...A recent concern in our society is that vaccinations cause autism. As the rates of autism is continuing to rise in the United States many people are questioning whether or not vaccinations are the real cause of this disorder. Many parents have decided to not get their children vaccinated due to the fear that vaccinations possibly cause autism. Autism is not linked to vaccinations here in the United States because there are other factors that are related to the cause of autism. There have been many studies conducted about the association between vaccines and autism. In a study conducted by Frank DeStefano and his collegues they researched how the “increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines is not associated...
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...Vaccinations is a process where a person is injected with a substance to make them immune to a disease. Diseases that can make you sick, disabled or even kill you. Most vaccines contain the disease that it is trying to protect you from by building up your immune system to help you fight it if you ever come across the real thing. Many parents of an autistic child blame the condition on vaccines being the direct and only cause. Often, many of those parents have no real concrete evidence to support their claim. Those parents usually are just reading blogs of parents who are facing the same issue. Over the past decade many parents face the hard decision on whether they want to vaccine their child or not. Jenny McCarthy said, “If you ask...
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...Autism Jennifer Van Puymbrouck ENGL 112, Composition DeVry University Autism, what is autism? Autism “is a complex neurobehavioral disorder that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviors” (WebMD). Autism spectrum disorder or ASD for short; is how the doctors are recognizing any child or adult that falls within the Autism category. Clearly we have a growing problem with ASD, it is estimated that “1 out of every 88 children” will be given a diagnosis of autism (Jaslow, 2014). Why instead of decreasing, are autism cases rising? Some say it due to the ways that doctors are able to diagnose autism, but I think there is a different cause. There is one thing that most children have in common and that is the immunizations that are given to most children from birth. Doctors have found that ASD affect boys more that girls and they are “almost five times more likely” to be diagnosed with some form of ASD then girls (Jaslow, 2014). There is enough evidence at present to say that the rise in autism cases can be linked to immunizations. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism can be defined by “a group of complex disorders of the brain development” and “has roots in very early brain development” (Autism Speaks, 2015). Children typically show some signs of autism between 2 to 3 years old. Some of the most common characteristics that most ASD patients display would include: difficulties...
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...Autism Spectrum Syndrome is a term used to describe abnormalities in neurological and brain developments. People affected by Autism suffer a wide range of symptoms with varying severities. Autism is characterized by symptoms such as social impairments, difficulties in emotional connection and communication, and repeated stereotyped behaviors such as hang flapping and rocking (as cited in Uno, Y., Uchiyama, T., Kurosawa, M., Aleksic, B, and Ozaki, N, 2012). Since the discovery of the fist vaccines up until now, thousands of lives have been saved. Contagious diseases speared so rapidly and the effects can be devastating and sometimes irreversible. Infectious diseases spread quickly in communities; in the past some of these diseases effected large...
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...77% of American kindergarteners are up to date with their vaccinations. (Park, 2008) This percentage makes Americans the most vaccinated group of people in the world. The number of shots required for school age children has doubled since 1980; today’s children will receive up to 28 injections for 11 to 15 diseases by the time they go to kindergarten. Many of these mandatory vaccinations are not safe because of the toxic chemicals, the multiple doses that they are administered in, and the neurological disorders, such as autism, that the immunizations may be causing. One main concern for many parents is the amount of injections that infants and young children are receiving at once. It is very common for the doctor’s office to administer three or even four different vaccinations in one visit. Many doctors and nurses share the concern that it is unhealthy for our children to receive so many shots at one time. One survey taken in Minnesota found that between 60 and 70 percent of the pediatricians, nurses, and parents they asked, felt uncomfortable giving a child more than two vaccinations in one office visit. (Madlon-Kay & Harper, 1994) The simultaneous injections can cause more severe side effects for the child and also increases the level of mercury that the child is exposed to because of the multiple doses. One the same line as simultaneous injections is combined injections. These are multiple vaccinations administered with one shot. One example of a combined injection...
