The Link Between Autism And Vaccines

Many people who belong with the anti-vaccine movement are individuals who blame MMR (mumps-measles-rubella) vaccine for autism. It has now been found through several studies, that vaccines do not cause autism (Taylor, 2006). “In 2011 the vaccine-autism connection was described as “the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years”

There is no doubt that the number of vaccines recommended by health care professionals and government agencies has increased rapidly since 1980. Furthermore, vaccines have also changed in how they are made, which is unknown or poorly understood by the general public. While reviewing the literature, this was shown in the article, “Vaccines and Autism: A Tale of Shifting Hypotheses”, by Gerber & Offit (2009), where they discuss how vaccines have changed overtime. The authors state that today a single vaccine use uses less than 200 bacterial and viral proteins or polysaccharides compared to over 3000 immunological components used in 1980. In addition, the amount of protein chemistry and recombinant DNA has also increased. This helps cut back on vaccine-related reactions, because the vaccine only resembles a microbe and doesn’t function on one.

Since Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s study came out in 1998 there has been great debate about whether or not vaccinations can cause autism. The number of cases of preventable diseases has increased significantly since Dr Andrew Wakefield’s paper about the link between MMR and Autism was published. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported in 2015 there were 189 cases reported; and in 2014 the US experienced a record number of cases with a shocking 667 cases in one year. The numbers continue to go up as the years go by due to the fear of the vaccinations causing autism. This is a large amount of cases per year with the availability of a vaccine, these cases should be much lower or non existent at all. Vaccination not only protects healthy children, but it also protects children who are not strong enough to get the vaccine themselves. Thesis

Research has been done, but there still is no definitive answer to whether or not vaccines are directly involved with the onset of autism. An ingredient within children’s vaccines is a mercurial substance called thimerosal has been blamed for being the actual cause of autism in children receiving vaccines (Madsen and Kreesten 1.) The National Academy of Sciences stated “methylmercury (thimerosal) exposure alone may cause neurological problems in 60,000 children in the United States annually” (Rimland, Bernard, and McGinnis 4.)

Vaccinations are considered to be one of the greatest medical advancements of our time. The first vaccine was created in 1796 and many more have been created since. These deadly diseases such as smallpox, polio, and diphtheria are now being prevented. Since vaccines have been doing their job, we do not see them around anymore. The media is now displaying vaccines in a negative way and people are listening to the misconstrued knowledge. Parents are worried about the risks associated with the vaccines instead of the diseases they are preventing. They believe there may be a link between vaccines and the development of autism. Parents also believe there is an issue with the current immunization schedule. They believe that the children are getting too many vaccines at one time and this might cause other health related problems. This does not only affect the child who is not being vaccinated, it is a danger to children who cannot receive the vaccine due to weakened immune systems or other health related problems. The CDC states that there is no connection between vaccinations and autism. They also state that the immunization schedule is safe. Since more and more children are not being vaccinated, this might cause a global health epidemic in the future. These deadly diseases that were prevented from vaccines may reappear. It is important for health care workers to be up to date on the scientific facts regarding vaccinations so they can provide parents with accurate knowledge.

Yet, it became significantly clear that there is no association between MMR vaccine and Autism. To illustrate, a study in the British Medical Journal have found that Autism rates continued to increase even though the MMR vaccine rates were not increasing (Taylor 1999). Many other studies found no difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated children (Madsen 2002). Another research showed no connection between Autism, MMR vaccine and gastrointestinal disturbances (Taylor 2002). Moreover, the most recent study showed no decrease in the Autism rates after the MMR vaccine withdrawal in Japan (Honda 2005). In 2001, the Institute of Medicine reviewed all the data available for MMR-Autism link and concluded that there is no connection between the two and closed the case (IOM

There has been much debate regarding the possibility of a link between childhood vaccinations and the subsequent development of autism (Taylor, Swerdfeger & Eslick 2014). Autism is a cognitive condition that is present from early childhood. Childhood vaccinations are given in early childhood to prevent children from developing any serious diseases. The purpose of this paper is to present current research findings of autism and vaccinations from peer reviewed articles. Method: Fourteen peer reviewed research articles retrieved from the electronic databases EBSCOhost, CINAHL Complete and Medline. Results: Recent research findings indicate that vaccinations are not associated with the development of autism.

