...Do Childhood Vaccinations Cause Autism? Jennifer Jones XBCOM / 275 August 24, 2014 Kristine Dunn Do Childhood Vaccinations Cause Autism? The idea that autism is caused by childhood vaccinations has been influencing public policy, even though rigorous studies do not support this hypothesis. Legislators are right to take into account the concerns of parent groups and other individuals who are directly affected by autism, but policy decisions should be based on hard evidence rather than unproven ideas. The hypothesis is based on the observation that the number of autism cases increased in the years of the 1980s, coinciding with a push for greater childhood vaccinations, which increased above recommended levels of a child’s exposure to mercury in the vaccine preservative, called thimerosal. The autism diagnosis continued to rise even after thimerosal was removed from the United States childhood vaccines in the year of 2001. A review by the Institute of Medicine, of over 200 studies concluded that there were no links between vaccines containing thimerosal and autism. Autism is no more common among vaccinated children than those children who are unvaccinated, and its incidence has not varied with the presence of thimerosal in vaccines across different times and locations. These findings have not persuaded supporters of the mercury autism link, whose strategies have become more extreme as the evidence against the hypothesis have mounted. Mercury is a known neurotoxin,...
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...Vaccines, Do They Cause Autism in Children? Michael L Eisenmenger Western Governors University Vaccines, Do They Cause Autism in Children? Vaccinations have been used for centuries to prevent the spread of some of the most dangerous diseases in humans. In 1998, a research study from Dr. Andrew Wakefield was published in the journal Lancet, suggesting common vaccinations were the cause of autism in children (Brink. 2013). That study has since been retracted by the Lancet and Dr. Wakefield has had his medical license revoked. However, the rates of vaccinations have declined because of the study and new outbreaks of diseases once considered eradicated are killing children. Research has shown that vaccines are not a cause of autism in children because the preservatives suspected of causing autism have been removed from them, research studies have shown no link between the two, the original research has been proven false, and the diagnosis of autism has changed. Ever since the debate of vaccines being a cause of autism has started, the ingredient thimersol has been one of the focus’ of study. Thimersol is a preservative that was used in vaccines until 2001. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated, “In 2001, thimersol was removed or reduced to trace amounts in all childhood vaccinations except one type of influenza vaccine, and thimersol-free alternatives are available for influenza vaccines.” (CDC, 2014) Thimersol contains the type of mercury...
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...Gregory Carter Comp II Mr. Best Final Paper Is there a link between vaccines and Autism? For many years now there has been an intense debate over the link between the cause of Autism and vaccinations. Since its appearance in the medical community the cause has come under much scrutiny. Research has been conducted by many leading scientist, always to be debunked by skeptics worldwide. The historic timeline for Autism always seems to correlate to an outbreak in new treatments and vaccinations. Some communities worldwide do not receive vaccinations and have no symptoms of Autism within their population, while there are others that do receive them and show no symptoms either. Based on these factors, one cannot surely believe there if there is a link between vaccines and Autism. Although Autism has become more common today than in the past, it is still very much misunderstood. Many people think that it is a disease, something contagious however it is a disorder, not a disease. There are many forms of Autism, labeled in the Autistic spectrum disorder, however it is a very complex disorder that affects the brain, and the immune system (A Medical mystery 2). The severity varies from child to child but the symptoms are pretty typical ranging from social skills, sensory issues, to slurred speech and uncontrollable body movements. It affects children of all ages but most commonly diagnosed around the age of three (2). The disorder crosses all economic and social boundaries, however...
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...Literature Review: Vaccines vs Autism Emily Willingham and Laura Helft/posted 09.05.2014/NOVA www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/autism-vaccine-myth.html In the late 90’s the vaccine Measles, Mumps, and Rubella know as (MMR) was said to have a link to Autism in children. In my literature review I compared two articles both from the relation to Vaccines and Autism from the late 90’s until the present time. The assertion that vaccines could be linked to Autism burst onto the international stage with the 1998 publication of a paper in the British journal “The Lancet”. (Willingham, E.; Helft, L.et.al.) The other article I reviewed has somewhat of a different outlook. The 1998 publication of a study suggesting an association between (MMR) vaccine and Autism, 13 studies in five countries showed no such link, no data supported any causal connection between the (MMR) vaccine and Autism. (Thompson, J.et.al). I will describe the problem, if the vaccine MMR is the cause of Autism in infant children. Is this vaccine the cause of infant babies developing Autism? Here is what the problem was thought to be in the vaccine MMR. According to the article “The Autism/Vaccine Myth” the vaccine MMR is not responsible for Autism. The myth behind this assumption is first the ingredients used in the vaccine MMR and then the febrile seizures that the parents were concerned about. According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, most febrile seizure happen when a child is sick rather than...
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...Immunisation is the process of protecting the body against disease by means of vaccines or serums which contain antibodies. Antibodies defend the body in several ways, one of which removes the bodies body’s natural resistantresistance. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR vaccine) is an attenuated live virus, which helps the body produce antibodies and build immunity against the virus in case it comes into contract with it again. Since the introduction of the MMR vaccine there have been reported links that this vaccine causes autism and neurodevelopment disorders and affects the nervous system. It has been highlighted in the media that there is a possible connection between the MMR vaccinating vaccination and the formation if autism...
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...Student’s name Teacher’s name Course name Date The impact of immunization on the development of autism In recent years, a worldwide concern over immunization and its schedule has increased dramatically. The vaccine-autism hypothesis belongs to the most extensively debated theories related to the origins of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Critics of dangerous ingredients contained in vaccines designate that such preservatives may contribute to, or cause, a range of cognitive disorders in children. When administered at early age, immunization may seriously affect neurological and not completely developed immune systems. In contrast, both biological and epidemiological studies tend to contradict the vaccine-autism theory. Given this fact, it is of vital importance to thoroughly examine both sides of the coin and come to a reasonable conclusion. PECULIARITIES OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER Autism, or, more broadly, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), includes a number of complex cognitive and communicational disorders. According to Richard Lathe, the molecular biologist, autism is difficult to define (20). However, there exists a range of distinctive peculiarities, by which one can recognize ASD. Repetitive patterns of behavior, a withdrawal from social relatedness and interaction, and specific movement patterns characterize autism. The symptoms occur from early childhood, usually at age of 2-3 years, and affect daily functioning (Lathe 32). The diagnosis of ASD incorporates the evaluation...
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...Autism Spectrum Syndrome is a term used to describe abnormalities in neurological and brain developments. People affected by Autism suffer a wide range of symptoms with varying severities. Autism is characterized by symptoms such as social impairments, difficulties in emotional connection and communication, and repeated stereotyped behaviors such as hang flapping and rocking (as cited in Uno, Y., Uchiyama, T., Kurosawa, M., Aleksic, B, and Ozaki, N, 2012). Since the discovery of the fist vaccines up until now, thousands of lives have been saved. Contagious diseases speared so rapidly and the effects can be devastating and sometimes irreversible. Infectious diseases spread quickly in communities; in the past some of these diseases effected large...
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...The issue I've chosen is the possibility of a link between autism and vaccinations, particularly in infancy and childhood. One side contends that there is a significant relationship between vaccines containing mercury and autism, something which is claimed to have been ignored and covered up by both scientists and government officials. The other side states that no such relationship exists, and that well-meaning parents and advocates of this cause may be causing more harm than they are good. The first article, Deadly Immunity written by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declares that autism, and thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, are clearly related. Statistics are mentioned that say that the rate of autism has increased from 1 out of 2,500 children to...
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...Vaccines are designed to produce immunity. Viruses in the vaccine cannot reproduce itself or cause diseases because they are made by killing or weakening them. Vaccines are given from the time of infancy. It helps in protecting the body against diseases in the future. Autism Spectrum Disorder, by definition, occurs before age 3 (Miller et al., 2009). It was during the 20th century, it was said that ASD occurred due to the ingredients in the vaccination given to the children. Although, more research and studies have changed the conversation about the effects of vaccines on autism to be more positive based on the history of vaccines, the ingredients in it such as thimerosal, and Wakefield’s fraud study. Starting by talking about the history...
