Thomas Verstraeten

Dr. Verstraeten was the lead author of an influential 2003 CDC vaccine study, which concluded "no consistent significant association" was found between Thimerosal -containing vaccines (TCVs) and neurological outcomes. Verstraeten was also the key presenter at the 2000 Simpsonwood CDC Conference , in Norcross, Georgia , where his vaccine research findings were discussed by fifty-two government and Pharmaceutical Industry representatives. Members of the public were not invited to the unpublicized meeting.

Dr. Verstraeten also has said an association between TCVs and neurodevelopmental disorders cannot be refuted based on his study, and further research is needed. The research found conflicting results at different Health Maintenance Organization s for certain outcomes, suggesting that "for resolving the conflicting findings, studies with uniform neurological assessments of children with a range of cumulative thimerosal exposures are needed." [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/5/1039] "The bottom line is and has always been the same, an association between thimerosal and neurological outcomes could neither be confirmed nor refuted and therefore more study is required," Dr. Verstraeten said.[http://weldon.house.gov/News/DocumentPrint.aspx?DocumentID=6843]

Dr. Verstraeten's first report for the CDC, based on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System from February, 2000 , found a significant risk for neurological developmental disorders at age 3 months, as babies received increased amounts of thimerosal, and the risk of Autism rose 2.48 times greater for infants getting higher amounts of the product, compared to infants who received thimerosal-free vaccines. Verstraeten also has reported a link between Thimerosal and developmental delays in language and speech during the child’s first 6 months, according to an article in a New Zealand newspaper. {Link without Title}

While presenting his scientific analysis of vaccine safety data (derived from the Vaccine Safety Datalink ), in June, 2000 , at the Simpsonwood CDC conference, Verstraeten said: "Personally, I have three hypotheses. My first hypothesis is it is parental bias. The children that are more likely to be vaccinated are more likely to be picked up and diagnosed. Second hypothesis, I don't know. There is a bias that I have not yet recognized, and nobody has yet told me about it. Third hypothesis. It's true, it's thimerosal. Those are my hypotheses." {Link without Title}

SEE ALSO

Mark Geier

REFERENCES

Verstraeten, T. (2001) ''Preliminary results''. " Neurodevelopmental and Renal Toxicity of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines: a Two-Phased Analysis of Computerized Databases ". Institute of Medicine presentation slides.

Verstraeten, T. ''et al.'' (2003). " Safety of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines: A Two-Phased Study of Computerized Health Maintenance Organization Databases ". ''Pediatrics'' 112(5), 1039-1048.

Verstraeten, T. (2004). ''Letter''. " Thimerosal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and GlaxoSmithKline ". ''Pediatrics'' 113(4), 932.

EXTERNAL LINKS

KingInstitute.org - 'The Rise Against Mercury', Sarah Bridges, ''Seed Magazine''

NewMediaExplorer.org - 'Alarming expose of research manipulation', Chris Gupta (November 15, 2003)

NoMercury.org (pdf) - Letters and e-mails regarding CDC's studies of possible correlation between thimerosal and neurological disorders, Dr. Thomas Verstraeten (December 17, 1999)

SafeMinds.org (pdf) - Testimony of Lyn Redwood , RN, MSN, Before the Subcommitte on Human Rights and Wellness, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives (September 8, 2004)

Scoop.co.nz - 'Bush Puppets Push For New Law To Protect Drug Companies', Evelyn Pringle , (February 7. 2005)

Information About

Thomas Verstraeten