I don't believe MMR has any connection to autism either, there is one thing I'd like to ask parents who don't want to give there child the MMR because they believe it will give them autism.
"Would you rather your child be autistic or, your child die from either Measles, Mumps or Rubella or all of those three?"
I know some wouldn't listen at first but hey there's nothing wrong with trying until they do.
that article says (be afraid, be very afraid): that falling measles vaccination rates as a result of negative publicity about MMR would lead to between 50 and 100 child deaths. (now WOULD lead is speculation) what we do know is that people and kids do get sic, do die and do have accidents - we can't protect everyone form everything - I say that those nu,bers are low - for example : bikes and bike helmets and seat belts etc.,.... BAD< BAD parents why don't you MAKE your kid wear a safety belt - you are going to be resposible for killing your child... (I am being ironic here, sorry)
from one of the mnay articles about all the things kids dies from:
"Sometimes the only way to get to where you want to go when you want to get there is to walk or ride your bicycle.
Unfortunately, in the United States:
Statistics show that:
* 6,000 pedestrians are killed everyyear.
* 90,000 pedestrians are injured every year.
* A pedestrian or bicyclist is killed every 3 1/2 minutes.
http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pedbike/pedbike.htm
"Each year, more than 500,000 people in the US are treated in emergency departments, and more than 700 people die as a result of bicycle-related injuries. Children are at particularly high risk for bicycle-related injuries...."
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/bike/default.htm
"Every year, about 176,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike accident injuries. Some of these injuries are so serious that children die, usually from head injuries. A head injury means a brain injury"
*************
epidemics are everywhere.
By the way, thanks for the article/ this thread, I am alwasy interested in vaccine info in hte media and of course anything related to how autism is looked at...
oh and protecting "the children". (Though I think parents should be in charge of their own kids not the government - just my opinion - for my kids anyway)
The rationale behind MMR (one jab) vs single doses of each vaccine is that it's cheaper for the NHS to give one vaccination vs three...
It's my understanding that when single jags are given not all children are brought back to complete the course, thus still compromising both their own and herd immunity. I don't know the figures for this, but I have heard this given as a reason in favour of the MMR as opposed to single jags, and it seems fair enough.
People on the autistic spectrum could be classed as immunocompromised anyway. Immunocompromised people shouldn't be taking vaccines anyway...
Immunocompromised could apply to the 25% of the population here in the UK with asthma, or the elderly or the young; it's a rather wide and subjective group... regarding cancer patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people on immune system supressing drugs after organ transplants; all those groups would be advised by their doctors to avoid certain things anyway....
Um wut? My immune system works just fine thanks. Maybe you meant that a disproportionate number of autistics are also immunocompromised. That's probably true. Also, asthma? I don't think that would work out, you'd have a slew of epidemics.
Being male also reduces your life expectancy by a couple of years. It all really depends on individual behaviour. Also there's comorbidity issues.
Firstly, the symptoms of autism appear around the age of 2-3 (which is when the vaccine is given). Secondly there are adverse reactions to a vaccine in a small subset of people. Whether this adverse reaction leads to the type of brain injury or immune response that leads to late-onset autism is difficult to say as most studies have meant that ruling it in or out are within the margin of error (scientifically) due to the small numbers of people on the autistic spectrum (vaccinated) compared to the small numbers of people on the autistic spectrum (unvaccinated)...
It isn't usually true that autistic traits only appear at around 2-3. Autistics do start to act more obviously autistic around then, but there are usually subtle differences visible from birth (or shortly after).
If environmental insults (somewhat unlikely to include vaccines) can cause a condition with autism-like features, that condition is almost certainly distinct from true autism (in other words, a genetic autistic neurotype present from initial brain develompent), and far less common. There's not much evidence for or against such a condition (Childhood Disintegrative Disorder somewhat fits that profile, but it is poorly studied since it is quite rare), but there definitely is evidence supporting an autistic neurotype.
