Before 1980, autism was diagnosed in just 1 out of every 10,000 children. Twenty five years later, the National Institute of Health reported that autism disorders affect one in every 250 children, and that number is estimated to increase 10% every year.
Although no scientific evidence has yet to prove a link between autism and vaccinations, both scientific and medical communities agree that further research 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 vaccination schedules or no vaccinations at all. What exactly is the link between autism and vaccinations?
Autism and Thimerosal
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, such as 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, but strongly encouraged, to 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.
Vaccination Increases
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 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 some people in the medical community endorse 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."
Vaccinations and Age
The last link between autism and vaccinations deals with age. The onset of autism is generally detected in very early childhood. In mild cases, parents may be unaware of the autistic spectrum symptoms. This leads them to believe that their child is simply a late bloomer or that they lack social skills. There is one exception to this pattern, 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 that after their children received the MMR shot, skills they 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.
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 as basis to argue that there is no link. I would like to remind people, however, that researchers have been working diligently for decades to solve the mystery of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome to no avail. But just because their research has yet to give a specific cause to SIDS, it doesn’t mean that 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 choose 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.