1. Understand the Controversy
Many parents of children with autism believe there is a link between autism and early childhood vaccinations, with special emphasis on the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. This belief began anecdotally as some parents reported the onset of autistic symptoms at or around the time the MMR vaccine was given to their children. A small study published in 1998 (Wakefield et al., 1998) then reinforced this belief by suggesting there was a link. Since then, there have been other studies that also suggest a link.
The MMR vaccine was singled out as a potential cause, in part, because it is usually given between 12 and 15 months of age, which is when symptoms of autism often become apparent. Additionally, some think that the fact that three vaccinations are combined into one injection is a factor.
The vaccine preservative thimerosal has also been singled out as a potential cause of autism. This preservative, however, is not present in the MMR vaccine or any of the other early childhood vaccinations for infectious diseases except for some influenza shots, which are not mandatory.
2. Consensus of the Medical Community
Sparked by the anecdotal evidence of parents of autistic children and the small studies that suggested a link between vaccines and autism, a number of larger, more scientific studies were launched throughout the medical community both in the United States and abroad. To date, none of these studies have produced scientific evidence of any relationship, causal or otherwise, between any type of vaccinations and autism.
A variety of expert panels have been assembled to evaluate the science of this controversy, including those assembled by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). There is a consensus among these panels that MMR vaccinations and vaccinations that contain the thimerosal preservative have no association with autism.
That said, more research into the causes of autism is underway as diagnoses of this disorder continue to rise. The controversy over whether vaccines are related in some way is likely to continue until the cause of autism is found.
3. Risks of Not Vaccinating Your Child
Because of the controversy over vaccinations and autism, many parents have elected not to vaccinate their children. If you are considering this route, you should know the risk of serious disease your child may face. There is no known scientific evidence that not vaccinating your child will prevent autism, but there is proof that the MMR vaccination prevents measles, mumps and rubella. These are serious illnesses. They can cause symptoms that can last a lifetime, and in some cases, they can be fatal. The vaccines have nearly eliminated these diseases in the U.S., but in other countries, however, these diseases cause hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Many think that the risk of having a child with autism outweighs the benefits of preventing these infectious diseases, but the medical community overwhelmingly disagrees.
