Vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Debunking the Link

This article discusses the misconception that vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder. It provides evidence-based information to debunk this link and emphasizes the importance of vaccination for children's health.

Healthcare

Introduction
Vaccines play a significant role in protecting children who are needed to be immunized.
Many caregivers and parents show concerns over vaccines because they scared that it will
harm their children. Vaccines assist to prevent diseases because when the rates of vaccination
are high then the rates of diseases are low. The immune system of an individual responds to a
huge number of antigens. In the given case, Alison wants to persuade Emily to have her
children vaccinated in order to protect Sarah from the illness that can be covered by
vaccination.
Main Body
Autism with vaccination
In the given case, Emily is against vaccination because Edward was being diagnosed with the
development delay at the age of 3 and confirmed as Autism at the age of 5. Some people have
concerns that autism spectrum disorder can be linked to vaccines given to children. A vaccine
ingredient which is specifically studies is thimerosal based on mercury preservative used for
preventing the contamination of the vaccines’ multidose vials (Murray, 2012). The research
depicted that the thimerosal does not cause autism spectrum disorder. Many studies have
depicted that there is no connection between developing autism spectrum disorder and
receiving vaccines.
Determination of the group
In the given case, Emily thinks that vaccination can lead to the occurrence of autism spectrum
disorder in her children. She thinks that Autism of Edward was being occurred due to the
vaccination. On the other hand, Alison is not against the vaccination but due to the comprised
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immune system and allergies, her daughter is not able to be vaccinated. Thus, some people
believe that autism spectrum disorder occurs because of the vaccination given to children.
Analyzing the information
Autism Spectrum Disorder is referred to as the condition that affects the ability of an
individual to interact effectively with the world around. The main cause of autism is still not
found as most of the scientists thinks that it can be due to the combination of environmental
and genetic factors (Lubetsky, 2011). Vaccination is considered to be safe but the most
common side effect while providing to minors are reactions at the time of injection such as
swelling or redness. Between 2001 and 1999, thimerosal was reduced or removed for trace
amounts in all vaccines given to children except for certain flu vaccines. It was considered to
be the national effort made for decreasing all mercury exposure types in children before the
examinations were conducted that identified that thimerosal was not detrimental. The
examination was carried out as the precaution. The only childhood vaccines which include
thimerosal are the packaged flue in the multidose vials. For flu vaccines, there are also
thimerosal-free alternatives (Murray, 2012). However, the results from studies have depicted
that from vaccines the total amount of antigens were the same between children with autism
spectrum disorder and those who do not have autism spectrum disorder.
Analyzing the rebuttal research
It was being found by a research group that live measles virus present in the vaccine infects
the intestine. It was being claimed by the leader of the group that it led to inflammation
resulted in a decrease in the absorption of nutrients required for the development of the
normal brain (Australian Academy of Science, 2019). It was depicted that there was a
developmental disorder like autism. However, many comprehensive studies ruled out the
claims by depicting that the rates of autism are seen to be the same among children who have
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not and have been vaccinated. The report published was depicted to be fraudulent and did not
accept by international organizations.
Analysis of the view based on the evidence
Emily does not have adequate knowledge and she is scared that if vaccination is given to her
children then they might suffer from autism spectrum disorder. She thinks that family links
autism of Edward of his vaccination. Edward was being diagnosed because of the
developmental delay at age three and autism was found at the age of 5. The research and
evidence have clearly depicted that there is no connection between vaccination and autism
spectrum disorder (WebMD, 2019). The Department of Human and Health Services of U.S,
the National Institute of Human Development and Child Health at the National Institutes of
Health, the Committee on Safety of Medicines of the United Kingdom and the American
Academy of Paediatrics have not accepted that there is a correlation between autism and
MMR vaccination (Roehr, 2013). There are many cases which depicted that it is not true
children who receive vaccination suffers from autism. The environmental and genetic factors
are generally found to be the major source for the occurrence of the autism spectrum disorder.
Emily should understand the factors and take a step for the vaccination of her children.
Conclusion
Vaccines given to children do not cause autism spectrum disorder. The research shows that
there is a connection between developing autism spectrum disorder and receiving vaccines. It
is clear that Emily should understand the fact that vaccination is not the cause of the
occurrence of autism spectrum disorder.
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References
Australian Academy of Science. (2019). 4. Are vaccines safe? | Australian Academy of
Science. Retrieved from https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/science-
booklets/science-immunisation/4-are-vaccines-safe
Lubetsky, M. (2011). Autism spectrum disorder (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Murray, S. (2012). Autism (4th ed.). New York: Routledge.
Roehr, B. (2013). Study finds no association between autism and vaccination. BMJ, 346
(apr03 4), f2095-f2095. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f2095
WebMD. (2019). Vaccine Linked to Autism?. Retrieved from
https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/features/vaccine-linked-to-autism#1
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