Immunizations and Autism

Published

I hear a lot about how immunizations for children may cause autism... Is there really any truth to this? I haven't found any research supporting this theory. IF anybody has any info I would like to hear about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

The theory has been disproven by at least a dozen studies around the world. Populations studies in Europe have revealed no link whatsoever with the number of children with autism and the number of children vaccinated. Why is this myth still being promulgated?

http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-why-does-vaccine-autism-controversy-live-on

In reality, the probably cause for the "spike" in autism (and ADHD!) diagnoses relates to a loosening of the diagnostic criteria (I could have autism myself based on the current criteria), the broadening of the definition from a disorder to a "spectrum" of disorders and the changing social fabric of our world. However, I don't intend to debate parenting practices here so I'll leave it at that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Then again, I have to wonder who was doing the studies? As they say, always follow the money and/or the special interests.

Children now have to receive some 22+ vaccinations now before their 2nd birthday. When I was raising my kids in the 90's, it was only 11 or so.

And I've got to ask -- are we really diagnosing this better? Would we really have not NOTICED all these kids with autism way before we got better at diagnosing it? I'm sorry, but people would have noticed if there were more kids with autism.

I have a child with autism. There were signs of it, although very vague at about 6-7 months. Then, after the MMR which he received very early at 12 months, we started seeing major symptoms and signs. Almost overnight.

Talk to parents of children with autism. Ask more questions. I'm not sure it's caused by vaccines, but it could be caused by some sort of environmental assult of some kind.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopedics, pediatrics.
I hear a lot about how immunizations for children may cause autism... Is there really any truth to this? I haven't found any research supporting this theory. IF anybody has any info I would like to hear about it.

I have done some research on this myself. I don't believe this is true at all. Approved pediatric sites have done various amounts of studies on this subject. Since everyone is blaming it on the MMR vaccine given at 12 months they did trial groups of kids who received the vaccines, kids who didn't, and kids who had the MMR separated and given at three different times in a period of time and it was shown that there was no evidence of MMR causing autism. I personally would rather my infant son take a very small chance of this being true and getting autism verus not receiving them and falling ill to something that I could have prevented. And please if you decide not to vaccinate keep your kids away from my baby seeing as how he is only 5 months and isn't old enough to have certain vaccines and just exposed him to it. (Sorry this is what upsets me more than anything.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment