Autism and Immunizations

[wvtxpen]

My daughter just had her baby, a premy at 2 lbs 6 ounces at the end of May 2011.  She is concerned about all of the immunizations that the doctors want to give.  The concerns are that the Congressional Hearings on possible links to Mercury in shots such as MMR and how the hearings had numerous parents & grandparents that seen their babies and grandchildren get autism after receiving some of these shots.  Also, in the United States 1 in 10,000 children in 2002 developed Autism and now 1 in 250 children develop Autism.

Now, we have been researching and reading many links of babies and children developing Autism liked to shots.  Also, looking at the CDCgov site on shots for children, they discuss many of these shots are preventive.  Whooping Cough for example is recommended but it is in a combination shot.  It is recommended if whooping cough is reported in the area but it is mixed with other shots that maybe required.  So parents do not have a choice.

Are some immunizations the cause of Autism?  Is there a link between immunization and Autism?  What options does a parent have?  

Thank You

[tejodouro]

Every kid needs to take their vaccines. I have two and they have all their shots up to date as required by California...  I did delay the vaccines. I did not allow the doctor to give them any shots when they were babies. I also never allowed the doctor to give them any shots with mercury (such as flu shots) and never allowed the doctor to give more than one vaccine at a time. We started vaccines only around 18months to 2 years of age.  Gave them slowly with months in between and one at a time to make sure that the children were fully vaccinated to enter elementary school. my older one did receive the usual vaccines right at the time she was born at the hospital because I did not know any better and I regreted it. Once I educated myself, I was not confortable with the vaccine process in this country and I slowed down the process for my kids.  So, I agree that all kids need to have their "necessary shots" but I think that we are giving them their shots too soon when they are too young and their nervous system is too imature to handle.  We also should not mix the shots. Why give them flu shots that they do not need.  So, they get the flu.  They will most likely will recover.   Minimize risk is what I tried to do.

[drewlevas]

I would like to add something.

I know a couple that as an autistic son. He is extremly anti-sociable and difficult to work with! The parents did not received any vaccine while they were childrens and nether did their son (religious matter).

So even if none of them have received vaccines. The boy is autistic. Where does the vaccine cause autism apply here?

[wvtxpen]

Thank You Dr. Graff, First let me say that I applaude you for studing your area of expertise in Behavior Analysis.  Working with children with autism and looking for answers, you are often looked over as heros except by those parents who seek your help.  I have read pro's and con's to this subject on behalf of those who believe vaccinations are the cause of Autism and those who do not believe it.  As you stated, I see the coincidence of children getting vaccinated and the time parents are informed that the child has autisim.  I also see that there is no proof that the vaccinations are not the cause of Autism and I wonder if proof should be on the non-professional parents or on the doctors, scientists and pharmaceutical.  

As a lay person, I would love to see conclusive proof from an non-bais organization that does not have any financial benefit from its conclusions.  I try to be opened minded however I guess I am kind of skeptical of government and big organization.  

I am surprised and shocked to see that 1-10,000 children had been diagnosed 10 years ago and now those numbers have increased to 1-250 according to the Congressional Hearings.  There is no explanation for those results or what may be causing the rise in Autism.  You and other professionals in this field are still searching for the cause but it is on the rise and we still have more questions and few answers.  I believe that this is one more reason that people are skeptical.  So now we as parents are asking questions.  What is going in the vaccinations?  Is Mercury in some of these vaccinations?  Is traces of DDT in vaccinations?  Why do parents have options on some medications but they are combining optional vaccinations in non-optional medications which takes away a parents option?  

If you have a link(s) Not from companies who are selling the medication or benefit from the sell...that I can find that actually tells the laymen what goes in the vaccination and any information concerning the study of the medication and results from the studys so that as an informed parent, we can decided what is best for our child rather...I would appreciate your assistance.  

Once again, thank you for replying and God Bless
Ruben

[Richard B. Graff, PhD, BCBA-D]

I think it's really important for everyone to understand the history of the supposed vaccine-autism link.  In 1998, a British doctor and researcher, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, published a study suggesting a link between vaccines and autism.  This information spread like wildfire across the internet, and in a very short period of time, many parents were convinced that the vaccines caused their child's autism.  Perhaps some of parents, who felt guilty and thought they did something to cause their childs autism, were relieved to a certain extent--it wasn't their fault after all, it was the vaccines!  All over the world, people were jumping on the autism-vaccine bandwagon, and Wakefield's study was the cause of it.

There was one enormous problem that was not uncovered until several years later--Wakefield's research was fradulent!   In 2000, the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that the scientific evidence did not support a link between receiving the MMR vaccine and developing autism. Studies conducted in other countries also found no evidence of a link. Other well-respected institutions, including the World Health Organization, also concluded that there was no evidence of a vaccine-autism link. As the evidence mounted, and Wakefield's research was scrutinized, it became clear that there were significant problems with Wakefield's research. Ultimately, Britain's General Medical Council concluded that Wakefield had engaged in professional misconduct; they described his behavior as dishonest, irresponsible, and unethical.  Wakefield was stripped of his license to practice medicine in Britain.

So, there is actually no evidence that autism is caused by vaccines.  So why do people still think so?  Autism is generally diagnosed around 2 years of age, when the signs become a bit more obvious (e.g., deficits in communication skills, social skills, etc.).  That happens to be about the same time that some immunizations are given.  So, there is a temoporal link--a child gets a vaccine, and a few months later, he is diagnosed with autism.  The conclusion of many?  The vaccine caused autism.  However, just because two events occur closely together in time doesn't mean one caused the other!

I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck!

[TeenMom2B]

In the past couple of weeks, i read an article in the newspaper about how vaccines DO NOT cause autism. Several studies over the years have proved this and some federal study has just been published backing up those studies along with their own research to support.

My bf's sister has autism. Her mom is the only one who believes the vaccines have caused her daughter's disease. She Denys federal studies. And say there is no way her daughter had the disease prior to the vaccination. Honestly, I feel she thinks she or her late ex husband did something wrong and caused this. Her daughter is 24 and she is still in denial 2 and a half decades later...