In David Ayoub's letter, "Vaccination programs not always beneficial" (SN 6/18), he would like the reader to believe he is an unbiased doctor protesting the "one-sided propaganda" surrounding the debate about the safety of vaccines. The reality is his letter itself is one-sided propaganda.

What Dr. Ayoub does not reveal in his letter is he is the director of the Prairie Collaborative for Immunization Safety, which is a lobbying organization. He also is the medical director of the Foundation for Autism Information and Research Inc., a group that publicizes the alleged links between vaccines and mercury. Dr. Ayoub does not seem so impartial now, does he?

Additionally, Dr. Ayoub does not provide any evidence for his claim that "the link to vaccines and autism is undeniable." Dr. Ayoub is a self-proclaimed expert in this field, although he is specifically trained as a radiologist.

The debate about the link between vaccines and autism (and the causes of autism in general) is being carried out in the shadowy realm of special publications, interviews and foundations. This is a scientific matter that should be discussed in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Many of these foundations that claim to be helping people with autism are doing anything but helping. Millions of dollars are spent on research on how to cure autism. But little or no money is actually spent helping children who have autism. And no money at all is spent by any of these groups to help adults who have autism.

Autism is not fatal at age 18. Children do not grow out of autism - children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. And those adults with autism may need help with life skills, getting and keeping a job, and independent living. Unfortunately, none of the autism foundations are researching ways to help children and adults who are currently living with autism.

People like Dr. Ayoub need to stop using autism as a scare tactic to raise money for their research. More research needs to be done in areas that will actually help people. Real progress will only be made when people stop chasing after a cure only for the fame and glory it will bring them, and start caring for the people who receive the diagnoses.

Kristin Horner
third-year anthropology graduate student