Dr. William W. Thompson, a Senior Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acknowledges the omission of statistically significant information in the 2004 article published in Pediatrics, which examined the potential relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism. The omitted data indicated an increased risk of autism among African American males vaccinated before 36 months of age. Dr. Thompson expresses regret for this omission and suggests that the final study protocol was not followed.

 

Dr. Thompson emphasizes his belief in the life-saving benefits of vaccines and reassures that he would never advise parents to avoid vaccinating their children of any race. He acknowledges that vaccines prevent serious diseases, and the risks associated with their administration are far outweighed by the individual and societal benefits.

 

His concern lies in the decision to omit relevant findings in a specific study, pertaining to a particular subgroup and vaccine. Dr. Thompson asserts that it is the responsibility of the CDC to properly convey the risks associated with vaccination and believes that recognized risks should not be withheld.

 

Dr. Thompson reveals his discussions with Dr. Brian Hooker over the past 10 months, focusing on CDC studies related to vaccines and neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorders. While he supports Dr. Hooker's call for transparency in CDC decision-making and analyses, Dr. Thompson was unaware that their conversations were being recorded, and he had no control over the public release of his name or voice.

 

 

Dr. Thompson acknowledges that reasonable scientists may differ in their interpretations of information. He pledges to support unbiased and objective scientists within or outside the CDC in analyzing data collected by the CDC or other public organizations to better understand the potential association between vaccines and an increased risk of autism. He acknowledges that there are still many unanswered questions in this ongoing debate.