Allison Keeling

Ms. Thomson
AP English Language & Composition
Tuesday, January 22, 2018

The Necessity of Vaccines and Their Alleged Link to Autism

Controversy on the link between autism and vaccines seems to be everywhere; from

disreputable doctors, conspiracy theorists, claims from mothers of children with Autism, and

even celebrities. A large advocate against immunization is actress Jenny McCarthy, who has

been seen on day-time TV programs and articles in the news claiming her child had developed

autism after the MMR vaccination. She had even gone as far to call it the “autism shot” on Oprah

in 2007 (Ianneli). The allegations against vaccines from people like Jenny McCarthy can cause

discouragement to immunize, which can lead to many overlooking the necessity and benefits of

vaccines. Parents should be forced to vaccinate their children for an array of reasons, and the

possible development of autism should not be used as an excuse to not vaccinate because there is

a lack of evidence that Autism and vaccines are linked, as well as the overwhelming evidence

that vaccines are not the cause of Autism.

Immunization has been a concept that dates back several hundred years with stories of

Buddhist monks drinking snake venom and the rubbing of cowpox into an open wound. This was

all done in attempt to develop an immunity to snake bites and small pox (“A Brief History of

Vaccination”). These stories are just the start of the research and discovery of the vaccine. Not

long after, “Edward Jenner… [would be] considered the founder of vaccinology in the West in

1796, after he inoculated a 13 year-old-boy with vaccinia virus (cow pox), and demonstrated

immunity to smallpox” (“A Brief History of Vaccination”). From then until now different

vaccines would be developed to target polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and many others. They

would serve to eliminate diseases in entire countries and even the world. Today, work with
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vaccinology is still taking place with, “…its increased insights into immunology, microbiology

and genomics applied to vaccinology” (“A Brief History of Vaccination”). Some of their

successes could include the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, techniques for manufacture of the

flu vaccine, and hoping to accomplish a new vaccine delivery system, more effective

tuberculosis vaccine, HIV, herpes simplex virus, and many others (“A Brief History of

Vaccination”). The research of diseases and the vaccines that are already present can aid in the

cure for other infectious diseases that might emerge unexpectedly.

Infectious and incurable diseases are spiraling around everywhere, especially in less

medically advanced societies, but with the help of vaccines the contraction of such diseases can

be prevented. Immunization has been a revolutionary achievement in the 20th century and has

become key in remaining healthy. Experts say that, “In one year, vaccines prevent more than

8,500 child hospitalizations in Colorado, 33,000 deaths in the U.S., and between 2 and 3 million

deaths worldwide” (“Immunize For Good | Respect the Facts. Protect Your Child. Immunize for

Good”). They have also decreased the rate of disease drastically to a 90 to 100% decrease in

diseases like measles, diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, small pox, rubella, haemophilus influenza

type b, polio, and tetanus (“Immunize For Good…”). In the U.S. there are few cases of these

diseases, but in other countries they are still very prevalent. This fact leads to the vaccination of

children at a young age because it only takes one person from another country with the disease to

start an outbreak (“Immunize For Good…”).

Vaccinations are also cost effective and very safe. Initially vaccines might cost a

significant amount depending on whether it is covered by insurance, but in the end it saves

money. This happens because, “It is always cheaper to prevent a disease than to treat it”

(“Immunize For Good…”). The money that is saved is astonishing; “The routine childhood
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immunization program is one birth cohort saves 13.6 billion in direct costs. Every dollar spent on

childhood immunizations saves $18.40” (“Immunize For Good…”). Vaccines are very safe and

undergo rigorous safety testing before they are approved by the FDA, but some are still skeptical

about certain ingredients or preservatives found in them and the immunization schedule for

children. Some believe that it is just too many at one time or that they all are not necessary, but,

“In January 2013, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published the most comprehensive

examination of immunization schedule to date, and the report uncovered no evidence of major

safety concerns associated with adherence to the CDC-recommended childhood immunization

schedule” (“Immunize For Good…”). These guidelines are enforced by the CDC and doctors,

and they should be followed by every parent.

The majority of people who do not vaccinate their children are those that believe that it is

linked to the development of Autism. Autism occurs due to hereditary genetic differences or

mutations, and it, “…is typically diagnosed on the basis of behavioral symptoms” (“Autism

Spectrum Disorder: Overview”). Currently there is no single cause for the development of

Autism, but many parents of autistic children believe that their portrayed as the main culprit of

Autism, while in the U.S. the preservative thimerosal found in the vaccine is seen as the culprit.

Non-vaccine advocates have gone after the MMR, or the Mumps Measles Rubella,

Vaccine, and the mercury-based preservative thimerosal because they believe that it causes the

development of Autism. In a study done by Andrew Wakefield in 1998, MMR was proven to

cause Autism, but his whole experiment was later refuted, as well as his medical license revoked

(Plotkin). Wakefield had failed to include control subjects, data was not collected systematically

or completely, and some of the symptoms were not consistent in all subjects. Before it was

believed, “that MMR vaccine caused intestinal inflammation that led to translocation of usually
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non-permeable peptides to the bloodstream and, subsequently, to the brain, where they affected

development” (Plotkin). The preservative thimerosal has also been seen as a cause to the

emergence of Autism, but, there is still no scientific evidence to proving the validity of the claim.

