VACCINES & AUTISM- WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS
What do we know about the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Scientific studies show that many different genes work together with environmental factors to put a child at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Scientific studies to not show that vaccines cause ASD. Studies have also not found groups in a population that are at greater genetic risk of harm from vaccines.
What do we know about vaccines?
Today’s vaccines are the safest in history. Before they can be released, vaccines must pass many tests. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) researches the effectiveness and safety of each new vaccine before giving it a license. Once a vaccine is being used, the US FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitor vaccines for side effects by using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This is used to monitor both short-term and long-term adverse effects of vaccines.
The most common adverse reactions to vaccines are fever or pain/soreness at the injection site. True allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare.
There are so many vaccines given to young children. Is it better to space them out?
Some families worry about the number of vaccines given at a single visit. It is common for some parents to be curious about whether it might be beneficial to give each vaccine once at a time or space them out in certain intervals. Some parents also worry about children being too young to safely receive some vaccines.
Health care professionals and researchers know that the number of vaccines given at any one time do not overwhelm the child’s immune system. The number of antigens (triggers for immune system response) in vaccines is much less than the number of antigens a child is exposed to on a daily basis, especially if he is in childcare or school. Additionally, the number of antigens in the vaccines currently recommended by the CDC is lower than it has been in the past; this is due to removal of certain preservatives and non-essential antigens from previously given vaccines as vaccine research progresses.
Research shows that vaccines have the least amount of side effects when given at the right time and right intervals (according to the Immunization Schedule recommended by the CDC). Appropriate timing of the vaccines is essential to protecting your child from the diseases that the vaccines are trying to prevent. Your child may put other children or adults with weakened immune systems, or children who are not old enough to be vaccinated yet, at risk for life-threatening diseases.
Does the Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) vaccine cause autism?
Many signs of ASD present between 18 and 24 months of age. The first MMR vaccine is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age. This may cause some parents to question whether there is a link between the two. Approximately 1 in 4 children with ASD will lose previously attained milestones between the ages of 1 and 2. In a 2004 report, the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee carefully reviewed all of the published scientific articles and found that there is no link between ASD and the MMR vaccine. A single study, published in Lancet by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, claimed a link between ASD and the vaccine. Since then, after investigation of the research protocols used to publish the data, the data was found to have been fraudulent (the data was unethically manipulated to suggest a link when there was none there). Since then, the article has been redacted from publication and Dr. Wakefield has had his medical license permanently revoked.
Measles, mumps, and rubella are all very serious diseases that can cause severe long-term consequences including death. The vaccine has been shown to be over 99% effective at preventing infection with all three diseases and has been shown by extensive research to be very safe.
What is Thimerosal? Is it safe?
Thimerosal is a vaccine preservative that contains a type of mercury, called ethylmercury. Thimerosal is used in some vaccines as well as other medications, including contact lens solutions and throat a nose sprays. Thimerosal helps prevent contamination with bacteria. Ethylmercury is a different type of mercury than methylmercury, which can be found in some fish and pollution. Methylmercury accumulates more rapidly in the human body than ethylmercury, so it is more toxic. The low levels of ethylmercury in vaccines are metabolized more quickly than methylmercury.
Health care professionals agree that being around too much mercury can be harmful to children. In 1999, the US Public Health Service and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked for thimerosal to be removed from routine childhood vaccines. Some states have passed laws requiring this. As of the date of this writing, all routine childhood vaccines and the vast majority of flu vaccines are thimerosal-free. The annual flu vaccine provided by West Alabama Pediatrics is thimerosal-free.
Some vaccines, such as MMR, polio, and chickenpox, have never contained thimerosal. Others, such as DTaP, used to contain thimerosal but no longer do. There are no studies as of this writing linking thimerosal-containing vaccines with risk of autism spectrum disorder.
Should I vaccinate the siblings of my child with ASD?
Yes! Studies sow that younger siblings of children with ASD are more likely to be under- or unvaccinated. Vaccinating your entire family is the best way to protect your children from many life-threatening diseases.
Parents should share any concerns about vaccines with their child’s pediatrician. Scientists are actively studying ways to make vaccines safer and more effective. They will also continue to study potential environmental contributors to ASD.
