Alright so – I am having a really hard time processing this news from Dr. Thompson and how CDC seems to be really quite about it. Is it true & did they not include data from African American boys? Is Dr. Thompson a nut case having a mid-life crises? Why would CDC not tell all data? How can anyone now trust their word if this becomes true? how many parents will not vaccinate their kids now? how many parents now regret it?
I have so many questions and no answers from CDC so far. The only thing we have is Dr. Thompson who seems to be standing by his comments and accusations and is still employed at CDC. If he is lying, why is he still there?
My son is now 12 and was 2 in 2004 when this study was done which is when he got the MMR vaccine. I am not sure if I knew what I know now – if I would have made the same decision. I think any risk for autism is a risk not worth taking. I can’t remember the last time I slept 8 hours straight. I can’t remember a day that I did not worry about autism, my son and how autism has completely changed our life. I cry as I write this because I want to trust CDC and I want them to wake me up from this nightmare. I want them to tell us there is no link and there is another reason for autism and our children.
I want CDC to be a leader in public health and they are acting like a coward right now by hiding and keeping quite. Autism might have silenced our children, but it shall never silence their parents. I feel betrayed if this is true because I have voted with CDC every time a vaccine vote was up at IACC. I figured they are the experts and I am here to support them. I sat across Dr. Boyle and voted with her. I publicly and privately defended CDC against anyone and everyone including my own family and friends. I took beatings in social media every time I voted with CDC, but I still defended CDC because I thought they were the scientists and researchers and will always tell us all data with no salt or sugar. I know families who did not vaccinate their children after the first one got autism and the 2nd and even 3rd child still got autism even with no vaccines, so I understand there is a genetic component. But, is it for all children? Are there sub groups that are more prone to environmental factors and if so what? Why would the CDC hide the data for Black boys in their 2004 study? They must’ve did it for a good reason – at least that is what I am hoping to hear.
As a Black autism mom, I always see things from my lenses that is not always a fair or equal view from subtle bias intervention policies. And, I wonder if Dr. Thompson said CDC took out data for Caucasian boys to skew their numbers because it showed they had a higher risk for autism when given the MMR on time, would the mainstream media that is mostly Caucasian be so dismissive. I tried to get many reporters I know to ask CDC/Dr Thompson questions, but they are not interested. Some just ignored my request, some just thanked me for calling them and some said Dr. Thompson is a nut job who is having a mid-life crises. As a Black autism mom, I wonder if their answers would be the same if the omitted data was for Caucasian children.
I am really having a hard time with this and I have been crying and second guessing all of my votes and decision to vaccinate my son in 2004. I am not sure if I would have done it, if knew what I know now. I think I would have waited until he was older. Maybe he would have still been diagnosed with autism, but now I will never know. I was deprived of that choice in a country built on choice and freedom. How can that be? how can America take choice and freedom from their citizens and parents. Will President Obama say if I had a son, he would have had a higher risk for autism? Would Eric Holder say – I am a Black father and that could’ve been my son? Who stands up for our Black autistic sons that according to Dr. Thompson had a higher risk for autism when given MMR vaccine on time, but were denied that choice.
Who do we get mad at now? who is responsible for this now? when will CDC address this? when will Minnesota department of health take their responsibility seriously and really address autism in the Somali community? how many more children like mine will it take? how many more families dreams will be altered or changed? how many more moms and dads will cry? when will Blacks be treated like equal Americans with the right to life, liberty and happiness? WHEN? I cry as I wait. I am angry as I write this. I am sad as I write this. I am frustrated as I write this. I feel so many emotions that I can’t explain as I write this. Parents should always have the right and the choice to protect their children and if what Dr. Thompson is saying is right then Black families were again denied that right and that choice.
I want answers and I want them now for me, for my son and for the thousands of Black boys and families that autism has affected profoundly. If we can’t trust CDC and MDH with our children’s health then how can we possibly listen or validate anything else they tell us from now on. Often new parents ask me about vaccines and I would always say – I trust CDC. Can I still say that? Shall I not tell them about Dr. Thompson’s new revelations? Can I say – don’t trust or listen to MDH because they don’t care? What can I say to those that seek my advice? What level of risk is worth for your child’s health?
Autism might have silenced our black boys, but it shall never silence their parents. CDC – you must responds and you must tell us what happened and why. Minority autism children and families are already discriminated against in early intervention, in services, in resources and now in research. Come on – this can’t be and this double standard must end. For the sake of argument, let’s assume Dr. Hooker’s study was wrong and should have been pulled from publication, what about the 2004 CDC study – was it wrong, did it omit data for Black boys? We need an explanation not silence from CDC.
A CDC researcher can’t just admit to something so horrible and so wrong and CDC can’t just stay quite. We will not rest until we get answers and explanation. For the record, I have defended and like Dr. Allsopp, but CDC is a big agency with huge public health responsibilities and someone needs to come out and explain this for the sake of public health.
As usual, above words do not represent any committee, agency or candidate.
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate