Summary: Fraudulent Immunization Study

Although the negative claims behind anti-immunization stances are deceptive and discredited, some parents find it difficult to accept that vaccines are necessary and safe. Many of these reasons are due to personal or religious beliefs that have persuaded parents to bypass immunizations for their children. Consequently, health officials are seeing disquieting rises of diseases that are easily preventable. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has reported hundreds of measles cases in the United States in 2011, the largest number in 15 years (Ben-Joseph, Elana). Essentially, almost all of these cases were in individuals who had not received a vaccine shot. Also found in the article was that a great amount of the quarrel over the shots comes from a 1998 study that tried to connect autism to a type of vaccine that defends against measles. However, there has been no scientific evidence that a vaccine or a combination of any of the shots induces autism. Undoubtedly, the doctor that wrote the article, calling vaccines a “deliberate fraud” ,lost his license for not submitting any evidence of his claim and causing people to neglect shots for that year. Sadly, due to that article, 1 in 4 parents still believe that vaccines are

Wakefield published a study on the effects of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)-vaccine, specifically the “mercury” based and the vaccine instigating the onset of autism (Wakefield para 3). Wakefield’s study involved 12 individuals whose medical background was altered in order to support his study (Goodlee para 2). After 12 years of Wakefield’s research being published, his findings were found to be inaccurate. Many doctors and scientists alike have proven his theory wrong, causing the magazine that published the article to fully retract it (Goodlee para 2). However, the damage caused by Wakefield’s false findings has yet to be undone. The number in vaccinations dropped and the number of deadly diseases ultimately rose (Goodlee para 8). Despite study after study proving that Wakefield blatantly falsified his findings, many parents including, celebrities like Jenny McCarthy, continue to advocate against vaccinations and blame the MMR-vaccine for her child’s autism diagnosis.

One such factor helping to manifest these large-scale epidemics is a study from 1998 by Andrew Wakefield, which claimed that there was a direct link between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine (Smith 1). As a result, many parents refused to vaccinate their children out of fear, and vaccine-preventable diseases like measles began reappearing more in both America and Britain, the place where Wakefield conducted his study (Cohen 2). Although a later investigation by the British Medical Journal discovered that Wakefield had distorted or altered the medical records of all twelve of the study’s participants and that he had been paid $674,000 USD by lawyers attempting to sue vaccine manufacturers, the atmosphere of apprehension surrounding vaccines is still strong among many individuals, and especially parents (Cohen 1-2). But despite all the controversy and the scientifically unsupported arguments of anti-vaccine sympathizers,

Being a parent is a never ending full time job. Constantly on the run, doing laundry, making food, and wiping snotty noses, you are faced with decisions to make for your child every day. One of those important decisions is whether or not to vaccinate your child. In today’s society this has become a tough choice to make as negative light has been casted upon vaccinations and their safety. False allegations of vaccines causing Autism have led parents from vaccinating their children, but research has proven that vaccinations are not the cause of Autism and parents should continue to vaccinate for the safety of their child as well as society.

"In the United States, the childhood immunization schedule recommends that children receive approximately 15 vaccinations by 19 months of age, and it specifies ages for administration of each vaccination dose" (Luman, Barker, McCauley, & Drews-Botsch, 2005, p. 1367). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vaccine is "a product that produces immunity therefore protecting the body from the disease" (Vaccines and Immunizations, 2015). Currently, there are many individuals advocating for and opposing the effects of the administration of vaccinations and immunizations in the United States. There are both legal and ethical issues surrounding the controversy, which include both deliberate and exogenous reasons not to vaccinate, and the mandatory nature that is required by many schooling districts and places of employment. Within this paper, I will discuss some legal implications surrounding vaccination, ethical debates that are current in the topic, as well as my point of view regarding immunizations and vaccinations.

The big issue is, does the government have the right to mandate immunization? We mandate that a child has to be in a car seat, that they can’t use alcohol, tobacco or drugs so should we mandate preventative protections. This is the ethical question, does the medical field, or the government have the “right” to force a parent to give their child immunizations for disease that can be prevented? This will be discussed for years and no matter what the decision is there will be people on both sides of the issue. Some will say that the government needs to “force” parents that will not take proper “care” of their child to immunize them or penalize them. Then the other side of the issue will say, we have rights and it is not the governments concern to force immunization. Whether you agree or disagree, the child is the major concern in the discussion. They have really no say in what happens, and they are forced to follow whatever their parents feel is the correct direction to follow, an infant cannot say “I want the immunization” or “I do not want the immunization” and the parent that feels that the immunization causes autism or some other type of disease or their religion is against immunization or other medical care have their rights and they are allowed to express what they believe is

Opponents strongly argue that vaccines are behind the increasing numbers of autism cases, mental retardation, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Crohn disease. Ted Koren, DC stated, "Dyslexia, minimal brain damage, ADD, autism, allergies, visual and many other neurologic diseases grouped together as "developmental disabilities," barely existed before mass vaccination programs. Probably twenty percent of American children-one youngster in five-suffers from a 'developmental disability.” In 1998 in an attempt to sue vaccine manufacturers and create a vaccine scare, Lancet published an article for Andrew Wakefield, MD claiming that “ Rubella virus is associated with autism and the combined measles, mumps, and Rubella vaccine.” Between 2003 and 2012 an investigation has been run to verify the validity of these assumptions. It turns out that Wakefield has falsified medical histories of children and the same publisher issued an announcement that no casual link was established between MMR and

