Autism And Vaccination

Running Head: AUTISM AND VACCINATION 1

AUTISM AND VACCINATION

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AUTISM AND VACCINATION 2

Autism and Vaccination

Despite the fact that there is a rising number in the child vaccination rates in the United

States (US), many parents have become excessively disturbed that these vaccinations could be a

cause of autism epidemic. Equally, the increasing number of autism diagnoses all over the world,

mostly attributed to the increased awareness, has led to the speculation that child vaccination

could be a leading cause of autism. As such, a huge number of parents and caretakers have

developed fears concerning the likely etiological role that vaccinations might play towards the

development of autism among children. It is therefore important to carry out an analysis that will

show the relationship between vaccination and autism. As such, this article examines two articles

that tend to explain the existing relationship between autism and vaccination or immunization.

According to Doja and Roberts, autism is basically a neuro-developmental disease that is

prevalent among young children, involving behavior deficits (2006). As such, it can be identified

that autism disorder occurs among small children and could thus cause complications more so in

terms of the children’s communication, interests and behaviors. Notably, whereas an autistic

child with low functioning could possess below average cognitive ability and have an injurious

attitude, an autistic child with high functioning is most likely to possess a high level of cognitive

ability, high communication and verbal skills as well as develop strong relationship tie with

peers, family and teachers.

Essentially, the article by Gerber and Offit points out that in 1998, Wakefield, et al.,

published a report which aimed at proving that there was an existing positive relationship

between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), and autism (2009). To illustrate, the article states that

Wakefield et al. carried a study which showed that several children developed autistic symptoms

just one month after being given the MMR vaccine. Comparatively, Doja and Roberts identifies

that Wakefield et al.’s study was done on 12 children that had normal development before

AUTISM AND VACCINATION 3

undergoing MMR vaccination (2006). Thus, this article states that after undergoing the

vaccination, the children were observed to have several abnormalities and complications such as

abdominal pains, diarrhea, food intolerance as well as bloating. Furthermore, Wakefield stated

that the children who undertook the MMR vaccination experienced behavioral difficulties that

depicted the existence of autism (qtd. in Gerber & Offit, 2009; Doja & Roberts, 2006).

Therefore, Wakefield et al.’s study identifies that there exists a relationship between the

administration of the MMR vaccine on children and the development of autism disorder.

Notably important, although Wakefield et al.’s study tends to conclude that there exists a

correlation between vaccines and autism, these two articles do not necessarily agree to that. In

fact, the article by Doja and Roberts points out that Wakefield et al.’s study lacks appropriate and

valid evidence that connects the MMR vaccination with autism (2006). Besides, there is also lack

of sufficient evidence linking the vaccines to the increase in the deterioration of children’s

immune systems (Doja & Roberts, 2006). That said, it is crystal clear that the article by Doja and

Roberts refutes the views of Wakefield et al. that indeed vaccines could be a triggering factor

towards the increasing cases of autism.

Likewise, the article by Gerber and Offit states that the inferences attained by Wakefield

et al. lacked a scientific foundation and thus it was important that further epidemiologic studies

be undertaken to eliminate parental fears (2009). Thus, it is worth noting that the two articles do

concur that Wakefield et al.’s study is quite misleading since it lacks proper scientific

foundations that can be used to show a cohesive relationship between vaccination or

immunization and autism disorder. Comparatively, scientific evidence shows that there is no

existing relationship between vaccination and autism disorder, neither is there a connection

between gastrointestinal disorders, thimerosal and autism (2009). Therefore, the two articles

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jointly uphold the position that there is no real association between vaccination and the increase

in the number of children with autistic disorders in the US.

Ultimately, due to the lack of appropriate knowledge on the main factors behind autism,

parents in the US and all over the world have become increasingly frightened to take their

children for vaccination programs. As a result, this has led to the rise of preventable diseases

such as measles, smallpox and polio among others on young children. As such, the state of health

care delivery has been widely affected, making the need to provide health education wanting.

Thus, these documents aim at increasing the overall healthcare state by elucidating on the fact

that vaccination does not indeed cause autism. As such, these documents urge health

practitioners to listen to and advice parents appropriately on the issues about autism and

vaccination. Furthermore, the articles emphasize on the riskiness of lack of or delayed

vaccination to create awareness and education more so to the parents concerning issues

pertaining autism. Doing this will enable the parents to take their children for vaccination

programs thus increasing the overall health in the US.

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References

Doja, A., & Roberts, W. (2006). Immunizations and Autism: A Review of the Literature.

Retrieved from

http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FCJN%2FCJN33_04%2FS0317167

10000528Xa.pdf&code=03f22752faf3a2a57fc0936b8a4b398c.

Gerber, S., & Offit, P. (2009). Vaccines and Autism: A Tale of Shifting Hypotheses. Retrieved

from http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/4/456.full.pdf.

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