Autism and Vaccines
by A lively debate on a connection between autism and vaccines. I decided to see what the evidence said. Here is what I found.
The Facts
At the same time, concrete facts, peer reviewed articles and case studies have shown that there is no link between autism and vaccinations. One of the most referenced studies was done in Denmark. The results read as follows “…There was no association between the age at time of vaccination, or the date of vaccination and the development of autistic disorder.” It evaluated the effects of the Mumps, Measles, and Rubella Vaccine. The study included 537,303 children born from 1991-1998. 738 of these children had an Autism spectrum disorder diagnosed by a child Psychiatrist. 82 percent were vaccinated. Factors such as age of diagnosis, mother’s education, and socioeconomic status were taken into account.
Another highly reviewed study done was entitled “Early Thimerosal Exposure and Neuropsychological Outcomes at 7 to 10 Years.” 1042 children who were exposed to mercury before the age of seven months were administered 42 neuropsychological tests at seven to ten years. The results read similar as the previous study “The weight of the evidence in this study does not support a causal association between early exposure to mercury from Thimerosal-containing vaccines and immune globulins administered prenatally or during infancy and neuropsychological functioning at the age of 7 to 10 years.”(1281-92). Many more case studies read the same.
The article, “Thimerosal and Vaccines — A Cautionary Tale.” published in the New England Journal of Medicine read “In 2004, two studies performed in the United Kingdom examined whether Thimerosal in vaccines caused neurodevelopment or psychological problems neither found evidence that early exposure to Thimerosal was harmful.”
Most recently, data from March of 2007 showed despite the state of California removing Thimerosal from childhood vaccines in March 0f 2001 the autism numbers are still rapidly rising. Dr. Robert Schechter from the California Department of health revealed “We are reassured that we found no link between routine childhood vaccination and increases in childhood autism in the data,”(qtd web MD) Raw data showing the numbers still rising despite no alleged culprit. This evidence is strong in supporting that there is no link between vaccinations and autism.
In addition to these studies the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The American Academy of Pediatric, The World Health Organization, The American Medical Association, and numerous other professional accredited associations confirm that Autism is not caused by vaccines.
Resources are wasted chasing something that has been proven inaccurate time and time again. Advocates continue to drill the vaccines and autism link. They have no proof. They have no data. They have only words. Vaccines do not cause autism. Science must spend their time finding what is really causing 1:150.
On raising a special needs child
http://www.socyberty.com/Issues/Children-with-Special-Needs.336683
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