The Newest Vaccine-Autism Study
The most recent review on vaccines and their non-link to Autism has been published in the February 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
This study reaffirms what we have been stating for years; the new review shows no link between vaccines and autism. There are now more than 20 studies showing no link between vaccines and autism.
Although people should be reassured by these studies, there are still a group of parents who hold that vaccines cause autism and there is no factual information that is going to get them to change their irrational beliefs.
But continuing to educate the public is important to prevent further disease resurgence among children whose parents have refused vaccination based on this unfounded fear.
This current review describes how the three specific hypotheses that have been offered to suggest a theoretical link between vaccines and autism originated and summarizes the pertinent epidemiological data which refute them.
The first theory concerned the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine; the second, that it wasn't the MMR vaccine specifically, but a mercury-containing preservative, thimerosal; and the third, that the simultaneous administration of many vaccines is just too much for a young child's immune system.
The first hypothesis is that the combination MMR vaccine damages the gastrointestinal lining, thereby permitting the entrance of encephalopathic proteins and causing autism. After publication of a 1998 study in The Lancet suggesting an association between MMR vaccine and autism, 13 subsequent studies performed in 5 different countries showed no such link. The reviewers concluded that no data supported any causal connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, and that any apparent association was coincidental, because the MMR vaccine is typically administered at the age when symptoms of autism first emerge.
"While rates of immunization have been constant or declined, the incidence of autism has increased, and the rate of autism in vaccinated and unvaccinated children is the same," said Dr. King, who is professor and vice chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital. "Neither the timing of onset, nor the severity of autism, differ whether or when a child gets immunized,"
The second hypothesis is that thimerosal, an ethyl mercury–containing preservative used for more than 50 years in some vaccines, causes central nervous system toxicity. However, the review describes 7 studies from 5 countries demonstrating that autism rates were not affected by the presence or absence of thimerosal in vaccines.
These 20 epidemiologic studies showing that neither thimerosal nor MMR vaccine causes autism were conducted by many different investigators, using a variety of epidemiologic and statistical methods.
The third hypothesis is that giving multiple vaccines simultaneously overwhelms or weakens the immune system. In rebuttal, the review authors point out that the immune system in childhood routinely processes far more antigenic material than the relatively small amount contained in vaccines, and that it is biologically implausible that vaccines overwhelm a child's immune system, even if the system is still immature.
Finally, the review authors note that autism is not triggered by an immune response but probably a more biological basis.
As I have written before, the risks of not being vaccinated are real and sometimes fatal but many of these parents who are now refusing to vaccinate their children have never witnessed first-hand these diseases and do not appreciate the risk of resurgence.
At some point we will have to ask when do we reach the tipping point and allow parents to not vaccinate their children. When do we say that exempting from vaccines is creating a problem not only for those children whose parents choose not to vaccinate but for those children in the community?
I believe in individual rights and parents can choose not to vaccinate their children. But from a society standpoint, we may have to say these children cannot attend a public school because the risk becomes too high and unnecessary.
All choices come with consequences and parents will need to accept the consequence of their decisions.
Irrational fears should not jeopardize those individuals who choose compliance!
This study reaffirms what we have been stating for years; the new review shows no link between vaccines and autism. There are now more than 20 studies showing no link between vaccines and autism.
Although people should be reassured by these studies, there are still a group of parents who hold that vaccines cause autism and there is no factual information that is going to get them to change their irrational beliefs.
But continuing to educate the public is important to prevent further disease resurgence among children whose parents have refused vaccination based on this unfounded fear.
This current review describes how the three specific hypotheses that have been offered to suggest a theoretical link between vaccines and autism originated and summarizes the pertinent epidemiological data which refute them.
The first theory concerned the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine; the second, that it wasn't the MMR vaccine specifically, but a mercury-containing preservative, thimerosal; and the third, that the simultaneous administration of many vaccines is just too much for a young child's immune system.
The first hypothesis is that the combination MMR vaccine damages the gastrointestinal lining, thereby permitting the entrance of encephalopathic proteins and causing autism. After publication of a 1998 study in The Lancet suggesting an association between MMR vaccine and autism, 13 subsequent studies performed in 5 different countries showed no such link. The reviewers concluded that no data supported any causal connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, and that any apparent association was coincidental, because the MMR vaccine is typically administered at the age when symptoms of autism first emerge.
"While rates of immunization have been constant or declined, the incidence of autism has increased, and the rate of autism in vaccinated and unvaccinated children is the same," said Dr. King, who is professor and vice chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital. "Neither the timing of onset, nor the severity of autism, differ whether or when a child gets immunized,"
The second hypothesis is that thimerosal, an ethyl mercury–containing preservative used for more than 50 years in some vaccines, causes central nervous system toxicity. However, the review describes 7 studies from 5 countries demonstrating that autism rates were not affected by the presence or absence of thimerosal in vaccines.
These 20 epidemiologic studies showing that neither thimerosal nor MMR vaccine causes autism were conducted by many different investigators, using a variety of epidemiologic and statistical methods.
The third hypothesis is that giving multiple vaccines simultaneously overwhelms or weakens the immune system. In rebuttal, the review authors point out that the immune system in childhood routinely processes far more antigenic material than the relatively small amount contained in vaccines, and that it is biologically implausible that vaccines overwhelm a child's immune system, even if the system is still immature.
Finally, the review authors note that autism is not triggered by an immune response but probably a more biological basis.
As I have written before, the risks of not being vaccinated are real and sometimes fatal but many of these parents who are now refusing to vaccinate their children have never witnessed first-hand these diseases and do not appreciate the risk of resurgence.
At some point we will have to ask when do we reach the tipping point and allow parents to not vaccinate their children. When do we say that exempting from vaccines is creating a problem not only for those children whose parents choose not to vaccinate but for those children in the community?
I believe in individual rights and parents can choose not to vaccinate their children. But from a society standpoint, we may have to say these children cannot attend a public school because the risk becomes too high and unnecessary.
All choices come with consequences and parents will need to accept the consequence of their decisions.
Irrational fears should not jeopardize those individuals who choose compliance!
posted by Anonymous at 5:34 AM
1 Comments:
HB,
For the most part I agree with you. I do think you are a little rough on the parents who choose not to vaccinate. This is where Parents get their irrational fears:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thd9eMt_0mg&feature=PlayList&p=96D82C8E383913E7&index=0&playnext=1
Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy - Larry King Live - Autism
Now I know not to listen to celebrities,but the media has a huge impact on the general public. There was also a Physician on the show who said that vaccines gave his child Autism. So as parents who do we believe...how do we protect our Children?
I agree the risk of not vaccinating is more of a risk than vaccinating and Autism. I do live with the fear of what if I am wrong. I think the public needs to be educated, but a little more grace is needed for parents who are nervous. Wright or wrong their intention is to protect their kids.
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