When my son was about 6 months old....I had a friend who insisted that before I got him the rest of his vaccines....that I ask our doctor for a blood test to determine that my son did not have immune issues. At the time she would not let up about it and I finally asked my doctor for the blood test. He agreed to do the test....but assured me that my son did not need it. It turned out that my son had a compromised immune deficiency.....that he outgrew by age 3. The immune specialist told me that he should not get either of the live-virus vaccines (MMR or Chicken Pox) until he outgrew it. The reason she gave was that the 2 live virus vaccines could have serious side effects or even death at that time....due to his compromised immune system. Apparently all the other vaccines are "killed-virus" and would be safe (in her opinion). My son still has not had the 2 even though he outgrew the deficiency....because the whole thing really freaked me out. Ironically, my son was diagnosed with HFA at 4 years old (last summer).
When my son was about 6 months old....I had a friend who insisted that before I got him the rest of his vaccines....that I ask our doctor for a blood test to determine that my son did not have immune issues. At the time she would not let up about it and I finally asked my doctor for the blood test. He agreed to do the test....but assured me that my son did not need it. It turned out that my son had a compromised immune deficiency.....that he outgrew by age 3. The immune specialist told me that he should not get either of the live-virus vaccines (MMR or Chicken Pox) until he outgrew it. The reason she gave was that the 2 live virus vaccines could have serious side effects or even death at that time....due to his compromised immune system. Apparently all the other vaccines are "killed-virus" and would be safe (in her opinion). My son still has not had the 2 even though he outgrew the deficiency....because the whole thing really freaked me out. Ironically, my son was diagnosed with HFA at 4 years old (last summer).
I really think that many small children have weaker immune systems than adults. That is why they catch more colds and that is why they will have more reactions to "live" vaccinations.
Also, some children will have stronger reactions to vaccinations because their immune system reacts so strongly, which to me doesn't mean their system is weak.
My family is genetically sensitive to medications and food additives and chemicals. Our bodies don't let us eat unhealthy food (by sense of smell and taste and reactions to added ingredients. We also are very, very healthy and rarely have illnesses that don't go away within one day.
My oldest son was given the DTP (no longer given,now DTaP). He had a significant reaction to it. (as did many others that is why they no longer give it). He had an even worse reaction to the MMR at 15 months. The doctors told us to vaccinate our other children at different ages and to separate the vaccines due to the probability that their immune systems would react similarly. Our oldest was alwasys going to be on the spectrum, however, having his MMR dose at 15 months changed his path. (They now give the MMR at 18 months)
He is tested for immunity yearly (instead of an MMR booster) and has off the charts immunity to Rubella (which he got 2 weeks after his vaccination 105 fever/rash/spots etc.,) and high immuniyt to the others.
(He has just recenty gotten his (Tdap) Tetanus, diptheria, pertussus booster and did fine.
One can have a very significant reaction to some vaccines thanks to the protein part of it. Since virus vaccines are produced in chicken eggs, one is of cause going to get a fair slab of protein that is usually harmless. I suspect those who are allegic to some types of food could also have a reaction to the vaccine.
I do believe the children should be somewhat older than 12 months, like at least 18 months for the first injection.
But cause autism , nope, not, never. But there is a possiblity if the reaction is particularly severe of acquired brain disorder. I have a relation with such. (like 1 in a million) but far better than say, a 1 in 2 death rate from the actual diseases combined.
I find it interesting how the MMR vaccine myth seems to be disproven by a new study every other week or so and yet people still somehow believe it.
It’s a strange world, I guess.
Will
I've been pleasantly surprised by the fact that despite all the negative publicity surrounding the MMR absolutely no-one has mentioned it to me in relation to my son being aspie. I didn't expect the health professionals to ask about it, but I had thought that other people might have asked me, but no. I reckon that's pretty good.
Almost everyone I've told about my son already knows someone else who is autistic, often within their extended family. People I've come across are generally pretty accepting of autism as being genetic and those who do know someone who's diagnosed can see other family members as having similar traits.