Vaccines Are The Cause Of Autism - DEBUNKED!

Myths are a part of our everyday lives, and with the rise of the internet, they have become even more prevalent. The internet has made it easier for myths to spread, and unfortunately, many of these myths can be harmful. In this blog post, we'll debunk a popular myth that has been around for many years.

Anti-Vaxxers have become more popular throughout the years and these people truly believe that vaccinating your children does more harm than good and that not vaccinating and going the natural way is the safer and less disease-ridden way to go.

The myth we will be debunking is the belief that vaccines cause autism. This myth has been circulating on the internet for many years, and despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, it continues to persist.

The origins of the vaccine-caused autism myth can be traced back to a study published in The Lancet in 1998. The study, conducted by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, suggested a link between the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and autism. The study was later found to be fraudulent, and Wakefield was stripped of his medical license.

Snippet from The Lancet 1998 Article

Despite the fact that the study has been discredited, the belief that vaccines cause autism persists. In fact, a recent study found that more than 1 in 4 Americans still believe that vaccines can cause autism.

Due to parents choosing not to vaccinate their children (Anti-Vaxxers as we call them), there have been outbreaks of diseases we haven't seen in years due to this poor decision. According to this Time Magazine article, Measles, Mumps, Whooping Cough, and Chicken Pox are coming back in numbers that are concerning. Especially Measles that was completely eradicated at one point.

What anti-vaxxers need to understand is that numerous studies have shown that there is no link between vaccines and autism. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine followed more than 500,000 Danish children and found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no association between the MMR vaccine and autism in over 95,000 children.

Another look at this is from this article, Dr. Hotez whose third child was born and was later diagnosed with Autism at 19 months. He stated “To me it didn’t sound right. Just seeing firsthand, being a parent of someone with autism, you recognize how the impact is on global neurologic development,” he says. “I just couldn't imagine any plausible scenario by which something like a vaccine could produce actual anatomic changes in the brain. “This had to be something that's happening early in pregnancy. And, sure enough, the neuroscience has borne that out.”

Scientists can debunk misinformation it just needs to be done.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued a statement on the safety of vaccines. The CDC states that "there is no link between vaccines and autism," and that "vaccines are very safe." The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, and the National Academy of Sciences have also issued statements confirming the safety of vaccines.

One of the reasons why the vaccine-related to autism myth has persisted is the fact that autism is typically diagnosed around the same time that children receive vaccinations. However, this is simply a coincidence. Autism is a developmental disorder that has a genetic basis, and there is no evidence to suggest that vaccines play a role in its development.

Another reason why the vaccine-related to autism myth has persisted is the fact that some parents of children with autism report that their child's symptoms appeared shortly after they received vaccinations. However, this is also a coincidence. Autism symptoms typically appear around the same time that children receive vaccinations, but this is because both autism and vaccinations are typically administered during the same age range.

It's important to note that vaccines are not only safe but also effective. Vaccines have been instrumental in eradicating many deadly diseases, such as smallpox and polio. Vaccines have also drastically reduced the incidence of many other diseases, such as measles, mumps, and rubella.

In fact, the measles vaccine has been so effective that the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of measles cases due to the fact that some parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children as spoken about above.

This is a dangerous trend, as vaccines not only protect individuals who receive them but also those who cannot receive vaccines, such as infants and individuals with compromised immune systems. When a high percentage of the population is vaccinated, it creates herd immunity, which means that the disease is less likely to spread, even to those who are not vaccinated.

In conclusion, the belief that vaccines cause autism is a myth that has been debunked by numerous scientific studies and organizations, such as the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Health Organization. The vaccine-autism myth persists due to a combination of coincidence and misinformation, but it is important to understand that vaccines are not only safe but also effective in preventing deadly diseases and protecting individuals who cannot receive vaccines.

When it comes to myths that can severely affect someone's life down the line, it's important to rely on credible sources and scientific evidence when making decisions about vaccines and to prioritize the health and safety of ourselves and our communities. Vaccines have played a crucial role in public health and continue to be a vital tool in preventing the spread of disease. Let's work together to combat myths and misinformation and ensure that everyone has access to accurate and trustworthy information about vaccines. You can do this by doing research and making sure you are truly informed on the subject and knowing the pros and cons versus putting not only your child at risk but those that may be immunocompromised and could put them at harm of getting ill or even putting them at risk of death.