Parents.com
- Pregnancy & Birth Top ToolsHot Topics
- Baby Names Top ToolsHot Topics
- Babies Top ToolsHot Topics
- Toddlers & Preschoolers Top ToolsHot Topics
- Big Kids Top ToolsHot Topics
- Food & Recipes Top ToolsHot Topics
- Parenting Top ToolsHot Topics
- Holidays Top ToolsHot Topics
Health Update: More Proof That Vaccines Don't Cause Autism
Concerns that vaccines may cause autism have been worrying parents since some research first introduced the theory in the late 1990s -- even amid mounting evidence that continues to prove otherwise. In light of more new studies disputing the autism-vaccines link, here are some relieving answers to your most pressing questions.
Print- I Like This! (0)
Comments ( 4 )
Why do some people believe vaccines cause autism?
In the late 1990s, some researchers started raising concerns over the amount of thimerosal -- a mercury-containing preservative -- found in many children's vaccines. Although thimerosal had been used as an anti-contamination agent for decades, until 1991 the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP) vaccination was the only thimerosal-containing shot recommended for infants and children. The hypothesis: As more thimerosal-containing vaccines like hepatitis B and Hib were added to the recommended schedule, researchers worried that babies were receiving too much of the chemical in too short a timeframe, which could potentially impact brain development.
In a totally separate (but coincidental) issue around this time, another group of researchers theorized that children who received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine (which never did contain thimerosal) were more likely to develop autism than those who did not receive it.
But almost as quickly as these ideas were introduced, many larger, better-designed studies started disproving the link between vaccines and autism. Today, scientists are more confident than ever that vaccines play no role in the onset of this developmental disorder. Find out why here.
Topics in Health
Comments Comments ( 4 ) Add your comment
Vaccines may not be the ONLY cause of autism--I happen to think it is a combination of factors, vaccination being ONE of them that may lead to autism. Unfortunately, I did my reasearch AFTER my son developed autism. My baby girl will have no vaccinations until she is older, and then they will be spaced and never given in combinations.
10/28/2009 09:50:39 AM Report AbuseRead EVERY vaccination insert. Thimerosal and other toxins ARE listed--including formaldehyde, ethylene glycol (antifreeze), etc. It is documented that autistic children tend to have difficulty purging toxins from their bodies. The researchers have also not studied the possible effects of combining several vaccines and giving so many at one time. Many are only 50-80% effective.
10/28/2009 09:50:31 AM Report AbuseTHERE IS NO PROOF! links like this make me very frustrated. do research!
10/8/2009 09:04:11 PM Report Abusethimerosal is still in most shots because the government only recommended taking it out as an ingrediant. do you happen to know the other ingrediants that are in every vaccination? you should definately not trust anyone with your baby before doing research yourself. i do not believe in vaccinations AT ALL! God made our bodies to fight disease itself and vaccination are not 100% effective! there are too many side effects of them. do your own research and you can find out more!!
10/8/2009 09:02:12 PM Report Abuse