Mitochondrial disease is real.

Mitochondrial disease occurs when there is some failure in our mitochondria, which are classically thought of as the energy factories of our cells.

In addition to developmental delays, children with mitochondrial disease often have problems with their vision, hearing, muscle weakness, seizures, and dementia. Among the syndromes associated with mitochondrial disease include Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF), neurogenic weakness with ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP), or Leigh syndrome (LS), and mitochondrial recessive ataxia syndrome (MIRAS).

Mitochondrial disease does not cause autism.

It is possible for a child to have both a mitochondrial disease and autism though.

And according to the CDC, “As of now, there are no scientific studies that say vaccines cause or worsen mitochondrial diseases.”

What about Hannah Poling, the autistic child who was compensated by the Vaccine Court? Hannah Poling developed an encephalopathy, a table injury, for which she was compensated. Although she has autism, her case was not about vaccines triggering or worsening that condition. Developing an encephalopathy within a short time of being vaccinated automatically made her eligible for compensation.

For more information:

• Mitochondrial Disorders Overview
• CDC – Mitochondrial Disease – Frequently Asked Questions
• Why Was Hannah Poling Compensated?
• Court Clarifies: Hannah Poling case “does not afford any support to the notion that vaccinations can contribute to the causation of autism”
• Vaccine Injury Compensation and Mitochondrial Disorders
• The Hannah Poling case and the rebranding of autism by antivaccinationists as a mitochondrial disorder
• Autism and Vaccines: Responding to Poling and Kirby
• The latest claims of “proof” that vaccines cause autism: Will the media take the bait?
• Expert opinions on vaccines and mitochondrial disorders
• Reassessing the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in autism spectrum disorder.

• Vaccine Misinformation