Ever since the earliest vaccines were introduced generations ago, people have spoken out against the seemingly dangerous process of voluntarily exposing one’s body to pathogens in order to prevent future infections. But, like many controversial medical procedures introduced in the last few centuries, doctors and scientists have, over time, proven vaccines to be not only harmless but effective and beneficial. However, many people today still speak out against the same vaccines that scientific evidence has proven are saving lives all across the world. When one carefully examines the evidence provided by modern research, it becomes clear that the benefits of vaccines to the individual and to public health far outweigh the risks associated …show more content…
Some researchers such as Dan Olmsted credit the theory that the mercury found in many vaccines could be contributing to an increase of autism diagnoses in children (30). However, no test has suggested such a connection. The basis for many arguments that vaccines contribute to autism come from the idea that there is a slightly higher rate of autism in children who have been vaccinated. As mentioned by Olmsted, a telephone survey by “advocacy group Generation Rescue” seems to support such findings (26). However, even if it is assumed that the survey was accurate at all, one must not necessarily assume that the rates are connected. Autism presents itself in many forms, some of which can only be accurately diagnosed by trained medical professionals. Therefore, it is a reasonable conclusion that children who visit their doctors more frequently would have a higher chance of this condition being diagnosed. These same children who receive medical checkups more regularly would also be much more likely to get their recommended vaccines. So, increased rates of both autism and vaccination simply stem from the same cause. However, as vaccinations and autism are both very important topics, it would be beneficial to everyone to invest more research in their relationship. For now, however, the risks are not great enough to cause