Myth#1 Getting the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine can cause autism
In 1998, a British physician by the name of Andrew Wakefield published a study claiming that the MMR vaccine could be linked to development of autism, a complex developmental disorder that impairs communication and social interaction in children. Further investigation eventually led to the article being retracted by the publishing paper, The Lancet, and Wakefield losing his license to practice medicine in 2010. Wakefield went on to direct the movie, Vaxxed in 2016 which asserted that the Centers for Disease Control covered up information about vaccines and autism in boys. Aside from Wakefield’s work, there have been celebrities and activists that have questioned vaccine safety.
There have been many parents that have expressed concern about administering vaccines to their children in recent years. Certainly, when Wakefield’s original study was published in 1998, vaccines were increasing as well as the number of cases of autism. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the link between autism and vaccines to reassure the public that not only are vaccines safe, but they are necessary. In a large study of children in the United States it was found that there was no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/no-mmr-autism-link-large-study-vaccinated-vs-unvaccinated-kids?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4Kcvt6i6QIVAe21Ch1aUAdqEAAYASAAEgLESPD_BwE. Studies have also been conducted in Europe and other parts of the world that have also shown that vaccines are safe and effective. Groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control, Autism Speaks, National Institute of Health and Autism Science Foundation have also urged parents to vaccinate their children.
Myth #2 Vaccines contain material that is harmful to children
Many groups opposed to vaccines have argued that there are substances in vaccines that can hurt children. These groups have raised concern about mercury, human fetal tissue, aluminum, and other additives that could cause a reaction when administered to a child. The CDC has published on their website information about common vaccines, and it can be found on https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm. Another helpful link about vaccine ingredients can be found here http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/vs-ingred.htm. While there are organizations and websites that argue about the safety of vaccine ingredients, it’s important to think about the following when examining a study. How big was the group that was studied? Is the substance that is being examined the same amount as that used in vaccines? Where was the study conducted? Can it be replicated? Many have argued that mercury levels cause autism. However, there has been no evidence to connect mercury, ingredients in vaccines and autism together. Here’s a brief video from a physician at the Mayo Clinic explaining some of the concern about vaccines.
Things to Consider
As the technology has advanced, so has the manufacturing of vaccines. There has been an overwhelming response by the scientific and medical community on the issue of vaccines. All children are encouraged to get vaccinated as a general rule. As public concerns have come up, how vaccines are manufactured has changed. This has been the case of the mercury based ingredient in vaccines. Many vaccines no longer contain mercury. Public health officials have dedicated money and resources into vaccine effectiveness and safety. Parents have many valuable resources to help them understand how vaccines work, how they are made, and how they protect the public. Here’s a few videos that help explain what’s in vaccines, and how they are safer than ever.
References
Knopf, A. (2017). Vaccines do not cause autism: Pediatricians fight back against anti-science. Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 33, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbl.30195
Bail, C. A. (2016). Emotional Feedback and the Viral Spread of Social Media Messages About Autism Spectrum Disorders. American Journal of Public Health, 106(7), 1173–1180. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303181
No link to autism. (2019). Nursing Review (1326-0472), 2, 5.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm