While several researchers and medical experts have concluded that there is no connection between autism and vaccines, critics continue to question the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders and vaccines. Not only do they question the relationship between autism and vaccines but they continue to raise questions on vaccines and whether or not they are useful to children. In view of this paper, autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders are not caused by vaccines but are rather caused by genetical factors, environmental factors, toxic substances, and brain anatomy. Autism is a disorder which affects the brain and makes social interactions and communication difficult.
The idea that vaccines play a role in the development of autism in children began in 1998 when British researchers made a publication claiming that autism was caused as a result of the use of measles mumps rubella vaccines ( Plotkin, Gerber & Offit, 2009). The research used twelve children only but it received much publicity. The findings of the research made other doctors to start their own studies on the connection between autism and MMR. Hundreds of studies have since been done and none has found any evidence linking vaccines and autism. Investigation of that similar study indicated several problems with how the study was conducted ( Plotkin, Gerber & Offit, 2009). The discrepancies were noted; the journal that published the study finally retracted it because the publication could not stand by the findings.
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Vaccination is a highly controversial topic but whatever side one decides to place oneself, the most important thing to understand is that the choice has a significant impact on the health of an individual or children. Vaccination can help in saving the lives of children because they protect children against diseases. Some of the diseases which used to kill children in the past have completely been eliminated and others are getting eliminated with time. Polio is one example of diseases that have been managed through vaccination. Polio was in the past one of the most feared diseases but thanks to vaccination such diseases are managed.
Reference
Plotkin, S., Gerber, J. S., & Offit, P. A. (2009). Vaccines and autism: a tale of shifting hypotheses. Clinical Infectious Diseases , 48 (4), 456-461.