The Autism Controversy and Why It's Ridiculous

The Autism Controversy and Why it’s Ridiculous In 1998, a scandal that caused outbreaks of diseases and widespread fear was released (10). In 1998, the formerly-renowned Dr. Andrew Wakefield, along with 12 of his colleagues, released a paper, oddly entitled Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children in noted scientific journal The Lancet (18). This study, according to The Huffington Post, was retracted by 10 of its 13 authors as well as The Lancet, and caused a scandal among scientists and parents (8). This was because Dr. Wakefield falsified his report and untruly claimed that the MMR vaccine, which according to the CDC, can protect against fatal airborne diseases Mumps, Measles, and Rubella (19), causes autism among other things in children. Now, according to the Autism Science Foundation, approximately one quarter of American parents mistakenly believe there is a connection between vaccines and the causes of autism (2). However, because Wakefield’s findings could not be replicated in any other experiments, because only 12 children were included in the study, because it was reported that he falsified evidence, because he treated the children he used as experiments poorly, because many other scientists have denounced Wakefield’s work, and because The Lancet as well as 10 out of 13 authors retracted it, Wakefield’s findings should not be taken seriously (20). The axiomatic reason that vaccines should not be forgone is because, according to American Council on Science and Health, “Immunizations have had a greater impact on reducing death and disability from infectious diseases than almost any other public health intervention. The rates of diphtheria, measles, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, tetanus, and invasive Hib disease have all been reduced by 97% or more by immunization,” (2). As well as protecting the individual, scientists agree that not getting vaccinations can harm the general public as