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...Thimerosal in Vaccinations and Autism HUM/114 September 1, 2014 Are vaccinations linked to autism because of thimerosal? In my opinion, no they are not. The first article chosen is Federal Panel Hears Testimony on Vaccinations and Autism. By Alicia Ault from the New York Times. This article was about a testimony that was brought before a federal panel. The testimony was based on a mercury-based preservative also known as thimerosal. It is said that it is the reason for the rising rates of autism. Some toxicologist have become steadily convinced of the potential link, because levels of mercury are higher in children with autism. However, since 1999, thimerosal has been gradually removed from vaccines that are given to children in the United States, yet autism rates are still rapidly increasing. According to Ault, the Center for Disease Control, (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, (AAP) have said there is no credible scientific evidence that links thimerosal with autism, or any other childhood neurological disorders, for that matter. The second article I chose is titled Vaccinations and Autism, from the Philadelphia Inquirer. This article also informed readers of the many studies that...
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...vs Autism Emily Willingham and Laura Helft/posted 09.05.2014/NOVA www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/autism-vaccine-myth.html In the late 90’s the vaccine Measles, Mumps, and Rubella know as (MMR) was said to have a link to Autism in children. In my literature review I compared two articles both from the relation to Vaccines and Autism from the late 90’s until the present time. The assertion that vaccines could be linked to Autism burst onto the international stage with the 1998 publication of a paper in the British journal “The Lancet”. (Willingham, E.; Helft, L.et.al.) The other article I reviewed has somewhat of a different outlook. The 1998 publication of a study suggesting an association between (MMR) vaccine and Autism, 13 studies in five countries showed no such link, no data supported any causal connection between the (MMR) vaccine and Autism. (Thompson, J.et.al). I will describe the problem, if the vaccine MMR is the cause of Autism in infant children. Is this vaccine the cause of infant babies developing Autism? Here is what the problem was thought to be in the vaccine MMR. According to the article “The Autism/Vaccine Myth” the vaccine MMR is not responsible for Autism. The myth behind this assumption is first the ingredients used in the vaccine MMR and then the febrile seizures that the parents were concerned about. According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, most febrile seizure happen when a child is sick rather than after a vaccination though...
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...A big topic up for debate is whether or not vaccinations can cause Autism. Autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. Typically autism can be detected form age 18-24 months. By this time most vaccines required for young children have taken place, one of the main reasons parents think vaccines cause autism. Developmental specialist usually pick up on the signs at younger ages, before the parents begin to notice anything out of the ordinary. There are measurable differences in the brain function and structure of children with and without autism. “Starting in the first six months of life, many autistic...
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...Healthy Heresy: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism According to a study done by Public Health Reports, of the parents who delay or refuse vaccinations for their children 57% said their reason for not vaccinating their children was fear of autism (Levs 4). Since the speculation of a causal relationship of vaccinations and Autism began the world has seen some of the most threatening outbreaks of diseases that would have been preventable with the use of vaccines ("The End of the Vaccines Cause Autism Myth." 2). Is it the vaccines causing the problem, or the overprotective parents that are endangering their child and many other people’s children? Parents who do not trust science for vaccinations continue to trust science for other ways such as “to...
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...Notwithstanding all the evidence, one in four Americans still believes that vaccines cause autism (Gross, 2009). Because of this lack of trust in vaccinations, the US saw the largest outbreak of measles in 2008, a disease that was declared eliminated in 2000, due to decreased rates of vaccinations (Ratzan, 2010). Mumps and whooping cough also made a comeback. By 2007, over 5,000 parents of children with autism had sued for compensation. One case in November of 2007 solidified beliefs that vaccines cause autism. The Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged that vaccines had aggravated a preexisting disorder in a baby girl, which caused “regressive encephalopathy with features of...
