I recently received a request to post a graphic on vaccines and autism on my blog. The same came from Healthcare Management Degree Guide (http://www.healthcare-management-degree.net/). The request was made by one of their representatives, Ms. Emily Parker. According to Ms. Parker the purpose of their organization is to disseminate the latest developments in healthcare around the world. For a previous graphic on autism in figures see https://corticalchauvinism.com/2013/04/25/autism-in-figures/

I participated in the Omnibus Proceedings for Vaccination Safety as a witness for the government.For many years my research has been used to support the claim that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. I do not believe in any of the claims presently promoted by Mr. Andrew Wakefield or in the validity of the claims made in his original Lancet publication (now retracted) (see http://bit.ly/1CIqBUP). The rhetoric of Mr Wakefield has been primarily anti-vaccine while I wholeheartedly believe in the benefits of vaccination. I hold similar views in regards to the lack of evidence supporting the role of mercury in autism (see http://bit.ly/1tn0uMa). However, I do believe that the schedule of vaccination should be adjusted and enforced to prevent multiple vaccinations during the same visit to the pediatrician. More specifically, I make reference to the occasional playing catch-up to a schedule where the child receives 4 or more vaccinations in one visit. This is my personal opinion and I have no evidence to back this point of view.

“The Science Facts about Autism and Vaccines” http://www.healthcare-management-degree.net/autism-vaccines/

YOU WILL HAVE TO CLICK TWICE CONSECUTIVELY ON THE GRAPHIC IN ORDER TO RESTORE ITS ORIGINAL RESOLUTION

The following is the text in summary form without the graphics:

The Science Facts about Autism and Vaccines

What started the rumors?

1998: Lancet published a paper by Dr. Andrew Wakefield it was a dramatic study that found a connection between autism and vaccines

The Study Had Some Problems:

Not based on statistics
No control group
It relied on people’s memories
Made vague conclusions that weren’t statistically valid

No Link was Found, so people started investigating his claims

No link to autism was found in ANY case, in all of the studies.

Following Dr. Wakefield’s study, here’s what other more rigorous studies found:

1999: A study of 500 children no connection was found
2001: A study of 10,000 children still found no connection
2002: A study from Denmark of 537,000 children found no connection
2002: A study from Finland of 535,000 children. Guess what? No connection

“They had conducted invasive investigations on the children without obtaining the necessary ethical clearances… picked and chose data that suited their case; they falsified facts.”

2004: Lancet released a statement refuting the original findings
“They had conducted invasive investigations on the children without obtaining the necessary ethical clearances… picked and chose data that suited their case; they falsified facts.”
2005: A review of 31 studies covering more than 10,000,000 children, also found no connection
2012: A review of 27 cohort studies, 17 case control studies, 6 self- controlled case series studies, 5 time series trials, 2 ecological studies, 1 case cross-over trial covering over 14,700,000 children

No link to autism was found in ANY case, in all of the studies.
Vaccine Vilification Survives

1/4 of U.S. parents U.S. parents believe some vaccines cause autism in healthy children
1.8% of parents opt out of vaccines for religious or philosophical reasons
There have been 0 credible studies linking vaccines to autism
Recently an anti-vaccine religious community has seen measles outbreaks

There have been 0 credible studies linking vaccines to autism

Although Declared Eradicated in 2000…

France reported a massive measles outbreak with nearly 15,000 cases in 2011
The U.K. reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 2012

Before Widespread Vaccinations of Babies

in 1980, 2.6 million deaths from measles
in 2000 562,400 deaths 72% of babies vaccinated
in 2012, 122,000 deaths 84% of babies vaccinated

In the United States, Whooping Cough Shot Up in 2012 to Nearly 50,000 Cases

A new study concluded that vaccine refusals were largely to blame for a 2010 outbreak of whooping cough in California.

A new study concluded that vaccine refusals were largely to blame for a 2010 outbreak of whooping cough in California.

It is clear that immunization protects children from disease and saves lives. Outbreaks of many deadly diseases are on the decline globally, thanks to vaccinations. Immunizations can help eradicate many dangerous childhood diseases. Just like Smallpox, they too can be wiped off the face of the Earth. In the U.S., we almost had Whooping Cough beat in the 80s — then Dr. Wakefield’s fabulously flawed paper was published:

1960s – 150,000 cases of whooping cough
1960s – Widespread vaccinations introduced
1970s – 5,000 cases of whooping cough
1980s – 2,900 cases of whooping cough
1998 – Dr. Wakefield’s paper published
2004 – 26,000 cases of whooping cough
2012 – 50,000 cases of whooping cough

Common Vaccine Myths

Vaccines are ridden with toxic chemicals that can harm children
Thimersol, the chemical being referenced, does contain mercury. However, thimersol has been removed from scheduled vaccines and only resides in the seasonal flu vaccine.
The decision to not vaccinate my child only affects my child
Un-vaccinated children who contract a disease can infect infants yet to be inoculated, the small percentage of people whose vaccines did not take, and people with compromised immune systems.
Receiving too many vaccines at once can override a baby’s immune system
Baby’s immune systems are strong enough to defend from the day to day viruses and bacteria with which they come in contact; they can also handle the vaccines. Remember, vaccines use deactivated viruses in their ingredients.
Drug companies just do it to make profits
According to the WHO, estimated 2013 global revenues for all vaccines is around $24 billion, which only accounts for approximately 2 – 3% of the total pharmaceuticals market.

Vaccines Work!

Positive effects of vaccines:

Helped eradicate Smallpox
Save about 8 million lives every year
Significantly reduce disease in the world
New and underutilized vaccines could avert nearly 4 million deaths of children under the age 5 by 2015