MMR vaccine linked to Autism??

Question

My son had the MMR vaccine today along with two other shots at his 12 month check-up. I saw an article about the MMR shot being linked to Autism! Does anyone have any opinions on this.. it has me freaked out! Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

This answer is a matter of who you ask.  Now, are you going to believe the doctors who know how to rid autism and say there is a connection or are you going to believe the doctors who say there is no treatment for autism and no connection to vaccines?  If you are not successful at ridding autism, then you have nothing to offer me on autism.  My children no longer have autism because I chose to believe the parents who said they rid their child's autism. I listen to the successful people, and it works for me.  If you want to find these successful people, go to Yahoo Groups on autism (biomedical and infections and toxins).  They will tell you all about successful strategies, doctors, etc.  Or you can google the latest "Hannah Poling vaccines autism"  and "monkey vaccine schedule autism"  Its not a matter of science any more, because its too conflicting.  Its about listening to the right people.

Answer 2

Autism is a topic very close to my heart and when I first started to look at the supposed link between autism and the MMR vaccine I was very alarmed. Autism is very complex. Each individual on the spectrum has different experiences with it and it affects them in different ways and with different levels of severity. Nobody knows for sure what causes autism and it's starting to look like there is no ONE factor we can pinpoint. Because there appears to be an increased risk when there is a sibling on the spectrum, there appears to be a genetic link. It's not so simple as having "the gene for autism" though. It appears there could be anything from 3 to over 100 different genes involved and just having these genes is not enough to end up with autism. Something has to trigger it and that's where I think more research could be done into the MMR vaccine. The studies they've done to show there's no link are studies on general groups and they don't take into account the fact that only a small subset of the population may be at risk. But even if the vaccine MIGHT play a role as 'trigger', we know for sure it isn't the ONLY trigger. This is because autism has been around a lot longer than the vaccine and there are many kids on the spectrum today who did not receive the MMR vaccine. Another possibility is that certain infections during the first trimester of pregnancy (like flu) may contribute to autism and certain other disorders. In fact, there are many , many different events during pregnancy that may play a role and whether it takes one event or a combination of events is another question still up in the air. So, in my opinion I do not believe that giving a child the MMR vaccine could be giving them autism at the same time. It's just not that simple. I DO believe that the medical community is very protective of vaccines and many of their reasons are good ones...after all, we want to protect our kids from life-threatening illnesses as much as possible. Some of their reasons aren't so good  (guaranteed profits for the drug companies, not wanting to render themselves liable to lawsuits etc). I think that large epidemiological studies are not adequate and that further research into the MMR vaccine is necessary. The scare campaigns run by the likes of Jenny McCarthy are not helpful and do little more than rouse hysteria and fear and worst of all they distract the parents of kids on the spectrum from accepting their children for who they are and helping them in practical ways. They wind up focused more on a crusade and "somebody to blame". If we ever discover the causes of autism I think it will be a very complex combination of factors, not just "this one thing is the culprit." That's how I see it anyway.

Answer 3

There are many debates about this.

Some say absolutely. Personally, I think it's not easy a solution. There are children who have had NO immunizations and are autistic.

I don't know the answer. It's frightening.

I wish I had advice for you. Pray and try to do what you and your family think is best.

Answer 4

It's possible, but only if your child has a violent allergic reaction to the shot.  In early childhood any trauma can make a child predisposed to autism.  Regardless, the chances of your child having a bad reaction to vaccine is about the same as winning the lottery.  It isn't going to happen.  Your child WILL get some really dangerous childhood illness if he is not vaccinated though.  

Answer 5

There is so much on-going debate about this.  There is a lot of information out there, just google it.  You really have to decide for yourself.

IN MY OPINION, the benefits outweigh the risks.  Children can DIE from diseases that wouldn't kill an adult, such as pertussis.  If you want to protect your child, then vaccinate.

Answer 6

My 5yo son has autism and was fully vaccinated.  He regressed after his 15 month immunizations.  Please note - I didn't say he regressed BECAUSE of his immunizations.  But - I and his geneticist believe that the MMR and his flu shot were the triggers for his autism.  

Not vaccinating doesn't mean that your child WILL get a dreaded disease.  Look at the causes of HepB - s*x, IV drugs, blood transfusions.  How many infant children get those?  But HepB still has thermerisol in it, which whether it's linked to autism or not, is toxic.  I'm not immune to MMR and I've had dozens of boosters.  

There's nothing clear cut.  If you research it and YOU think it's not linked, vaccinate as you see fit.  If you research it and you think maybe it is, research more.  

My younger 2 aren't vaccinated and no-one has any problems except my vaccinated son.  And the vaccinated one STILL got chicken pox.