If you are a parent who likes to thoroughly research medicines and vaccines before giving them to your child, you might have come across the claims that vaccines cause more harm than good. One of many such claims is that MMR vaccines can cause Autism. Is it true? Is the MMR vaccine safe for kids? Are there any side effects of the MMR vaccine you should know about? Come, let’s find out!
MMR vaccine is one of the most important vaccines for a baby. It is usually given in two dosages. The first dosage is given between the ages of 12 and 15 months of age. The second dosage is generally given between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
The MMR vaccine contains live attenuated viruses, which, when injected into the body, stimulate and teach the immune system to develop antibodies against the virus. Thanks to the vaccine, when the child gets infected by the MMR virus in the future, their body will know what antibodies to produce and how to fight the diseases effectively.
Autism, also known as Autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates, learns, behaves, and interacts with others. It can appear before a child turns three years old and will last throughout their lifetime. Autism is a spectrum disorder that can affect different children in different ways. It is an issue with how their brain functions, which impacts how they behave and interact with their environment.
In most cases, the disorder is identified in childhood. However, if it does not interfere too much with a person’s behaviour or interaction, it can go unnoticed for many years or be mistaken for something else.
A report published in 1998 suggested that there was a connection between the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) and Autism. Researchers behind the claim, after observing a few of his patients, believed that the MMR vaccine, which is given to babies around 1 year of age, can cause intestinal inflammation, allow harmful proteins to enter the bloodstream, and reach the brain, which in turn leads to the development of autism.
As a parent, even the smallest doubts can cause a lot of confusion. Which parent would want to knowingly do something that might harm their child for the rest of their lives?
What all parents should understand is that Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has a very strong connection to genetics. In most cases, the symptoms will start before the age of 3. A vaccine that introduces the harmless version of the deadly disease-causing virus cannot negatively impact the child's neurodevelopment.
No! MMR vaccines do not cause or increase the risk of Autism. UNICEF has clarified this confusion and has even published on their website that the claim about MMR vaccines causing Autism holds no water. Many doctors and researchers conducted case studies after this claim and found there was no correlation between the MMR vaccine and Autism in children.
According to the report published by UNICEF, its reporters discovered that the Researchers who made this false claim/connection between MMR vaccines and Autism had some financial gains by doing so. If you want to know the full details, you can read about it on UNICEF’s webpage.
Many doctors feel that not giving your child the MMR vaccine increases the risk of exposing them to the measles virus. Though many parents are against giving their children most vaccines, doctors strongly recommend giving them.
The first claim about the link between the MMR vaccine and Autism came when there was a sudden increase in the number of children with Autism diagnosis. Since the symptoms show up around or before the toddler turns 3 years old and the vaccine is given between months 12 and 15, the doctor claimed Autism was the aftereffect of the MMR vaccine. He had looked at only 12 children and concluded that the only common factor among all his 12 patients was the vaccine.
The second claim or the next controversy was about the use of a metal called thimerosal in the MMR vaccines. Thimerosal contains mercury, which we all know is not safe for consumption. If consumed, it can harm the brain and kidneys. The claim was disputed as doctors used a small amount of thimerosal to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in vaccines. No one could prove that the small amount used in the vaccines could actually cause any harm or even Autism.
However, the use of Thimerosal in vaccines was discontinued in 2001, so at present, even this claim does not hold good. In fact, reports show that the number of MMR cases steadily increased after the removal of thimerosal from vaccines.
It is quite natural to start thinking along the same lines about all the other vaccinations your baby needs as they grow up. Be reassured as researchers have also checked all the vaccines required by children under the age of 2. None of these vaccines, individually or combined, can cause autism in children.
CDC compared a group of children who got all the necessary vaccines on time and a group that did not get any. The rate of autism was the same between the two groups.
Vaccines were developed to prevent diseases that can cause a lot of harm. It is important to give your child all the vaccines as per schedule. If you are concerned about any vaccine, talk to your doctor instead of believing the claims published on the internet.
No, there is no link between the MMR vaccines and autism.
MMR vaccine protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella viruses.
Discussing such concerns with certified doctors who know and understand how the vaccines work is best. If you want to discuss this with other parents, you can always find support groups in parenting networks or in your child’s hospital.
