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Vaccinations and Autism
Before 1980, autism was diagnosed in just 1 out of every 10,000 children.
Twenty five years later, the National Institutes of Health reported that
autism disorders affect one in every 250 children, and is estimated to increase
10% every year. Though no scientific evidence has yet to prove a link between
autism and vaccinations, both the scientific and medical communities agree
that further research and study needs to be conducted before the possible link
can be completely dismissed. With the rumors of autism and vaccinations,
many families are opting for alternative vaccinations schedules or no vaccinations
at all. What exactly is the link between autism and vaccinations?
The Connections Between Vaccinations and Autism
The first connection with autism and vaccinations come through a
preservative called thimerosal. Thimerosal is a preservative found in many vaccinations.
Thimerosal contains 46.9% ethyl mercury. Mercury is the second most harmful
natural substance to humans, next to uranium. Mercury has been proven to
cause neurological damage, among other ailments, and pregnant women are warned
against the ingestion of mercury, even warning expectant mothers of eating fish.
Autism and autistic spectrum disorders are neurological disorders. Although the
CDC claims that vaccinations no longer contain thimerosal, it must be noted that
pharmaceutical companies were not prohibited from using this preservative, but strongly
encouraged to or reduce the amount found in certain vaccinations. Seventeen vaccinations
contain thimerosal, including the flu shot. Although new vaccinations are being created
without thimerosal, vaccinations containing the preservative are still being
administered throughout the country.
The Increase in Vaccinations
Another suspicion linking vaccinations to autism comes from the amount of vaccinations children now receive. In 1985, infants received four vaccinations that contained thimerosal. In 1991, when the rate of autism began to increase, infants were now receiving eleven vaccinations containing thimerosal. One physician, requesting to remain anonymous, states, In the 80s, children received eight vaccinations in early childhood. They now receive thirty. Why thirty? With each public health scare, like Smallpox or Anthrax, that number is going to inevitably increase. Twenty years from now, children could easily be receiving forty vaccinations and because the medical community some of the medical community endorses this, parents will vaccinate without knowing the risks. I tell my patients not to take my word for it. Not to take the word of the CDC or the APA, but to research themselves. It falls in the same myth that unvaccinated children cannot attend public school. Few people read the fine print and even fewer will inform them of it.
The last link between autism and vaccinations deals with age. The onset of autism is generally detected in very early childhood. In mild cases, some parents may be unaware of the autistic spectrum symptoms and many believe that their child is simply a late bloomer or that lack of socialization may be the root of the children's delays. There is one exception, called regressive autism. Those affected by regressive autism start life off with chronologically appropriate skills and then begin to lose those skills. Regressive autism has been linked to the MMR vaccination. Many parents noticed after their children received the MMR shot, that their children regressed and skills previously possessed practically disappeared. Some in the medical community believe that repressive autism is an imaginary disease created by parents, but to the parents of the autistic child who care for this child every day they believe very strongly.
Vaccinations and Autism: Educate Yourself
Research and studies have yet to produce concrete evidence that there is indeed a link between autism and vaccinations, but they are unable to completely rule out the possibility. Some use the fact that they have been unable to link the two without a question as basis to argue that there is no link. However, researchers have been working diligently for decades to solve the mystery of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome to no success. Because their research has yet to give a specific cause to SIDS, doesn't mean SIDS does not exist. The best decision you can make for your child is to educate yourself on the possible health risks related to vaccinations, whether it is autism or SIDS. If you do chose to vaccinate your child, ask your pediatrician who manufactures the vaccination and what is used as a preservative. Do not make the mistake that so many parents do by blindly following the policies and beliefs of your pediatrician. To pediatricians, a child is a patient. To you, it is your son or your daughter.
Vaccinations section author: Amanda Stevens
Last Update: 05/07/2005
Vaccinations and Autism
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