There Is No Link Between Vaccines and Autism. Myth Debunked.

Written By Hasnat Ali
No Link Between Vaccines and Autism

The truth about vaccines is that they are an effective means of preventing life-threatening diseases. Vaccines boost the body’s natural immune response to viruses and bacteria that cause a wide array of illnesses. Vaccines have led to improved overall health globally by reducing the transmission of disease, disability, and childhood mortality. Although vaccines have been proven to be both safe and effective based on sound scientific evidence, news and social media are frequently exploding with controversial debates. Misinformation is everywhere, often accompanied by blame, which seems to spread quicker than the infectious agent itself. That being said, fears over safety concerns are natural and totally understandable. Parents often may distrust vaccines because they worry about risks and long-term side effects. But research shows that most of these apprehensions about vaccines are unfounded.   

One of the biggest myths related to the vaccines controversy we hear today is that they cause autism. I personally have read about parents who say, "my child got autism from vaccines" and this is simply not the case. This myth started more than 22 years ago, but unfortunately, it persists today.   

Here are the facts. Numerous research studies show there is no cause, connection, or correlation at all between vaccines and autism. Inopportunely, autism is often diagnosed in the first few years of life, around the time when children get several shots, including the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella). 

The widespread fear and myth that vaccines increase the risk of autism originated back in 1998 when an infamous study was published by British surgeon - Andrew Wakefield. The article was published in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, suggesting that the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine was increasing autism symptoms in 12 British children. 

Unfortunately, this myth is an alarming example of fraudulent science. The journal article has since been completely discredited due to serious procedural errors, undisclosed financial conflicts of interest, and ethical violations. The paper was eventually retracted by the co-authors and the journal, though it took 10 years for that to happen. Andrew Wakefield lost his medical license for his deceit and “callous disregard” for the children in his care.

Even then, this autism-vaccination myth came with hard consequences. It took about two decades for the UK to pick up on its vaccination rates. By that time, the UK had more than 12,000 cases of measles, hundreds of hospitalizations, serious complications, and at least three deaths.

In the U.S., measles was declared eradicated in 2000. However, there has been a resurgence of measles since then, with more than 2,216 reported cases. Anti-vaccine campaigns contributed to the 2015 outbreak in Disneyland in California, infecting more than 130 people, and to the 2017 outbreaks in Minnesota. 

Nonetheless, this hypothesis was taken seriously, and several other major studies were conducted. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stresses that numerous clinical studies have shown that there is no link between vaccines and developing autism. As a matter of fact, none of the studies investigating this hypothesis found a link between any vaccine and the likelihood of developing autism. 

The autism-vaccination myth still endures. It was blown out of proportion by the media initially, later by celebrity endorsement, and recently by worldwide social platforms (of course). On top of these catalysts, Wakefield has tenaciously pursued his independent campaigning against vaccination. He has strategized to move beyond scaremongering tactics to demonizing the CDC in his controversial film Vaxxed. Meanwhile, measles cases have increased four-fold along with 35 related deaths in Europe in 2017. This is largely due to people refusing the MMR vaccine. This also goes to show how Wakefield’s vaccine-autism scare led to debilitating and fatal cases of measles.

Wakefield’s unethical conduct is a classic case of fake science gaining traction and threatening our health and well-being. We need to learn from it and apply our learnings for a better, protected future. The scientific research community needs to amp up its efforts to ensure the integrity of its published evidence and do so in an expeditious manner. Wakefield was not indicted by the medical authorities, nor was the article retracted by The Lancet until 10 years later, in 2010. There were a lot of consequences during that 10 year lag period. For instance, misinformation on the vaccine-autism link has impelled a shocking number of millennials not to vaccinate their children in the U.S.

Although the true causes of autism spectrum disorder are still a mystery, several studies have now identified symptoms of autism in children well before they receive the MMR vaccine. More recent research indicates that autism develops in utero, well before a baby is born or receives vaccinations. These studies ought to significantly weaken the autism-vaccination link theory. Researchers say the cause of autism is likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, that are devoid of any vaccine ingredients.

Sources: AAP, Autism Watch, The CDC, Time

Vaccine autism trees and birds
Hasnat Ali
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