Vaccinations: Saying No is More Harmful than You Think
Vaccines are one of the greatest developments of the modern world. They have allowed us to all but eradicate small pox and protect our children from other horrible diseases which used to kill hundreds of children every year. There are people who believe that vaccines are in reality harmful and refuse to vaccinate their children. Others refuse to vaccinate due to a religious belief. This is a dangerous trend that is driven by conspiracy theories and false data, has lead to out breaks of easily preventable diseases, and endangers the people who cannot be vaccinated for other health reasons. Every child who can be vaccinated should be vaccinated.
One area that the anti-vaccine crowed points to is the false belief that vaccines cause autism. In particular they point to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. To date there has been no credible study that has established a link between the MMR, or any other vaccine for that matter, and the onset of autism. In fact the one study widely quoted study was shown to be false and the doctor who conducted it had his medical license revoked. However, the anti-vaccine crowd love to quote how there has been a rise in cases of autism along with the rise in vaccination usage; however they ignore that fact that the rise is autism is cause by the changes in the way autism is defined. Frank DeStefano, a researcher with the CDC, points out, “Correlating changes in the number of autism cases with changes in vaccination coverage, however, is complicated by changes in diagnostic criteria and possible increased awareness and recognition of autism….[T]he study by Dales found that the increase in autism cases could not be explained by MMR coverage.”(756). Further evidence comes from Japan where they discontinued use of the MMR vaccine in 1993 but have not seen a decrease in the cases of autism. A similar study in Montreal show that despite a decrease in the use of the MMR vaccination, there was no change in the rate of children diagnosed with
One area that the anti-vaccine crowed points to is the false belief that vaccines cause autism. In particular they point to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. To date there has been no credible study that has established a link between the MMR, or any other vaccine for that matter, and the onset of autism. In fact the one study widely quoted study was shown to be false and the doctor who conducted it had his medical license revoked. However, the anti-vaccine crowd love to quote how there has been a rise in cases of autism along with the rise in vaccination usage; however they ignore that fact that the rise is autism is cause by the changes in the way autism is defined. Frank DeStefano, a researcher with the CDC, points out, “Correlating changes in the number of autism cases with changes in vaccination coverage, however, is complicated by changes in diagnostic criteria and possible increased awareness and recognition of autism….[T]he study by Dales found that the increase in autism cases could not be explained by MMR coverage.”(756). Further evidence comes from Japan where they discontinued use of the MMR vaccine in 1993 but have not seen a decrease in the cases of autism. A similar study in Montreal show that despite a decrease in the use of the MMR vaccination, there was no change in the rate of children diagnosed with