"Longtime vaccine skeptic and U.S. secretary of health and human services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., reportedly believes routine influenza vaccines may have triggered his spasmodic dysphoniaa neurological condition that affects the vocal cords and a person's ability to speak. But the claim, made in a wide-ranging recent interview with USA Today, is unsupported by evidence, experts say. Kennedy told the outlet that he stopped getting his annual flu shot in 2005."
"The exact causes of spasmodic dysphonia are unclear; experts suspect different brain areas may be involved and that the condition may have a genetic component. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, meanwhile, says that there is no evidence that vaccines cause the condition. In contrast, preliminary research suggests certain vaccinations may actually be protective against certain forms of dystonia, the organization states."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic and U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, believes routine influenza vaccination may have triggered his spasmodic dysphonia and stopped annual flu shots in 2005. Medical experts state there is no known linkage between flu vaccine and voice disorders. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation reports no evidence that vaccines cause spasmodic dysphonia and notes preliminary research suggesting some vaccinations might be protective against certain dystonias. MedPage Today's analysis found only FluLaval lists dysphonia as a potential side effect, and that vaccine was approved in the U.S. in 2006. The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]