Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

For about the last decade, a debate has been raging between researchers, health professionals, parents, and the government about whether vaccines cause autism. Autism is a developmental disability that causes impairments with social interaction and communication, and also marked by unusual or repetitive behaviors and interest. Children are usually diagnosed around ages two to four, when social interaction becomes more complex and children start preschool. There is no laboratory test for autism – it is diagnosed by observation, interaction, and psychological tests.

Statistics differ slightly, but in the 1970s approximately 1 in 10,000 children was diagnosed with autism. Today, about 1 in 500 children is diagnosed with autism.

The causes for autism are complex. Autism has been shown to have both genetic and environmental components. The apparent rise in autism rates have led some to suspect vaccines may be the cause, in particular the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Parents report that an otherwise normally developing baby or toddler suddenly shows the signs of autism 1-2 months after receiving a vaccine. Vaccines contain mercury and other substances known to cause neurological defects. In fact, the ingredient list for a vaccine is downright scary. Parents are very worried that something which is designed to protect the health of their child is instead causing developmental problems.

Despite this anecdotal evidence, careful studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health have failed to identify a causal link between vaccines and autism. Studies concluding a direct causal relationship have failed to include sufficient controls or haven’t blinded researchers making judgment calls. Vaccination rates have not increased with the pace of autism rates; there must be some other factor(s) at work. For one, we are now more aware of autism as a disease and children are often diagnosed at a younger age. Perhaps in the 1970s many children with less severe symptoms were never diagnosed. Also, over the past 30 years, Americans’ diets have changed drastically to include more preservatives, dyes, artificial ingredients, saturated fats, etc. More young children do not meet the minimum requirements for consumption of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins. Eating habits have changed on pace with autism rates. Perhaps diet should be investigated as a cause of autism?

In the meantime, we can’t afford to take chances with vaccines. Vaccine companies have reformulated their products without the use of toxic ingredients. Parents can vaccinate their children without concern about autism. Unfortunately, some parents are not getting the message that vaccines have been shown to be safe, despite all the controversy. We need to do a better job of getting this information out to the lay community. In fact, the Sept. 18th episode of Oprah featured Jenny McCarthy, who blamed her child's autism on vaccines. The general public may be more inclined to believe this hype over careful research, which doesn't make the headlines.

References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: "Autism and Vaccines Theory"; Institute of Medicine of the National Academies website: "Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism"; "Vaccines and Autism" article by Dr. Paul Offit of the Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia published by the Immunization Action Coalition