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 statement, and it was clear just the opposite, that vaccines cannot cause autism.
In addition, it was also shown 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 still does not 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 vaccine VASPR, which is the name of the triple viral in the United Kingdom, caused autism, soon after it became mandatory in that location, 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 from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, United States and 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 vial, 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 brains 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.
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