Vaccinations Vs Autism

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Lots of issues have been raised concerning the safety of vaccination that has propelled the Immunization Safety Review Committee to address whether childhood vaccination is more beneficial compared to the risks associated with it. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), “some people have had concerns that autism might be linked to the vaccines children receive” (Web). It is unfortunate that cases of autism have largely increased amongst children aged between one and two years. The immense swell in autism and other related disorders has seen a number of children at that particular age of vaccination slowly losing their vital cognitive and communication skills. Actually, these kinds of cases cannot fail to raise eyebrows because they only take place at crucial age after children have received vaccination. It leaves me wondering if at all children need vaccination and whether vaccination is of any help to the young people.

Vaccination has saved lives of many people in America and even eradicated some of the deadliest conditions such as measles encephalitis. Because of vaccination, many people who would have been mentally sick were saved and a lot of money which could have been used in medication or on victims was saved. Only a few dollars have been used to save the lives of productive individuals who could have been wiped out by the diseases such as smallpox which had killed very many individuals than any serious war or insurgency. According to American Medical Association (2004), “evidence for any biological mechanism linking vaccines with autism can only be considered theoretical” (Web). But how many Americans witnessed the dangers of these conditions? Perhaps that is the reason behind strong objection of vaccination. I believe that the vaccinations saved America and the entire globe from indescribable desolation that could have affected almost everyone.

It is inopportune to note that currently, many Americans view vaccination as a problem and a very risky act to the lives of their children. Their focus has been diverted more on risks than the vaccination itself. Probably because people are not aware of the dangers of contagious diseases, they do not see the need to prevent them either. Anyway, it may be right because how can you celebrate the prevention of an invisible condition? Many Americans therefore concentrate on the minor effects of vaccination such as rash or fever simply because they do not have an idea on the kind of condition they are trying to prevent. In fact, it is interesting to note that even after thorough scrutiny of every vaccine sold in America, the public still do not trust the institutions and the vaccine itself. According to American Medical Association (2004), “AMA applauds the IOM and the CDC for their strong efforts in continuing to ensure the safety of the vaccines that are administered in the United States through post-market surveillance” (Web). I think institutions such as Food and Drug Administration, pharmaceutical companies, doctors and every scientist who works tirelessly and diligently to save the lives of precious people of America should be trusted.

The issue of doubt started in Britain when a severely flawed and discredited report led by Dr. Wakefield linked symptoms of autism directly to the MMR vaccine. The 1998 report was received by subsequent denial of vaccination by many people. Panic and fear that provoked politicization of the matter marred the great idea of vaccination thus interfering with the objective modern medicine. It is fascinating to see even popular celebrities campaigning vaccination yet they underwent similar procedures. According to Carrey (2009), “but surely there’s a limit as to how many viruses and toxins can be introduced into the body of a small child” (Web) . Some people argue that vaccination was too vigorous especially when a child is nearing 18 months yet some of the symptoms of autism could be observed in children during that period. It indeed not easy to convince the society that vaccination is significant particularly if they can relate issue of mercury presence in the vaccines and the speedy rise of autism cases.

It is adverse not to allow science to solve its issues as well as developing theories and politicizing medical situations. Vaccination should not be directly connected to autism because autism is not even a single disease but somewhat a multifaceted set of conditions. Thanks to the report that was issued by Institute of Medicine team that distanced itself from the claim and further clarified that the mercury content in the preservative was harmless. The team also confirmed that vaccinated children developed autism at different ages hence disapproving the connection between autism and vaccination. There was even an order to remove thimerosal from vaccines so that to remove the notion that its mercury content was the main cause of autism. Nevertheless the report perplexed the likes of Burton who claimed that autism was caused by thimerosal and even claimed that his grandson became autistic after receiving vaccination. Carrey stated that (2009), “we cannot afford to blindly trumpet the agenda of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or vaccine makers” (Web).

Probably there was a hidden agenda in the government institutions as was claimed by Burton. But if the children were perhaps exposed to mercury as claimed then all the children could have died at once. Why should children develop autism symptoms at different ages after vaccination? Although the idea of autism and vaccination is purely theoretical most parents and guardians strongly believe in it thus outranking fear about other serious conditions such as polio or measles. According to American Medical Association, IOM report (2004), “The hypotheses regarding how the MMR vaccine and thimerosal could trigger autism lack supporting evidence and are theoretical only” (Web). It is apparent that failure to take children for vaccination does not reduce or prevent them from autism but simply exposing the young ones into greater risk of catching contracting more serious diseases and conditions.

References

American Medical Association. (2004). IOM Report: No Relationship between Thimerosal Vaccines and Autism. Retrieved from http://www.amaassn.org//ama/pub/physician-resources/public-health/vaccination-resources/pediatric-vaccination/iom-report-no.page

Carrey, Jim. (2009, April 23). Actor Jim Carrey: The Judgment on Vaccines Is In? Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.prisonplanet.com/actor-jim-carrey-the-judgment-on-vaccines-is-in.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Concerns about Autism [Data file].Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism/