-containing vaccine preservative thimerosal does not cause autism in children. But a national, parent-led vaccine reform group says the panel is practicing politics, not medicine"
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/87/99457.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_1n_01

"CORRECTIONS" Washington Post (May 20, 2004) "A May 19 article about an Institute of Medicine report on vaccines and autism incorrectly characterized Rep. David Joseph Weldon (R-Fla.) as a 'vaccine skeptic.' Weldon, who is a physician, supports childhood vaccinations and believes their benefits outweigh the risks. But he believes that the federal government has not done enough to study adverse reactions to vaccines, and specifically the hypothesis that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, or vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal, cause autism. "
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41364-2004May19.html

"U.S. Panel Aims to Quash Vaccine-Autism Link" Forbes (Health Day News) (May 20, 2004) "In a large-scale report aimed at snuffing out any embers of doubt, a U.S. government panel has concluded decisively that childhood vaccinations do not cause autism."
http://www.forbes.com/health/feeds/hscout/2004/05/20/hscout519065.html

"Research, not arguments, is the answer" Andalusia Star-News (AL) (May 20, 2004) "The phone rang as the news report started. I raced to pick up the receiver, trying to hear the reporter as I answered the phone. "Hey," said Tim, my youngest son. "Hi," I answered, straining to hear the television."There is a report on the news about autism," my son said. "It's on right now." "Yeah, I'm watching it," I said. "Thanks for calling."
http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/articles/2004/05/19/opinion/opin05202.txt

"Report rejects childhood vaccines as a cause of autism" News-Medical in Child Health News (May 19, 2004) "A pivotal report issued today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) rejects childhood vaccines as a cause of autism. The findings, based on reviews of current scientific evidence, are a significant affirmation of vaccine safety, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 'For most parents, today's report should assure them of the safety of vaccines,' said AAP President Carden Johnston, MD. 'There's no doubt we must find the causes of autism, but we need to target other more promising research areas.' "
http://www.news-medical.net/view_article.asp?id=1660

"IOM finds no link between thimerosal and autism" CIDRAP ( Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy ) (May 19, 2004)"The Institute of Medicine (IOM) says it can find no evidence that thimerosal-containing vaccines or the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism and recommended that the search for the cause of the disorder focus on other possibilities. "
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/flu/news/may1904thimerosal.html

"Vaccine, Autism Link Dismissed" Ivanhoe Newswire (May 20, 2004) "Speculation that vaccines trigger autism is being dismissed by the American Academy of Pediatrics as they continue to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. The AAP assures the safety and importance of receiving vaccinations to protect healthy children from 12 diseases that are preventable by vaccination."
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=8689