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...D1: unit 5 The way the media presented the MMR case in front of the public created a great contribution towards the public perception. It has also had a negative impact on the scientific information, which was given out parallel to the rumors regarding the link between MMR vaccine and autism. In 2003, a science based film named "Hear the silence” has influenced the media by naming Dr. Wakefield as "Bad Scientist" [6].This seemed to have disregarded the value of a scientist and his knowledge in front of the public. On the other hand, the media have done their best to emphasize the MMR vaccine scare by putting headlines " MMR LINKED TO AUTISM" in newspapers like the "EVENING STANDARD" [6]. All of this highly influenced people’s thinking and resulted in a lot of parents refusing the MMR vaccines for their children. However, when Dr Wakefield’s theory got proven as a "Swine flu outbreak" as said in an article of Media Influence, it opened people’s eyes about the reality behind the false link. The impact of the media on public was made by using Sensationalistic Language to attract the public’s attention. It is a sensitive topic because it questions parenthood and whether the parents are taking the right decisions for their children’s health. Whilst this aspect was important, media also sketched scientists as respected and intelligent human beings who are not meant to make mistakes. So why was it that they destroyed this image in front of general public? The answer can be that partially...
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...is a process where a person is injected with a substance to make them immune to a disease. Diseases that can make you sick, disabled or even kill you. Most vaccines contain the disease that it is trying to protect you from by building up your immune system to help you fight it if you ever come across the real thing. Many parents of an autistic child blame the condition on vaccines being the direct and only cause. Often, many of those parents have no real concrete evidence to support their claim. Those parents usually are just reading blogs of parents who are facing the same issue. Over the past decade many parents face the hard decision on whether they want to vaccine their child or not. Jenny McCarthy said, “If you ask...
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...A Healthy Heresy: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism According to a study done by Public Health Reports, of the parents who delay or refuse vaccinations for their children 57% said their reason for not vaccinating their children was fear of autism (Levs 4). Since the speculation of a causal relationship of vaccinations and Autism began the world has seen some of the most threatening outbreaks of diseases that would have been preventable with the use of vaccines ("The End of the Vaccines Cause Autism Myth." 2). Is it the vaccines causing the problem, or the overprotective parents that are endangering their child and many other people’s children? Parents who do not trust science for vaccinations continue to trust science for other ways such as “to...
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...of them occur at birth. Some of them have no true cause--for example autism. Autism is a serious development disorder that is present in early childhood, it makes it difficult to communicate and socialize with others. There are almost 200,000 cases in the United States per year. Autism is diagnosed more in males than in females. In the early 90’s there was an increase in children being diagnosed with autism as well an increase in the number of vaccines children received (Novella 1). Many people believe there is a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, because they connect vaccine-injuries, side effects of specific ingredients may be causing autism, and...
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...Thimerosal in Vaccinations and Autism HUM/114 September 1, 2014 Are vaccinations linked to autism because of thimerosal? In my opinion, no they are not. The first article chosen is Federal Panel Hears Testimony on Vaccinations and Autism. By Alicia Ault from the New York Times. This article was about a testimony that was brought before a federal panel. The testimony was based on a mercury-based preservative also known as thimerosal. It is said that it is the reason for the rising rates of autism. Some toxicologist have become steadily convinced of the potential link, because levels of mercury are higher in children with autism. However, since 1999, thimerosal has been gradually removed from vaccines that are given to children in the United States, yet autism rates are still rapidly increasing. According to Ault, the Center for Disease Control, (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, (AAP) have said there is no credible scientific evidence that links thimerosal with autism, or any other childhood neurological disorders, for that matter. The second article I chose is titled Vaccinations and Autism, from the Philadelphia Inquirer. This article also informed readers of the many studies that...
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...The Devastating Effects of the Measles Vaccine Thesis: The MMR vaccine is harmful to one’s health because it can cause sickness, degenerative diseases, and even death. Introduction The Measles vaccine is one of the many vaccinations children receive to supposedly keep them safe from the disease. While the effectiveness of this vaccination in combating the wild measles virus is debatable, the unintended consequences of the vaccines side effects have become increasingly alarming and may warrant the removal of this vaccine from the general populous. From the very beginning of the vaccines release studies have been linking numerous disorders that only occur after the vaccine has been given. One such example of this is a study published in 1973 shows that the measles virus vaccine can cause encephalitis, encephalopathy, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis generally occurring within six to 15 days after being vaccinated with the measles vaccine. It was estimated in this report that the encephalitis risk after having being vaccinated is one case per 1000 patients. (Landrigan, & Witte, 1973). In 1995 a group studied the causality between the measles vaccine and inflammatory bowel disease. They compared 3,045 people vaccinated in 1964 against 11,470 people who did not receive the vaccine. The results of the study were astounding. The group found that people who were vaccinated were three times more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease, three times more likely to...
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