Introduction
Autism refers to “a life-long brain disorder that develops in young children, typically around the age of two” (National Capital of Poison Center 1). This condition is characterized by a lack of ability to create social links, reduced capability to engage in communicating with other people; both verbally as well as non-verbally, and other abnormal conduct like “constant repetition or focussing only on certain things to the exclusion of others” (National Capital of Poison Center 1). The children having autism are time and again given description to as “normal infants who then lose their ability to speak, communicate, and interact and who develop a wide range of abnormal behaviours” (National Capital of Poison Center 1). Basing on the information provided by the “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, in the U.S, there has been rising of the number of children having autism by about seventy eight percent in the course of the last decade (“The American Dream” 1). There have also been estimates that indicate that one child out of eighty eight has one form or the other of a disorder related to autism. The schools are completely filled with children having special needs and a very large number of parents are in a desperate condition making attempts to establish the reasons why a very large number of children are having cruel developmental problems like these. Some people believe that autism, especially parents, is caused by vaccines. This has brought in a debate with some people supporting the idea that vaccines cause autism while others are opposed to it. The ongoing debate over this issue is often considered as a fight between the parents and science. This paper is going to critically examine this issue. It is going to be argued that; the increasing number of children with autism is not due to the children receiving vaccines but rather due to other factors that need to be investigated further.
“Autism is not caused by Vaccines”
Those who support the idea that vaccines cause autism point out that while the number of vaccines given to the children has increased, at the same time, the percent of the children having autism has also increased. They point out that in the current day; there are over thirty vaccines that are being given to children under the age of three years in some regions of the U.S (“The American Dream” 1). They point out that when large amounts of mercury and toxic substances are injected in the bloodstream of the young children directly, there is a high likelihood to have negative results (“The American Dream” 1). It is true that studies that have been conducted indicate that the incident of autism has actually increased. However, this rise in the number of cases of autism may be attributed to a combination of causes. For instance, it is pointed out that an increasing number of behaviours as well as disorders are being encompassed in the ASD definition than it was done during the past (American Academy of Pedriatrics, 2008). Moreover, the public as well as the medical profession have recognition of such disorders more often. The increase in the number of cases of autism among children may also be attributed to the increasing population. Since the population of people is higher than it used be in the past, there is a likelihood of identifying relatively increased number of children that have developed to autism and this might not necessarily mean that the vaccines are responsible for such an increase.
Thimerosal does not cause autism. Some people believe that thimerosal, which is a component of some vaccines, contributes towards development of autism in children. For instance, Adams, the Health Ranger, points out that a U.S study found out that those children who were given vaccines that have thimerosal which is a substance that is about fifty percent mercury, “were more than twice more likely to develop autism than children who did not” (Adams 1). It is unquestioned that mercury which is in particular forms and adequate amounts can be harmful to the human body. This substance is destructive to such organs as the lungs, brain and kidney and this depends on the form of the substance and the way one who is affected is exposed. Moreover, there is no question that this substance can be transferred to the fetus from a mother who is exposed to it. However, the question is whether or not the ethyl mercury which is found in thimerosal, used in vaccines, is linked to autism. DeStefano provides an answer to this question where he points out that there is no link that has been found between autism and the vaccines that have thimerosal (DeStefano 756). This may be illustrated well by considering that an initiative was made in 2001 in which there was removing of thimerosal from vaccines and in other cases the amount of this substance was decreased to trace quantities in all vaccines for children apart from one kind of the influenza vaccine and the alternatives for the influenza that do not contain thimerosal are also available. In case thimerosal was a substance that was responsible for the rising number of children having autism, that number would have decreased when there was removal of this substance from the vaccines. It is pointed out that a large number of studies in the U.S and other parts of the world indicate that the rates of the development of autism went on increasing, even after there was the removal of thimerosal from the vaccines (National Capital of Poison Center 1).
