Revisiting the autism vaccine debate

Vaccines and autism

I do not believe that vaccines cause of autism.

Have vaccines ever been the cause of autism?

If it’s happened, it’s a very small percentage. But, generally, no. Even though many studies have shown there is no link between vaccines and autism, if vaccines were the cause of an ASD (autism spectrum disorder), I believe those cases are very rare.

Where did it come from?

In 2005/06,my husband and I were trying to have a second child. We were prepared to spread out the vaccines if we had that second baby. Just in case.

We were fully prepared to do a lot of things differently. It was our plan. (We did not have a second child, BTW.)

Fast forward a few years

And, I still do not believe the MMR vaccine or other vaccines caused my son’s autism.

Do I know that for sure? About 100 case studies have me convinced.

What do I believe?

I believe there is a trigger of some sort AND a genetic link.

A newborn is brought into this world “ready” by some genetic pre-disposition. If the right trigger happens, then it is possible that some form of spectrum disorder could evolve.

I feel, however, it does not always happen. It could happen. The newborn is ready.

Could it happen in the womb?

That’s possible, too.

The bottom line is scientists have debunked the link between the MMR vaccine and other vaccines and autism. However, they still don’t understand the exact cause of autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

It’s a spectrum for a reason. The autism’s severity varies.

Each child is different. Why do some get autism in a severe way and others get it mild? Not sure.

What is the trigger?

Again, scientists don’t know.

My opinion is there can be lots of variables. Genetics for sure. Then, there’s the environment, age of parents, or even food ingested by the mother during pregnancy. Or, it could be a combination of things or none of them.

Why don’t I believe in the MMR-Autism link? Too many scientific studies. Plus, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me that one typical child is fine yet another isn’t and they both had the same vaccine at the same age.

I feel like if that were true, the numbers of autism spectrum disorders would have shot through the roof and not steadily increased.

In my opinion, there are multiple factors and multiple ways a child ends up on the spectrum.

What else is there about this topic?

Here’s my tangent.

I read an article about a nine-year-old girl who was being declined acceptance into a school because her parents did not vaccine her for whooping cough.

The parents had until age six to vaccinate. After that, the vaccine was considered dangerous to the child.

The article I read played the readers’ heartstrings. “I want to be able to go to school with my friends,” said the little girl.

I didn’t wipe a tear from my eye.

Why not?

Because of the ultra extreme and completely idiotic reaction for the parents not to vaccinate. The debunked “vaccines causes autism” theory. (Thanks, Jenny McCarthy).

What bothers is the thinking that all vaccines are bad for the entire life of a child.

What? You have to be kidding me. Not ever.

In other words, I’m supposed to feel sorry for this family. I don’t. This family lives in a school district that says, “We have to look out for the health of the entire community. We’re responsible for not spreading disease. If you parents had just given your child this shot—at a later, just to be on the safe side—then she would be accepted at our schools.”

I feel badly for the little girl.

Because this wasn’t her choice. This is bad parenting.

These parents allowed fear to lead them into a bad decision. Whooping cough was eliminated. Now, it’s back because of parents like them.

I applaud this school district.

What else is back?

Measles.

Rubella.

All because of the dumb notion of “I will never vaccine my child.”

The school district (as well as cities, states, etc.) are in the right here. They do have to protect the entire community as a whole, vaccines are important to the community in general.

And, not because “drug companies are making a killing in profit.” It is because communities are safer. Your children are safer.

Parents, stop the panic and the right wing conspiracies. Read the studies. Believe in science. Get over your fear.

It’s the right thing to do.

Here’s the story I referenced:

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/a-long-island-third-grader-has-been-banned-from-103121986172.html

Revisiting the Autism Vaccine Debate