Vaccines Cannot Cause Autism
Today’s Medium article write-up will into the realm of an evidence-based discussion. Since the subject is controversial, I’ll be making sure this is evidence-based in scientific studies as this is the best way to provide proof. Many AV’ers, sceptics and people that are deeply entrenched in echo chambers like to use any excuses they can find as science is very much a confusing topic. Without further ado, let’s get into the article.
➡ Summary
This was probably started all the way back in 1998 when now-disgraced Andrew Wakefield tried to link the MMR vaccine to autism, his study was retracted from The Lancet on fraudulent and unethical data, Andrew himself even stated there is no link. [1]
Ever since this study was brought out many families, parents and individuals have used baseless, anecdotal claims that a vaccine may have caused autism within a loved one without fully understanding how autism develops within humans, especially the onset symptoms within a couple of years of life in infants [2].
References: [1] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673697110960/fulltext
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2857525/
➡ Evidence-based studies
A meta-analysis (strongest piece of scientific evidence) study from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed us that there is strong evidence that the MMR vaccine is not associated with autism. [1]
Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies.
Highlights
• There was no relationship between vaccination and autism (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.06).
• There was no relationship between vaccination and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.20).
• There was no relationship between [autism/ASD] and MMR (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.01).
• There was no relationship between [autism/ASD] and thimerosal (OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.31).
• There was no relationship between [autism/ASD] and mercury (Hg) (OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.07).
• Findings of this meta-analysis suggest that vaccinations are not associated with the development of autism or autism spectrum disorder. [2]
A large study confirms that MMR vaccination doesn’t increase autism risk. A nationwide cohort study of all children born in Denmark to Danish-born mothers between 1999 through 2010 concluded that the mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine does not increase the risk of autism.
A quote direct from the study — “The study strongly supports that MMR vaccination does not increase the risk for autism, does not trigger autism in susceptible children, and is not associated with clustering of autism cases after vaccination,” study authors conclude. “It adds to previous studies through significant additional statistical power and by addressing hypotheses of susceptible subgroups and clustering of cases.” [3]
Another study that looks into vaccines within the first year of a child's life had this conclusion — “Timely vaccination during infancy has no adverse effect on neuropsychological outcomes 7 to 10 years later. These data may reassure parents who are concerned that children receive too many vaccines too soon.” [4]
Some people have also tried to claim that thimerosal [5] exposure (type of mercury) can lead to ADHD (attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder). Ethyl mercury is less likely to accumulate and will not cause ill effects such as another counterpart of Mercury called methyl mercury due to the fact that thimerosal is dissolved by the body more quickly. A cohort study from the United Kingdom looked into the effects of thimerosal exposure in 109,863 children who were born from 1988 to 1997, found that was no causal association between thimerosal exposure via DTP/DT vaccines causes neurodevelopmental disorders. [6]
A very good science article with lots of references within this citation also found no evidence of autism being linked with vaccines, whilst it also goes into great length about the history begin MMR Vaccine, Andrew Wakefield and the pseudoscience behind people trying to link vaccines to autism, I think this citation article makes for an excellent read. [7]
A ScienceDirect study stated this about not finding a causal association between the MMR vaccine and autism — “Our analyses do not support a causal association between MMR vaccine and autism. If such an association occurs, it is so rare that it could not be identified in this large regional sample.” [8]
Another study this time from the JAMA science journal stated this — “The current literature does not suggest an association between ASD and the MMR vaccine; however, limited epidemiological evidence exists to rule out a link between a rare variant form of ASD and the MMR vaccine. Given the real risks of not vaccinating and that the risks and existence of variant ASD remain theoretical, current policies should continue to advocate the use of the MMR vaccine.”
References: [1] https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/134/2/325/33005/Safety-of-Vaccines-Used-for-Routine-Immunization?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24814559/
[3] https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-2101
[4] https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/125/6/1134/72509/On-time-Vaccine-Receipt-in-the-First-Year-Does-Not?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[5] https://media.chop.edu/data/files/pdfs/vaccine-education-center-thimerosal.pdf
[6] https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/114/3/584/67149/Thimerosal-Exposure-in-Infants-and-Developmental?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[7] https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/do-vaccines-cause-autism
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673699012398
[9] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/481371
➡ Conclusion
There is absolutely no way that any vaccine can cause whatsoever, there is not a shred of scientific out there to state it does, without applying consistent logic to whatever evidence states it does without finding scientific inconsistencies very quickly. This article shows robust evidence that parents or anyone else can be 100% in the knowledge that your kid will NOT get autism after vaccination
💥 Thanks for reading, Lawrence. Please consider a small contribution, in the form of a beer as all articles are created in my small amount of spare time: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LawrenceRob