In 1998 a British doctor named Dr. Andrew Wakefield stated in a scientific paper published in England that Autism could be caused by the triple viral vaccine, but this is not true because many other scientific findings have been made in order to confirm this statement, and it became clear exactly the opposite, that vaccines can not cause autism.
In addition, it was also proved that the author of the study had serious problems in the methodology of how the study was conducted and had conflicts of interest proved in court. The doctor was guilty of ethical, medical and scientific misconduct for publishing a fraudulent study.
However, many believed in this doctor, and since autism does not have a definite cause, it was easier for the population to believe what the doctor said, generating doubts and concerns. Thus, many British parents failed to vaccinate their children, exposing them to diseases that could have been avoided.
Where does the suspicion come from?
The suspicion that the MMR vaccine, which protects against the MMR vaccine: measles, mumps and rubella, may be the cause of autism has come about because children take this vaccine around the age of 2, at which time autism is usually diagnosed . The main suspect was that the preservatives used in this vaccine (Thimerosal) caused autism.
Because of this several other studies were conducted to prove this relationship, and the results showed that there was no causal relationship between Thimerosal or mercury, which are the preservatives of this vaccine, and the development of autism.
Facts that prove
In addition to several scientific studies that prove that there is no direct link between vaccines and autism, some facts that prove this are:
- If the MMR vaccine is one of the causes of autism, since this vaccine is mandatory, the numbers of cases of regressive autism, diagnosed near the 2 years of the child's life, should have increased, which did not happen;
- If the VASPR vaccine, which is the name of the triple viral in the UK, causes autism, soon after it becomes mandatory in that place, cases of autism would have increased in that territory, which did not happen;
- If the triple viral vaccine caused autism, the many studies done with thousands of children from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the United States and the United Kingdom would have been able to prove their relationship, which did not happen.
- If Thimerosal caused autism, after its withdrawal or decreased amount in each vial of vaccine, the number of cases of autism would have decreased, which did not happen.
Thus, it is recommended that parents continue to vaccinate their children, according to medical guidance, without fear of developing autism, because vaccines are effective and safe for the health of children and adults.
What causes autism?
Autism is a disease that affects the brains of children, who have signs and symptoms of social withdrawal. It can be discovered in the baby or in childhood, and more rarely in adolescence.
Its causes are not fully known but it is believed that there are several factors that can lead to the development of autism, being the most accepted theory, genetics. Thus, the person with autism possesses in their genes the perfect setting for the development of autism, and this can arise after a major trauma or an infection, for example.
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Is Autism?
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Bibliographic references:
- Ann Pharmacother. The vaccine-autism connection: a public health crisis caused by unethical medical practices and fraudulent science.
- CARDOSO PCS, et al. Biological effects of mercury and its compounds in human beings - A MINI-REVIEW.
- FDA US - Food and drug administration. Thimerosal in Vaccines.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thimerosal in Vaccines.
