As an autism support specialist for the Clover Park School District, parents of young children ask me questions about vaccines. Are they safe? Do they cause autism? Is that how your son got autism?
Concerns were raised that vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal might increase the risk of autism and other neuro developmental disorders in 1999. These fears were based on a study done by Andrew Wakefield in 1998, which has since been proven false.
More children in Washington state and in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism, and state law requires that children are vaccinated in order to attend public schools.
An investigative journalist named Brian Deer found that 12 children studied by Wakefield were developing normally until they received the measles, mumps and rubella shot, but five others had previously documented developmental problems. Deer also found inaccuracies when he compared the children’s medical records to Wakefield’s reports. Wakefield has been stripped of his right to practice medicine in Britain.
Wakefield is now in the U.S. speaking about his already discredited studies for and unfortunately parents are listening. Fearing vaccinations with thimerosal in it resulted in a measles breakout in a large Somali community in Minneapolis, Minn. An Associated Press story this past week reported that health officials are struggling to contain the disease because parents fear a vaccine could give their children autism.
Approximately 100 parents in Minneapolis attended a presentation by Wakefield. He met with members of the same Somali community experiencing the measles breakout. Several of these same families then refused the vaccine.
According to the Center for Disease and Control, two out of a 1,000 children diagnosed with measles have died in the U.S.
My son was diagnosed at 3 with pervasive developmental delays. He was in third grade when he was diagnosed with Autism and hadn't had all of his vaccines before showing symptoms.
Should Andrew Wakefield be allowed to give presentations or allow people to ask questions about a potential link between autism and vaccinations?
Source: Lakewood Patch
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