Initially, the biggest concern with the preservative was that it was a mercury base that could

allow for an overexposure leading to mercury poisoning but, “A formal review of thimerosal by

the FDA concluded in 1976 that no dangerous quantity of mercury was likely to be received

from vaccines and other biological products over a lifetime” (Baker). The CDC had done nine

studies proving that thimerosal, as well as the MMR vaccine conclusively disprove the supposed

link to autism (“Vaccine Safety”). To further prove that vaccinations and Autism are not linked,

there was a study done in 2005 in Japan that, “…at least 170 children were found to have

developed autism even though they had not received the MMR vaccine” (Ianneli). All of these

studies, as well as information from credible resources like the CDC and the FDA all disprove

the link between autism and vaccines, dispelling excuses that prevent the necessary vaccination

of children.

There are claims that do suggest that Autism and vaccines are linked, like the personal

accounts from mothers like Jenny McCarthy, and the fact that Amish people rarely get Autism

and are not vaccinated. Jenny talks about her son, Evan, who had been diagnosed with Autism

shortly after he had received the MMR vaccine. She talks about his behavior before and after

saying, “looking at milestones, he hit pretty much every milestone. It wasn’t until after the MMR

[measles, mumps and rubella vaccine] he started showing some regression — meaning not

talking as much as he used to. In playgroup, he was more by himself” (“Jenny McCarthy: ‘We're

Not An Anti-Vaccine Movement ... We're Pro-Safe Vaccine.’”). She talks about how before he

even got the shot she was worried by what would happen, but her doctor told her that it had no
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connection. She also talks about the connection that the brain and the gut have and that autistic

children have an inflamed gut, which she believed could be the link (“Jenny McCarthy…”).

Jenny McCarthy is an actress and does not have any scientific background to count this

information as evidence, thus making her claims invalid against medical professionals.

It is popular belief that Amish people do not or rarely get Autism, which is said to be due

to the fact that they do not believe in vaccinations, opting out for religious reasons. Amish people

are shown to have low rates of mental illness, cancer, and sickness in general, which could be

due to vaccines but their clean eating and simple way of life could also have an effect (Sloan).

When it comes to Autism they are shown to have significantly lower rates compared to the

national average rarely finding more than 6 children with Autism in the Amish community

(Sloan). This is a phenomenon that cannot be explained, but it also cannot be used as a piece of

evidence for non-vaccinators because there are still cases of Autism among the Amish

community even though they are very rare. Again, there is no scientific evidence backing the

claims that Autism is linked to vaccines and that the Amish can attribute their wellness to their

healthy lifestyle.

In conclusion, vaccines are seen as a key component of health that is necessary for all

children to be vaccinated because it prevents unnecessary deaths, saves money, and is very safe.

As a nation, everyone should care if someone is not vaccinated because clusters of people who

are not can cause outbreaks within a community. If an outbreak occurs the unvaccinated will be

infected and possibly the vaccinated as well due to new strains or mutations in the disease at

hand. The evidence that shows that autism and vaccinations have no correlation is shown in

hundreds of studies that are shown in many different countries and geographical areas, thus

reinforcing the fact that vaccines are necessary for life.

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Works Cited

“A Brief History of Vaccination.” Immunisation Advisory Centre, 4 Apr. 2017,

www.immune.org.nz/vaccines/vaccine-development/brief-history-vaccination.

“Autism Spectrum Disorder: Overview.” Averican Speech-Language-Hearing Association,

ASHA, www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935303.

Baker, Jeffrey P. “Mercury, Vaccines, and Autism: One Controversy, Three Histories.”

American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, Feb. 2008,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2376879/.

Iannelli, Vincent. “Worried About Vaccines? Unvaccinated Children Can Have Autism, Too.”

Verywell, 26 Feb. 2017, www.verywell.com/unvaccinated-children-with-autism-2633214.

“Immunize For Good | Respect the Facts. Protect Your Child. Immunize for Good.” Benefits vs.

Risks | Immunize for Good, www.immunizeforgood.com/fact-or-fiction/benefits-vs.-risks.

“Jenny McCarthy: ‘We're Not An Anti-Vaccine Movement ... We're Pro-Safe Vaccine.’” PBS,

Public Broadcasting Service, 23 Mar. 2015, www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/jenny-

mccarthy-were-not-an-anti-vaccine-movement-were-pro-safe-vaccine/.

Plotkin, Stanley, et al. “Vaccines and Autism: A Tale of Shifting Hypotheses | Clinical Infectious

Diseases | Oxford Academic.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 15 Feb. 2009,

academic.oup.com/cid/article/48/4/456/284219.

Sloan, Mark. “The Unvaccinated Amish Rarely Get Cancer, Autism or Heart...” EndAllDisease,

3 Jan. 2018, endalldisease.com/amish-rarely-get-cancer-autism/.

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“Vaccine Safety.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 23 Nov. 2015, www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html.