Evidence that has been presented from a number of studies that have been aimed at examining the trends in the use of vaccines and changes in the frequency of autism does not in any way support having a link between autism and thimerosal (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1). In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a scientific review undertaken by IOM or the “Institute of Medicine” drew a conclusion that the evidence that has been presented is in favor of not accepting a casual link between the vaccines that contain thimerosal and autism in the young children. The Centers for Disease Control supports this conclusion. More recently the Institute of Medicine carried out a comprehensive review of the present day scientific and medical evidence concerning vaccines and particular health events which may be seen after vaccination taking place. It presented a report in the month of August, the year 2011 about eight vaccines administered to both children as well as to adults and it was established that the vaccines are generally safe. The review also found that grave adverse events after the vaccinations are very rare. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognition that autism is a health concern that is quite urgent and offers support for the idea of undertaking detailed research as being the most excellent hope for acquiring the knowledge about what causes autism among many more developmental disorders.
A comprehensive study conducted by Offit and his colleagues sought to examine three kinds of theoretical connections between autism and vaccination (Forsloff 1). One of the theoretical link or connection involved the actual ingredients; the second involved the effect of vaccines on certain proteins within the body and the last one involved comparing the statistics concerning vaccination of the children with autism and those that were normal. They established that no observable link between autism and vaccines. Moreover, there is no supporting by research evidence of the notion that there is lowering of the immune system by vaccinations in order that there is development of autism (Forsloff 1). Offit and his colleagues hold a belief that there is need to have more education for the parents in order to assist them to have the understanding that it is needless to be worried about their children being given vaccinations (Forsloff 1). They are concerned about the several children who have not received vaccination for the reason that parents fear that when the children are vaccinated, they may develop autism. They cite one incident where some three children that had not received vaccination caught meningitis and eventually died. These researchers made a declaration that autism is not caused by an immune response. They were hopeful that the research that will be conducted in the future will help in examining the “biological bases of autism” (Forsloff 1).
Still considering the issue of how autism is linked to vaccines, the World Health organization presented their view in which it was pointed out that; it is imperative to point out that “concerns about the toxicity of thimerosal are theoretical and there is no compelling scientific evidence of a safety problem with its use in vaccines, although public perception of risk remains in some countries” (ECBT 3). The policy of the world Health Organization on this issue is quite clear and this organization goes on to make recommendation that the vaccines that have thimerosal are supposed to be used for the immunization programs across the world because the advantages of utilizing the products of this kind outweigh any particular theoretical toxicity risk by far (ECBT 3). This statement is encouraging; especially when it is considered that it has been found out that thimerosal does not even contribute towards development of autism among the children.
Conclusion
The increasing number of children with autism is not due to the children receiving vaccines but rather due to other factors that need to be investigated further. The rise in the number of cases of autism may be attributed to a combination of factors. For instance, an increasing number of behaviours as well as disorders are being encompassed in the ASD definition than it was done during the. Moreover, the public as well as the medical profession have recognition of such disorders more often. The idea that thimerosal, a substance found in some vaccines, causes autism is ruled out. An initiative that was taken to remove thimerosal from the vaccines did not lead to a reduction in the number of the children who developed autism. Parents need to be educated in order for them to allow their children to be vaccinated without having any fear. It is very important for the children to receive vaccination in order for them to grow in a healthy way.
Works Cited
Adams, Mike. Vaccines cause autism: supporting evidence, 6 October 2009. Web. 13 July 2012.
American Academy of Pedriatrics. Facts for parents on autism and vaccines safety, March 2008. Web. 13 July 2012. < http://www.drglasser.com/pdf/SP/Vaccines-and-Autism.pdf >.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Concerns about autism, 2010. Web. 14 July 2012. < http://www.cdc.gov/ >.
DeStefano Frederick. Vaccines and autism: evidence does not support a causal association. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 82.6, (2007):756-759.
ECBT, Expert statements on vaccines and autism, 2009. Web. 13 July 2012. < http://vaccinesafety.ecbt.org/ecbt/website_documents/ExpertStatementChanges2.pdf>
Forsloff, Carol. New definitive evidence shows autism not caused by vaccines, 10 February 2009. Web. 13 July 2012. < http://digitaljournal.com/article/266949>.
National Capital of Poison Center. Vaccines do not cause autism, 2010. Web.13 July 2012.
The American Dream. Vaccines and Autism: The secret that you are not supposed to know, 2012. Web. 13 July 2012.