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
AAP Feed run on: 9/11/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/11/2024
VACCINES & AUTISM- WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS
What do we know about the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Scientific studies show that many different genes work together with environmental factors to put a child at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Scientific studies to not show that vaccines cause ASD. Studies have also not found groups in a population that are at greater genetic risk of harm from vaccines.
What do we know about vaccines?
Today’s vaccines are the safest in history. Before they can be released, vaccines must pass many tests. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) researches the effectiveness and safety of each new vaccine before giving it a license. Once a vaccine is being used, the US FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitor vaccines for side effects by using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This is used to monitor both short-term and long-term adverse effects of vaccines.
The most common adverse reactions to vaccines are fever or pain/soreness at the injection site. True allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare.
There are so many vaccines given to young children. Is it better to space them out?
Some families worry about the number of vaccines given at a single visit. It is common for some parents to be curious about whether it might be beneficial to give each vaccine once at a time or space them out in certain intervals. Some parents also worry about children being too young to safely receive some vaccines.
Health care professionals and researchers know that the number of vaccines given at any one time do not overwhelm the child’s immune system. The number of antigens (triggers for immune system response) in vaccines is much less than the number of antigens a child is exposed to on a daily basis, especially if he is in childcare or school. Additionally, the number of antigens in the vaccines currently recommended by the CDC is lower than it has been in the past; this is due to removal of certain preservatives and non-essential antigens from previously given vaccines as vaccine research progresses.
Research shows that vaccines have the least amount of side effects when given at the right time and right intervals (according to the Immunization Schedule recommended by the CDC). Appropriate timing of the vaccines is essential to protecting your child from the diseases that the vaccines are trying to prevent. Your child may put other children or adults with weakened immune systems, or children who are not old enough to be vaccinated yet, at risk for life-threatening diseases.
Does the Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) vaccine cause autism?
Many signs of ASD present between 18 and 24 months of age. The first MMR vaccine is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age. This may cause some parents to question whether there is a link between the two. Approximately 1 in 4 children with ASD will lose previously attained milestones between the ages of 1 and 2. In a 2004 report, the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee carefully reviewed all of the published scientific articles and found that there is no link between ASD and the MMR vaccine. A single study, published in Lancet by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, claimed a link between ASD and the vaccine. Since then, after investigation of the research protocols used to publish the data, the data was found to have been fraudulent (the data was unethically manipulated to suggest a link when there was none there). Since then, the article has been redacted from publication and Dr. Wakefield has had his medical license permanently revoked.
Measles, mumps, and rubella are all very serious diseases that can cause severe long-term consequences including death. The vaccine has been shown to be over 99% effective at preventing infection with all three diseases and has been shown by extensive research to be very safe.
What is Thimerosal? Is it safe?
Thimerosal is a vaccine preservative that contains a type of mercury, called ethylmercury. Thimerosal is used in some vaccines as well as other medications, including contact lens solutions and throat a nose sprays. Thimerosal helps prevent contamination with bacteria. Ethylmercury is a different type of mercury than methylmercury, which can be found in some fish and pollution. Methylmercury accumulates more rapidly in the human body than ethylmercury, so it is more toxic. The low levels of ethylmercury in vaccines are metabolized more quickly than methylmercury.
Health care professionals agree that being around too much mercury can be harmful to children. In 1999, the US Public Health Service and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked for thimerosal to be removed from routine childhood vaccines. Some states have passed laws requiring this. As of the date of this writing, all routine childhood vaccines and the vast majority of flu vaccines are thimerosal-free. The annual flu vaccine provided by West Alabama Pediatrics is thimerosal-free.
Some vaccines, such as MMR, polio, and chickenpox, have never contained thimerosal. Others, such as DTaP, used to contain thimerosal but no longer do. There are no studies as of this writing linking thimerosal-containing vaccines with risk of autism spectrum disorder.
Should I vaccinate the siblings of my child with ASD?
Yes! Studies sow that younger siblings of children with ASD are more likely to be under- or unvaccinated. Vaccinating your entire family is the best way to protect your children from many life-threatening diseases.
Parents should share any concerns about vaccines with their child’s pediatrician. Scientists are actively studying ways to make vaccines safer and more effective. They will also continue to study potential environmental contributors to ASD.
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
AAP Feed run on: 9/11/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/11/2024
