Vaccines and Autism

The myths about vaccines. What's the truth about vaccines? Are vaccines and autism connected? As an alternative health advocate and mother of eight, I've often asked myself these questions. I've had many doctors that were both of the family variety as well as pediatricians and they all had different perspectives on them regarding specific types of vaccines, but one thing they all responded robustly with when I asked the question, "are vaccines safe", was a resounding "yes"! I was glad to read about recent news from the American Academy of Pediatrics

MMR Vaccine and Autism

I was ecstatic to read my most recent April 2011 issue of Parenting School Years to find out that 14 studies have entirely disproved autisms connection to the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine stating that the research originally done was fraudulent. This finding was reported by the British Medical Journal. In the first study the 12 children involved were claimed to be normal with their development when in reality 5 of them had impaired development. Thirteen researchers originally worked on that first study linking autism to the MMR vaccine, but 10 of them retracted their names from it. Hmm....

Too Many Vaccines are Harmful to Immunity

I found it very comforting to read that approximately 100 years back the smallpox vaccine routinely given to children had more components within it than our own children receive today with the 14 diseases we vaccine against combined. The common cold virus places more of a burden on the immune system than does any of the vaccines that are commonly given together at your doctor's office.

Preservative Thimerosaland Autism

There's always been a lot of conversation around the Thimerosal preservative that was once included in vaccines because of the mercury content of it was being linked to autism, however is no longer a part of vaccines since it has been removed from them in 1999, and autism has continued to rise nonetheless. Although it still is part of some but not all vaccine's given for influenza.

As an advocate of wholistic and alternative health, as well as a hospital employee, I've been in circles that go back and forth about the vaccine issue endlessly on both sides of this issue. I feel pretty good about vaccines personally because they've been successful in wiping out some horrific diseases that plagued our planet for years, at least for the most part. The truth of the matter is if we one by one avoid getting immunized, little by little these diseases will make their way back to our reality here on earth. Some possible side effects, if they even exist, is a small price to pay to avoid those very serious illnesses.

Sources:

April 2011 Issue of Parenting School Years