HEALTH

Among the more glaring new findings is that five of the 12 children studied had developmental problems before being vaccinated.

For 30 years, Debbie Gies suspected the DPT vaccine her oldest son received to ward off diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus contributed to him developing a severe form of autism, a developmental disability that impairs communication and cognitive abilities.

The announcement this week that a major medical journal has discredited as an "elaborate fraud" the first study to link childhood vaccines to autism doesn’t change her mind.

"there are other reasons why some children develop autism and other serious childhood disorders, however, I feel that vaccines are the main contributor," Gies said.

An analysis released Wednesday in the British Medical Journal concludes that the controversial 1998 paper linking the MMR vaccine with autism was based on doctored information.

The original paper, written by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, reported on a dozen children, eight who supposedly developed gastrointestinal trouble and "regressive autism," a form of the disorder that strikes later in childhood, following the combination vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella.

The new examination of Wakefield’s research alleges the British doctor and his colleagues falsified facts about the children. the allegations were made after comparing the reported diagnosis in the original paper with hospital records.

Among the more glaring new findings is that hospital records show five of the 12 children studied had previously documented developmental problems, though the original study reported all the children had developed normally until after they were vaccinated. Also behavioral problems that the original paper said appeared days after vaccination didn’t appear for months in some kids.

The original study was later renounced by 10 of its 13 authors, and the medical journal Lancet, where it was published, retracted it in February 2010. In May, Wakefield was stripped of his right to practice medicine in Britain.

Wakefield reportedly denies the new allegations and told CNN Wednesday that his findings have been replicated in five other countries.

Many in the medical community say the Wakefield study prompted parents in the U.S. and Europe to shun childhood vaccinations, and immunization rates have never fully recovered. that has led to new outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.

To date, no credible scientific evidence has clearly connected vaccines with developmental disorders, most notably autism. the Institute of Medicine concluded that 19 major studies tracking thousands of children all show no link between vaccines and autism.

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But vaccine critics remain skeptical, citing strong anecdotal evidence of a pattern of bad reactions in vaccinated children, including identical symptoms appearing in the same period.

Critics contend that toxins used as additives and preservatives, and the number and timing of immunizations can cause developmental disabilities and other chronic health conditions in children with sensitive immune systems or genetic disorders.

The explosion in autism diagnosis helped the anti-vaccine movement gain credibility. Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, was removed from childhood vaccines in 2001 (some flu shots still contain it) in response to fears that it triggered autism symptoms.

Lower Makefield resident Diane Staines also believes vaccines play a role in the onset of autism. She had her daughter Krista vaccinated and the child was later diagnosed with the disorder.

Staines, like Gies, believes the new accusations are about money and lawsuit threats.

"I do not believe that there was fraud," Staines added. "the only fraud committed here was by those who are trying to silence Dr. Wakefield and those affected by all this. "

That said, she said she supports vaccinating children, but the vaccines need to be made safer and better spaced out. the medical community also needs to look at neurotoxins in the environment, she added.

"If you ask any mother, they have observed their child receive the vaccine and then they have witnessed changes in their child," she said. "Also then, you have to wonder why did they then take the mercury out? then also they relaxed the dosing schedule. Actions speak louder than words."

Gies also believes other factors contribute to autism, such as eating processed foods and chemical preservatives.

Her second son, Michael, 22, who wasn’t vaccinated, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism. Gies says after she removed processed foods from his diet at age 7, his social and academic performance improved dramatically.

"I know, intuitively, that Mike would have regressed and most likely it would have turned into full-blown autism just like Sam had we immunized Michael, too," Gies added.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at 215-949-4181 or jciavaglia@phillyBurbs.com. Follow Jo on Twitter at twitter.com/jociavaglia.