Politicians are having a hard time finding a common ground on the issue of autism and vaccinations. The link between autism and vaccinations was connected by a study made by Doctor Andrew Wakefield, but was broken in 2010 when the study on the issue was discredited(UWIRE). Regardless of the discredited study, politicians are still debating over the link between autism and vaccinations, even within the three members of the Republican party. The first candidate, Rand Paul,plans to spread out vaccine doses because it seems like it would be safer for children overall. Likewise, Donald Trump plans on spreading out vaccine doses, but in order to prevent

In the journal of “Vaccines and Autism” author Bernard Rimland looks at the possible role of vaccines in autism. Rimland provides crucial data in understanding autism, the possible role of vaccines in autism, and the risks of vaccines in certain children. Rimland states before his article that, “There is no consensus about biological determents of autism” (708). This being said, in his journal he points out various reasons how vaccines could lead to autism. Vaccines help immunize people against certain diseases, but are they causing others? Rimland explores this question by talking about the absence of antibodies and vitamin A, vaccines containing mercury preservatives, and MMR vaccines.

The whole MMR vaccination and Autism inspiration was first brought about by a three key points. In the book “The Everything Parent 's Guide To Vaccines: Balanced, Professional Advice To Help You Make The Best Decision For Your Child” the author told what they were in a very pleasant way. It stated “The first was an observation that the number of children diagnosed with Autism increased dramatically right around the same time the MMR combination vaccine was introduced in the United States and Great Britain. The second was based on a study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in 1998 Published in the respected scientific journal Lancet. The third is based on the fact that children with Autism were first diagnosed with the condition right after they received the MMR vaccine.” (Leslie 67). However, these three points didn’t get a exceptional start because Dr. Wakefield was later found not credible and his license is under legal indictment. (Leslie 69) Since Dr. Wakefield as found uncredible it severely damaged his followers opinions, and did not help the theory that Autism and vaccinations are linked.

Most of the research shows no evidence to support that there is a link between vaccinations and autism. Taylor, Swerdfeger, and Eslick (2014) performed a meta-analysis to summarize evidence that was available on this topic from case-control and cohort studies. They assessed the relationships between the development of autism or any autism spectrum disorder and the vaccine administrations (Taylor, Swerdfeger, & Eslick, 2014). Data in the study by Taylor, et al. (2014) showed that there was no relationship between vaccinations and autism, nor between autism and MMR, thimerosal, or mercury. This study not only addressed the relationship between vaccinations and autism but also other factors.

Myths tend to be persistent and require a lot of debunking. The anti-vaccine movement can credit its recent increase in successfully spreading fears that vaccines, and particularly either the MMR vaccine (mumps, measles, and rubella) or the vaccine preservative thimerosal, are linked to autism. The claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism is not backed by any scientific evidence and therefore should not be believed.

This study give three strong quarrel against an innovative relation between MMR vaccination and autism. A problem of autism was related in vaccinated and unvaccinated children, in both age-ordered and fully ordered investigation. There was no physical bundle of cases of autism at any moment after immunization. Either autistic disorder or other autistic spectrum disorders were combined with MMR vaccination. The main reasons for public concern has been that the widespread use of the MMR vaccine in some regions acomplice to coincide with an increment in the incidence of autism. The idea that the MMR vaccine causes or provoke autism centers on the presumed existence of autism where developmental regression is reported to follow shortly after MMR

Autism is factually known as a neurological developmental disorder. This disorder affects a child (mostly boys) at an early age or once the child is enrolled in school when it comes to social interactions, ways of communication and behavior. The rise in autism can be attributed to the various ways autism is now diagnosed, a much more attainable reason than vaccinations. Autism has a wide spectrum and specialists may consider a child to be autistic based on different characteristics than their colleague. Autism has no etiology as of yet, although various theories and vaccinations are some of the culprits. The immunization schedule that babies are supposed to follow from birth doesn’t cause autism because the CDC sets the schedule with stringent amounts of research; each vaccine is vigorously tested for the age of the child it is intended for; and vaccines are made of small antigens that do not overload the immune system. Therefore, there is no question if autism and vaccinations are related.

Vaccines are generally considered to be the most successful public health intervention ever devised. And yet there have been opponents of vaccines ever since there have been vaccines. So-called anti vaccinationists have claimed over the years that vaccines do not work, despite the overwhelming evidence that they do. They often spread misinformation about vaccine, such as the notion that vaccines weaken the immune system, when in fact they work by strengthening the immune response against the target infection. Childhood autism