Linked to the MMR vaccination?

Is autism either linked or caused by the MMR vaccination?

[888mom]

Read the MMR and autism post.  It was posted a long while back, but someone did a reply relatively recently.  Anyways, the latest reply from twinmommyplusone was really good.  She has a 5 year old with autism, and basically talks about why she feels that it is not related any more since the mercury has been removed.  Maybe I'm not remembering correctly.  I think she said she noticed signs since her son's birth.  I also noticed signs my daughter showed since her birth, long before the MMR which also didn't have mercury.  So, who knows.  I've heard that there is a study now that's investigating whether early sonograms might contribute.  Of course no results yet, it will be several years probably, but I guess some scientists are curious enough to investigate it.

[888mom]

Um, I think I got the author's posts mixed up... original post by twinmommyplusone and reply by kristinna.

[mjthewriterdad]

There are studies under way right now.  No  conclusions yet.

[swampcritter]

There is no scientific evidence whatsoever to link the the MMR vaccine with autism.

There is, however, ample evidence of the danger of measles. Before the vaccine, measles used to kill 450 children per year and disable 1000 more. My grandmother's sister was among the disabled, she was blinded by the disease.

This weeks MMWR contains an article about a measles outbreak in San Diego. The parents took an unvaccinated child to Switzerland, where he got the disease. The child then went to school, and to the doctors, infecting 11 additional children.

The health authorities had to trace every contact. Unvaccinated children had to undergo a 21 day quarantine. It is a very heavy price for a trip for Europe.

[scott506]

Safe to say swampcritter doesn't have a child with autism. I have two. The week my daughter got her MMR she started saying "daddy" the day after the vaccination it went away and never came back. You are going to have to do better than antiquated fatality statistics to convince me that in 2008 measles is worse than autism. A 21 day quarantine beats the he** out of a lifetime with autism.

[mjthewriterdad]

Is measles a probem in Switzerland?  Do they imunize their children in Switzerland?  I am surprized that this child contracted measles in Switzerland.  I asm also surprized that 11 children plus the child in question  were not imunized in a San Diego school.  I guess parents can opt out but i am surprized that as many as 12 had done so in one individual school.

[Angela77]

The Center of Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics have both concluded that there is no link between the vaccine and autism.  Thimerisol (mercury component) in the vaccines has been removed from the MMR since 1999.  If there was a link, wouldn't the incidence of autism decrease?

[mjthewriterdad]

IMHO, the incidence of autism has increased due to the changing DSM definition of autism has broadened over the years  and IDEA definition of autism was added within the last 20 years.  Once IDEA added autism as a category, as lot of kids labeled with autism flooded the rosters.   Also, more professionals know  what to look for in patients who have been misdiagnosed in the past.

Just an example here:
No one over 40 has  fetal alcohol syndrome,   It affects about 1 in 500 kids today. Fetal alcohol syndrome was not even recognized until the mid-'70s. Fetal alcohol syndrome still existed;  no one would say alcoholism among pregnant women just started in the 70's.

[jjb419]

Since geneticists now feel that autism is likely triggered by something envirnmental , I do not think vaccines can be 100% ruled out as a TRIGGER.
I wouldn't call it the one and only cause though.
I think they are likely numerous environmental triggers including the illnesses the vaccines protect our children from.
One neuro has a theory that noise pollution is a trigger. Very interesting.

[Angela77]

One can go by theories or actual science.  Most of the authors of the study that claimed that thimerisol (the agent in the MMR vaccine that was supposedly linked to autism) have since come out publicly and said they were incorrect.  Thimerisol has been OUT OF THE SHOTS SINCE 1999!  If it was the thimerisol causes autism, wouldn't the rate of autism have gone down since it had been removed from the shot?  I am not saying that it couldn't be a combination between genetics and enviromental factors but the shot theory just doesn't follow logic.  A friend of mine has twins, one autistic and one not.  They both got the MMR vaccine on the SAME DAY from the SAME BATCH.  If it were the shot that causes autism, wouldn't both of those children have it?  

[MJIthewriter]

Not to get off topic or anything but I was reading one person's blog on talentdatabase who thinks there is a link between baby shampoos and autism. I'm not sure if the blogger is autistic or not, but she seems to be interested in it. She suggested googling up autism and phthalates.

I'm not saying if it is true or not, but it was interesting to read nonetheless. I've also read connections between anorexia and autism. Even chimeras and autism!

Personally I think there are a number of factors that cause autism whether it is biological or environmental.

(I’m straining for a good visual example)  Say you want to cook a casserole dish. There are several different recipes for the same thing. It’s still potatoes and green beans, but the method of cooking and preparation may have been different.

Or you cut your finger. Several things may have caused the cut.

That’s my take on the whole causes of autism debate…  I think rather than try to figure out a single “cause” just focus on what you have at hand, your son, or daughter.  No matter what caused the autism, you have an autistic child. Autism doesn’t have to be a death sentence. (some parents seem to think) There are pros and cons.  If you think of it there’s “type A” personality, whether that’s a real dx or not is a debate. It is not quite viewed as a disability, but it too has its up-sides and downsides.

Long term wise if there are environmental triggers that are causing damage to people, I hope that with research, that those chemicals can be pulled off the market, and taken out of the environment.

[mjthewriterdad]

Some facts I dug up which may raise more questions

1.Mercury in routine children's vaccines has not been present in Canada since at least 1990.  The rates of autism in those children born after 1990 in Canada have increased
2. There have been studies in Britain and Denmark  showing that over the past ten to fifteen years in those nations where mercury was taken out of vaccines, autism rates have increased

OTOH
3.  mercury is a known and proven neurotoxin; thimerosal contains mercury; thimerosal is present in vaccines.

4.Thimerisiol was never tested for toxicity, despite the many years (about 50) of public concern.
so...letsee....  On our city's "toxic waste day" the workers will dispose paint but refuse mercury barometers as too toxic, but mercury injected into my child is a "well-baby" visit?

[walternowotny]

Thimerosal(mercury-based preservative) in not used in vaccines since 1999.The only vaccines that are still using thimerosal are some flu vaccines.
And valid scientific studies have shown no link between thimerosal and autism....

[MJIthewriter]

Thanks. I've been reading it too, but sadly a lot of people still believe there is a connection (and swear by it!). In fact if you browse the autism speaks forum, you'll find lots of claims based on this misinformation.  

People believe what they want to believe. People want to believe something caused their child's autism so they have something to feel guilty about, I guess...

Makes no sense to me, but tis life...

[Angela77]

Thank you for mentioning that thimerisol has been out of the vaccines (except flu shot) since 1999.    The media fails to mention important facts like this when discussing the topic of autism.  For people who believe the "mercury therory" how do they  account for the increase in autism diagnosis despite the absence of mercury in shots since 1999?