Only nine weeks after he was born, Brady Alcaide was buried, his tiny body unrecognizable from the effects of whooping cough. At first, the vaccine-preventable illness seemed like a common cold, but a trip to the hospital revealed otherwise. Brady and his family are just some of the people suffering because of decreased vaccination rates. The anti-vaccine movement was started with the release of a study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in 1998. The study showed data that supports the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to a higher risk of autism in children. Because of this study, some parents are choosing to stop vaccinating their kids, even though the study is continually

The measles vaccine was licensed in 1962, and within 5 years of release of this vaccine a strong decline and almost eradication of measles was reported from 1950-2007. According to doctors conducting research at the CDC the claim that, “Vaccines can overload a child’s immune system”. ( citation) is simply false and from the moment babies are born, they are exposed to all different kinds of sicknesses, including viruses of which the body has no way of fighting off to defend the child. The CDC and the Institute of Medicine all agree that 95% of children`s immune systems can handle a stimulating antigen, similar to the ones found in multiple vaccines. It’s also been suggested that, after Wakefield’s paper was published, and the anti-vaccination campaign that followed, general immunizations dropped from 92%, to 78.9% in a matter a few years. 7 years after the irreversible damage caused by the fraudulent paper, the Lancet retracted Wakefield’s claim, issued a public apology during an interview with the Sunday Time, and promptly saw most of Wakefield’s co – authors, withdrawing their support and findings from the paper. The investigation showed that his research had been biased and non-empirical as the children that were used in the study, were selected as evidence

Have you ever thought about how much a single lie could affect humanity for decades? That is exactly what was started in 1998 by Dr. Andrew Wakefield. He and a panel of a dozen other scientists conducted a study to test for a connection between the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine and a predisposition to behavioral regression and pervasive developmental disorders, including autism. Published on the 28th of February 1998 in The Lancet (Lancet1), their study showed there was a direct correlation between administration of the MMR vaccine and onset of symptoms of autism or regression of previously learned skills (NCBI).

Vaccines have been a very controversial topic amongst the medical field and parenting bodies, led by scare tactics from anti-vaccination activists. One of the most contentious vaccine debates to date is the proposed causal relationship between the receipt of the measles, mump-rubella vaccine and autism. The fears created by the anti-vaccination activists are making parents question the safety associated with the vaccine. A study published in the Lancet in 1988 by Andrew Wakefield suggested that the measles and the mumps vaccine could trigger autism, sparking an anti-vaccination campaign and activism. After the introduction of the MMR vaccination, the incidence of MMR among 2-year- olds in England dropped below 80%. However, the parental refusal

Many accusations have been made about the MMR vaccine, such as it causing harmful side effects, such as the development of autism, the development of serious allergies, and that the vaccine does not effectively protect against MMR (Betsch, Sachse, 2013, para 1). All of these accusations have been proven to be either false or negligible. Severe allergic reactions are very rare with a current rate of one case per 100000 MMR vaccines (Kassianos, 2010, pg 3). The chances of developing a severe allergic reaction are greatly outweighed by the disease which could occur without being vaccinated. People also fear the possible connection between the MMR vaccine and the development of autism due to an article published by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet in 1998. However, Dr. Wakefield’s research was discredited and withdrawn. Parents have nothing to fear when subjecting their child to receive the MMR vaccine. “The World Health Organization (WHO) states that MMR is a highly effective vaccine with an outstanding safety record” (Kassianos, 2010, pg 3). In order for a vaccine to become publicly available it must undergo multiple tests which assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. Apart from medical, religious or philosophical reasons, there is no reason to refuse the MMR vaccine. “Not only do vaccines save lives, they save money too. It is always cheaper to prevent a disease than to treat it” (CCIC, n.d., para

In 1998, Dr. Andrew Wakefield and 12 of his medical colleagues published research claiming the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine was linked to causing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children (Rao et al., The MMR Vaccine). Though these claims have now been debunked, along with Mr. Wakefield’s medical certification, a new anti-vaccine movement has spiraled out of control in the United States. Influenced by the Wakefield publication, actress Jenny McCarthy fed the anti-vaccine fire when she claimed her son contracted autism after being vaccinated. Though the CDC and FDA have proven there is no link between vaccines and autism, many still believe this false claim ignited by McCarthy. Since then, parents across the country have advocated for vaccine-free children, even though it is required to attend public schools. Many believe their children’s immune systems are being negatively affected by the ingredients of vaccines, when really our immune systems adapt to vaccines to fight off diseases that at one time killed millions. Parents believe they are responsible for making their children’s healthcare decisions, and that the government should not have any say on what happens to our bodies. However, vaccination is not a choice, it is a civil responsibility. It is necessary to continue requiring vaccination to maintain herd

In 1963 the Noble Peace Prize winning virologist John F. Enders finally licensed his vaccine for measles. Prior to this vaccine the United States alone reported 4 million cases of the measles each year. With more scientific discoveries the measles vaccine today has evolved to include immunity against rubella and mumps along with protecting millions against illness each year. However, vaccination is a word surrounded by controversy in today’s parenting world and the Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR) can be distinguished as possibly the most controversial vaccine of our time. Controversial because of the fear that many have that it causes autism along with other hazards. This fear has clouded

As time progressed, scientific innovations have led to the development of vaccines for various types of infectious diseases. Diseases that were once feared by the American public such as smallpox, whooping cough, and polio have now become rare. Smallpox has even been eradicated with the last naturally occurring case presenting itself in 1980. Vaccines were once welcomed with open arms by the citizens of the United States, but that all changed in the late 1990s when Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his collegues published a report the linked the MMR vaccine to autism. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubuella) vaccine is usually administered to children 12 months and