There is an issue of growing
controversy that has risen amongst parents and the world of scientific
research. The issue at hand is weather or not childhood vaccines are a leading
cause in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) amongst today’s children. There are
people on both ends of this debate that feel very passionate about their views.
There has been extensive scientific research that has attempted to find a
correlation amongst several different vaccines and the disorder or even certain
substances that have are used to make the vaccines. This short essay will
attempt to display a few differ sides of this very controversial debate.
Some people feel that the possibility
of their child developing ASD is not a risk they are willing to take. Since
around 1990, the incidences of ASD has gone through the roof. There are a few
specific chemicals or vaccines that this group is generally concerned with.
There is a preservative called thimerosal that was found in many childhood
vaccines that supports anti vaccine administration believe could be a cause for
ADS. This preservative has currently been all but removed from most vaccines.
Another issue that is under investigation is the vaccine for measles, mumps and
rubella (MMR). The influenza vaccine is yet another vaccine that supporters of
this view feel is a threat. There are support groups, anti-vaccines activists,
doctors, and parents that feel the possibility of a child developing ASD is
much to great to risk their children being vaccinated. Many supporters of this
view are much less concerned with the possibility of their child contracting a
disease that these vaccines are created to protect against because the
occurrence in the United States is very low.
Another view is that the risk of a
child developing ASD is less likely related to childhood vaccines, and the possibility
of a child contracting a life threating disease due to non vaccination is not a
risk worth taking. This happens to be where my convictions lye, and I know that
there are many parents that feel the same. As a mother of two children (who
have received childhood vaccines), I feel that vaccines are a big reason why
our country is not plagued with outbreaks of communicable and life threatening
diseases regularly. I thankfully have never lived during a time where such life
threatening or altering diseases occurred regularly, such as polio in the
1950’s. I also believe that there is a possibility that there is a correlation
between childhood vaccines and ASD. Furthermore I believe that it is possible
that some childhood vaccine may be the cause of ASD in children with a certain
genetic makeup. However, I believe that if parents stop vaccinating their
children, the resulting outbreaks will be far worse than the results that
develop with ASD. I believe that, even if my child develops ASD, my child will
still be living, whereas the result of an outbreak due to lack of immunization
may very well take the lives of our children.
Opposite of the first view, there is
substantial research that shows there is no correlation between childhood
vaccines and ASD. There are also many reputable supporters of this view
including, The Center for Disease Control, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The
Autism Science Foundation, and list goes on. For several years there has been
millions of dollars spent on the researching the possibility of vaccines or the
chemicals in the vaccines as a cause for ASD. All of the research says that
there in no correlations. Furthermore, all of the sources above suggest that
parents should immunize their children. One of the biggest concerns surrounding
the issue of childhood vaccines and vaccinations is the hugely growing numbers
of children being diagnosed with ASD. Supports of this view fend of the growing
numbers debate with a very convincing case. They say that the growing number of
children being diagnosed with ASD is associated with our growing recognition
for the signs of the disorder. As we become more familiar with the symptoms, it
is more easily diagnosed. Furthermore, for every allegation of causation,
supporters of this view have strong scientific research to backup their
position.
There is no doubt that the research of
this very controversial issue will continue to be conducted for many years to
come. Research on this issue should continue, but perhaps we should not let the
research on the correlation and or causation of childhood vaccinations causing
ASD cloud other research into the cause. With the growing number of children
being diagnosed every year, the focus should be on detecting the early signs
and also a broadened set of research into other causes and treatment. This of
course is another view that is not shared by everyone.
There are, of-course, many different
views on the correlation between childhood vaccines and Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Each of the different viewpoints presents strong arguments for their
case. With this being said, I feel that each parent should do their research,
ask questions, and become informed on the facts before they make a decision to
vaccinate or not. Knowledge is the key to understanding the risks and benefits
of any decision.
References
Adams, Mike. Vaccines Cause Autism: Supporting Evidence. (NaturalNews.com.
October 6, 2009) Web. Viewed on January 27, 2013. http://www.naturalnews.com/027178_autism_vaccines.html
American Academy of Pediatric. Facts for Parents About Autism and Vaccine Safety. March 2008. PDF File. Web. Viewed on January 26, 2013. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.aap.org%2Fadvocacy%2Freleases%2Fautismfactsforparents.pdf&ei=gAMGUdqpEYmiiQLlqoCQCQ&usg=AFQjCNGgBIAt9F2UbX2unqhROeiqD6R7cQ&bvm=bv.41524429,d.cGE
Autism Science Foundation. Autism and Vaccines. Web. Viewed on
January 26, 2013. http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/autismandvaccines.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Concerns about Autism. Web. Viewed on
January 26, 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism/index.html
Johnson, Michael D.. Human
Biology: Concepts and Current Issues. Sixth edition. (Pearson Education
Inc., 2012) Pages 2-3.
