For my fifth source, I decided to use a scientific research article. I went to the library database and found an article called "Vaccine Phobia Becomes a Public Health Threat" written by Andrew Grant. In this article, he explains that in February of 2010, the US Court of Federal Claims ruled that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, as well as vaccines that contain thimerosal, are not the reason why autism cases have risen. This agrees and puts the stamp of approval on the studies and results that scientists have concluded in the past few years. With the ongoing controversy and the attention that autism has gotten in recent years, the National Institutes of Health have contributed $100 million in funds to help further research into the causes of autism. In May 2010, a research study found that "65 percent of autistic children share a set of mutations that may regulate genes known to influence communication among brain cells." Researchers then have started to believe that environmental factors, including those that occur while the child is in the womb, may activate or trigger these certain genes.
Not only that, but scientists and doctors are becoming more and more concerned with the threat of life-threatening outbreaks of diseases. According to this article, in 2008, more than 140 kids were diagnosed with measles. More than 90% of these cases, were in children who were not vaccinated.
So what happens in 50 years when almost nobody decides to vaccinate their children? How many once-dormant diseases are going to be a threat to our lives?
I'm pretty sure that with all of the research I have done, I think it's safe to say that vaccines are not linked to autism. We have made so much progress already with trying to figure out the cause, we shouldn't let our children's health suffer. Vaccines are supposed to help us, not hurt us.
With all the information you have provided throughout your blog, I am in agreeance with you. I do not believe vaccines would cause autism. Even stating that the mercury in thimerosal may cause autism seems somewhat far fetched. There is mercury in tuna, so should we not eat tuna because it may cause autism. I still do wonder what else is in the vaccines? Is there anything else that people are questioning, if its not the thimerosal, could it be something else? Can it do with the age of vaccination?
ReplyDeleteI believe in the vaccinations for my daughter. I am one not to mess with the growth of science. I believe that these things are helping. I also have heard that measles may be making a come back, with this new found lack of vaccinating? Is this true? I know our society would not be well if this happened.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that part of the appeal of the vaccine theory is that it is something parents can control, whereas any other factors (which are more likely the real cause) are too mysterious and complex for anyone to be able to do anything about. Plus people love a good paranoid anti-government conspiracy theory. It's really too bad that facts get lost in the fracas and that so many children are getting sick from preventable diseases! Good for you for doing research to help clarify fact from fiction.
ReplyDeleteI also believe in the benefit of vaccines for children and adults. Vaccines have been around for many years and it seems that the high volume of Autism diagnosis has been more recent.
ReplyDeleteI think vaccines are great fro health but I think there is just cause to fear new vaccines. Take the HPV shot for example, it was rushed through the system to the public and many women thought "I Am Legend is actually going to happen." It's scary when something that is supposed to prevent a disease or illness so strong and common gets presented to the public.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that vaccines are beneficial to our health. There has been so many unclear findings with new diseases or illnesses that have just come out that scientist have not found out the causes for. The reason vaccines get blamed for most things is because at the persons last office visit they had a vaccine of "this", so the doctors are quick to blame their illness to the vaccine. Yes, there are cases were the vaccine was made there was a "bad batch" so the vaccine was ineffective, or cause this reaction because they added or change the formula to make it "better". There are a lot of variables when it comes to vaccines.
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