Autism and Childhood Immunizations

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the controversy associated with the link between the development of autism and childhood immunizations. It discusses the theories regarding both the development of autism and the connection between autism and immunizations. The paper argues that autism has a causal relationship with childhood immunizations.

From the Paper:

"This connection between the increases in incidence of autism and the fact that the cause is unknown has transformed the country, "Although once considered rare, during the last two decades the chance of a child being diagnosed with autism has skyrocketed from one in 10,000 to one in 150." (O'Meara 24) The idea that autism, a devastating disease could be caused by something we think of as a miracle, namely vaccinations for childhood diseases that have killed children for thousands of years, has also transformed the country, made countless parents and scientists sit up and take notice. The culpability of the government as well as industry that through omission or commission contributed to a problem is foundational and many who believe there is a causal connection between autism and immunizations believe that this is why they are trying so diligently to disprove the theory. Not everyone believes that the causal agent is thimerosol but a long list of dangerous and toxic ingredients provided by one expert demonstrates that it could be any number of causative factors or a combination of several, even coupled with a genetic predisposition, also believed by some."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Howd, Aimee. "When Vaccines Do Harm to Kids." Insight on the News 28 Feb. 2000: 18.
• Kirby, David. Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy, New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 2005.
• O'Meara, Kelly Patricia. "Vaccines May Fuel Autism Epidemic; A New Study Indicates Childhood Vaccines Containing a Mercury-Based Preservative May Be the Culprits Behind the Surge in Autism Cases Sweeping the United States." Insight on the News 24 June 2003: 24.
• Puerto Rican Health Information Website At: http://health.csuohio.edu/healthculture/culture/puertorican/prhealth.htm

More papers on Autism and Childhood Immunizations:

• Analytical Essay # 139143 : "Do Childhood Immunizations Cause Autism?"
• Term Paper # 136177 : "Autism and Differences of Learning"
• Research Paper # 94114 : "Mercury"

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