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...There are some parents against vaccinating their children as they believe harm can come from it. A. Some parents believe autism and vaccinations are linked together. 1. A couple years ago there was an article saying that vaccinations caused autism. 2. Pretty soon the paper was discredited and the scientific journal it was in redacted it. 3. Even though it was redacted and proven untrue parents still use this as an argument against vaccinating their children. B. Some parents believe their children should get ‘childhood diseases to prime their immune system against chronic diseases’ (Alaska). 1. This can hurt other children although. a. In 2008 an unvaccinated boy caught the measles in Switzerland and brought it back to the states. b. Everybody that came in contact with this boy or the places he was at had to be quarantined for a couple weeks. 2. When a parent doesn’t give their children vaccinations, they can cause serious and deadly outbreaks as with the case above. a. A woman whose son wasn’t old enough to get the vaccination got the measles. a. Her opinion about vaccinations was that, ‘[She thought] the battle starts when one person's choices affect other people. So when their child exposed all these other kids, [that's] a really big deal. And that's just really not being a responsible member of this community’...
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...Modern medicine provides people with the ability to protect themselves from the world’s most fatal diseases. Merely a century ago, it was not uncommon for a child to die as a result of diseases such as polio, pertussis, and tuberculosis. Today, it is highly unlikely for a person to contract these diseases, let alone die from them. However, refusal of vaccinations has been increasing throughout the years due to the anti-vaccination movement. This movement declares mandatory vaccines unconstitutional and vaccinations overall as the cause of autism. Unfortunately, the anti-vaccination movement is becoming increasingly popular due to individuals’ unfounded fears and imagined consequences associated with the idea of purposely inserting a disease into one’s body. However, despite one’s beliefs, vaccines are essential not only to a person’s well-being, but to the health of those around them. Mandatory vaccinations do not cause autism; rather, they save lives while upholding values of...
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...Autism’s Rise Autism: Will the rise continue? Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, is a widespread complex brain disorder that has affected many children. There are many different forms and levels of ASD, for example, Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. According to the article Diseases and Conditions from the Mayo Clinic Staff, autistic children may possess social interaction or behavior pattern problems. Social interaction characteristics may include: little or no speech, abnormal tone or rhythm, repetition of words, little facial expressions and eye contact. Additionally, behavior pattern characteristics can include: rocking, spinning, flapping, constant movement, possible sensitivity towards light or sound, and may be uncooperative towards...
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...extinct in America, is unfortunately again on the rise. In the year 2000, national leaders in the United States declared that measles had been eliminated within the country, however, from January 1, 2014 to August 29, 2014, there were 592 Measles cases in the United States (Koplowitz 1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have attributed these cases to parents refusing to have their children vaccinated. Within the past two months, there have been 102 cases of measles reported in 14 states (Grady 1). Vaccinations have proven to be extremely effective. After receiving two doses of the measles vaccination, 97% of people are immune to this disease (“For Health Care Professionals” 2). It is completely unacceptable to have an outbreak of a disease that is almost completely preventable and was eliminated from the United States 15 years ago. In order to protect citizens against communicable diseases, it should be mandatory for almost everyone to receive vaccinations. There are two types of immunizations: active and passive. The more common of the two is the active immunization, which stimulates the body’s immune system to fabricate a defense against a disease-causing microorganism (“Immunization” 1). The first recorded active immunization was Edward Jenner’s use of the cowpox virus to produce immunity to smallpox in 1796 (Riedel 5). Currently, any formulation containing a microorganism for the purpose of immunization is referred to as a vaccine. A population is fully protected...
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...(citation). Measles is an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin, typically occurring in childhood. This infectious disease can be prevented by getting a vaccine. A vaccine is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases. In the past 50 years, vaccinations have saved more lives worldwide than any other medical product or procedure. The intriguing story of vaccination goes all the way back to ancient Greece. Ever since the invention of the first vaccine more than two centuries ago, there has been plenty of controversy over the morality, ethics, effectiveness, and safety of vaccination and immunization. Parents should be required to vaccinate their children. Throughout this essay, the focus will be on the health of the children, the falsifying data about vaccinations, and the benefits of them. Every parent’s biggest concern is the health of their children. As a parent, you make informed choices about your child’s health and safety every day. The health of any child depends heavily on if they receive vaccinations. The children that receive these vaccinations tend to be more resistant to some diseases than those who do not. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction primarily due to safe and effective...
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