Family and Parenting: Information For Families

The question of whether or not there’s a link between vaccines and autism is one that has no simple answer. Ask any parent who saw their normal child lose the ability to speak or interact shortly after receiving a vaccination and they’ll tell you that yes, there’s absolutely a link between autism and vaccines. But ask the medical researchers and they’ll tell you no, science hasn’t yet been able to prove such a link exists. Could the link exist without proof? Yes. But if there’s no link, how can you explain the experiences of so many families who saw an immediate decline in their children’s mental status?

There’s no question that children today take far more vaccines than children in the past. In the 1940s, children received one vaccination for smallpox. But by the time they’re 12; most children today will have received between 30 and 35 different vaccines. As the number of vaccinations has risen, so too has the number of children diagnosed with autism.

Some researchers point out that we’re better able to diagnose autism now, and that could account for the increasing number of cases. We also define the disease differently and recognize an entire spectrum of autism related disorders today. A child who has autism will begin to display symptoms around age two, the same time when they will have received the bulk of their vaccinations. Researchers say this is a coincidence, but parents whose children have been affected say it isn’t.

One cause for concern in vaccines has been the use of thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. Symptoms of mercury toxicity look almost identical to symptoms of autism. However, thimerosol has been removed from vaccines since 2001, although the numbers of cases of autism continue to grow.

Another cause for concern is the sheer number of vaccines given to children in such a short amount of time. A child’s immune system is still beginning to develop at this point, and some worry that the number of vaccines – particularly those designed to protect against more than one disease – may simply overwhelm the immune system, causing it to weaken or fail. Could this mean that children who have a predisposition to autism find themselves vulnerable? Research is inconclusive as of yet.

In light of this controversy, many parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children. Health officials worry that this could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases. They also want people who are capable of being vaccinated to do so, which can provide protection to people who are unable to vaccinated, such as those with chronic health conditions. This is a concept known as herd immunity. Other experts argue that with the advent of modern medicine, most of these preventable diseases are more of an inconvenience than major health hazard. Many parents are, therefore, simply unwilling to take actions which they believe put their children at risk for the sake of the “herd.”

Until there is a good answer to this question, many parents are opting for a vaccine slowdown. This means that instead of adhering strictly to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended schedule, they are spreading their children’s vaccines out over a longer period and reducing the number of vaccines that are given at any one appointment. Noted pediatrician Dr. Robert Sears suggests such a schedule on his website and through his books. For parents who want the protection that vaccines can provide, but want to avoid overwhelming their children’s immune systems, this may be the best course of action.