Mike Enzi: “I am happy to do so. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine's Immunization Safety Review Committee concluded that the body of…”

“I am happy to do so. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine's Immunization Safety Review Committee concluded that the body of epidemiological evidence ``favors rejection of a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism spectrum disorder'' and also ``favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal- containing vaccines and autism spectrum disorder.'' The IOM committee also found that ``potential biological mechanisms for vaccine-induced autism spectrum disorder that have been generated to date are theoretical only.'' However, the IOM committee also acknowledged that ``[a]bsent biomarkers, well-defined risk factors, or large effect sizes, the committee cannot rule out, based on the epidemiological evidence, the possibility that vaccines contribute to autism spectrum disorder in some small subset or very unusual circumstances.'' The IOM committee also noted that ``experiments showing effects of thimerosal on biochemical pathways in cell culture systems and showing abnormalities in the immune system or metal metabolism in people with autism spectrum disorder are provocative,'' and suggested that ``the autism spectrum disorder research community should consider the appropriate composition of the autism spectrum disorder research portfolio with some of these new findings in mind.'' I agree with the IOM committee's recommendation that ``available funding for autism spectrum disorder research be channeled to the most promising areas.'' The HELP Commit…”