Content
In 1998 a British doctor named Dr. Andrew Wakefield stated in a scientific paper published in England that Autism could be caused by the triple viral vaccine, but this is not true because many other scientific researches were carried out to confirm this claim, and it was clear quite the opposite, that vaccines cannot cause autism.
In addition, it was also proven that the study author had serious problems in the methodology of how the study was carried out and had conflicts of interest proven in court. The doctor was guilty of ethical, medical and scientific misconduct for publishing a fraudulent study.
However, many believed in this doctor, and as autism does not yet have a defined cause, it became easier for the population to believe what was stated by the doctor, generating doubts and concerns. As a result, many British parents stopped vaccinating their children, exposing them to diseases that could have been prevented.
Where does the suspicion come from
The suspicion that the MMR vaccine, which protects against the triple viral: measles, mumps and rubella, may be the cause of autism arose because children get this vaccine at around 2 years of age, a time when autism is usually diagnosed . The main suspicion was that the preservatives used in this vaccine (Thimerosal) caused autism.
Because of this, several other studies were carried out to prove this relationship, and the results showed that there was no causal relationship between Thimerosal or mercury, which are the preservatives of this vaccine, and the development of autism.
Facts that prove
In addition to the various scientific studies that prove that there is no direct link between vaccines and autism, some facts that prove this are:
- If the triple viral vaccine were one of the causes of autism, since this vaccine is mandatory, the numbers of cases of regressive autism, diagnosed near the child's 2 years of life, should have increased, which did not happen;
- If the VASPR vaccine, which is the name of the triple viral in the United Kingdom, caused autism, soon after it became mandatory there, cases of autism would have increased in that territory, which did not happen;
- If the triple viral vaccine caused autism, the various studies carried out with thousands of children in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the United States and the United Kingdom, would have been able to prove their relationship, which did not happen.
- If Thimerosal caused autism, after its withdrawal or decrease in the amount in each vaccine bottle, the number of cases of autism would have decreased, which did not happen.
Thus, it is recommended that parents continue to vaccinate their children, according to medical advice, without fear of them developing autism, because vaccines are effective and safe for the health of children and adults.
What causes autism
Autism is a disease that affects the brain of children, who start to have signs and symptoms of social withdrawal. It can be discovered in the baby or in childhood, and more rarely in adolescence.
Its causes are not fully known but it is believed that there are several factors that can lead to the development of autism, the most accepted theory being genetics. Thus, the person with autism has in their genes the perfect scenario for the development of autism, and it can arise after a major trauma or an infection, for example.
Find out if your child may have autism by taking the test here:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
Is it Autism?
Start the test
Does the child like to play, jump on your lap and show that you like being around adults and other children?
Does the child seem to have a fixation for some part of the toy, like only the wheel of the stroller and is staring?
Does the child like to play hide and seek but laughs while playing and looking for the other person?
Does the child use imagination in play? For example: Pretending to be cooking and eating imaginary food?
Does the child take the adult's hand directly to the object he wants instead of taking it with his own hands?
Does the child not seem to play with the toys correctly and just stacks, placing them on top of each other, does he / she swing?
Does the child like to show you the objects, bringing them to you?
Does the child look you in the eye when you talk to him?
Does the child know how to identify people or objects? For example. If someone asks where Mom is, can she point it at her?
Does the child repeat the same movement several times in a row, how to swing back and forth and keep waving his arms?
Does the child like affection or affection that can be shown by kisses and hugs?
Does the child lack motor coordination, walk only on tiptoes, or is easily unbalanced?
Is the child very agitated when he hears music or is he in an unfamiliar environment, like a diner full of people, for example?
Does the child like to be hurt by scratches or bites by doing this on purpose?
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- Dennis K Flaherty. The vaccine-autism connection: a public health crisis caused by unethical medical practices and fraudulent science.. Ann Pharmacother. 10. 45; 1302-4, 2011
- CARDOSO, Plinio Cerqueira et al. Effects of mercury and its compounds in human beings - A mini-review . Work done, Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics, Department of Biology, Center for Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará. Support: UFPA, CNPq.
- FDA: FOODS AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION US. Thimerosal and Vaccines. Available in: . Accessed on 05 Mar 2019
- FDA: FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION US. Understanding Thimerosal, Mercury, and Vaccine Safety. 2013. Available at:. Accessed on 05 Mar 2019
- ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination and Autism: A Nationwide Cohort Study. 2019. Available at:. Accessed on 11 Mar 2019