Wakefield Research Paper

Ulsenheimer
English 1111
23 April 2011
Autism and Vaccines More than twelve years ago a dangerous trend was started by an article written by Dr. Andrew Wakefield stating that vaccines might cause autism in children. Autism is a severe and devastating disorder characterized by repetitive habits and impaired social interaction and communication abilities. The article led to many parents choosing not to have their children vaccinated. Not soon after Wakefield’s publication, there were dramatic increases in the outbreaks of the illnesses, such as Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Measles, that the boycotted vaccines were created to prevent. These outbreaks led to over 25 studies exploring the potential link between vaccines and autism, none
of which found a statistically significant correlation between the two. (Final Word 2-3) Even though it is clear that there is no link between autism and childhood vaccines, many parents still refuse to have their children vaccinated. These parents believe that they should have the right to choose whether or not to have their child vaccinated, those who disagree argue that parents should not be allowed to (have the right to) put others at risk for the deadly diseases the vaccines are meant to eliminate. With the evidence presented, there is obviously no scientific link between vaccines and autism and no reason to fear having your child vaccinated. The 1998 study performed by Wakefield claimed that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and the preservative thimerosal had the ability to cause autism.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the MMR vaccine and thimerosal are dangerous. (Baker) In January of 2010 Britain’s General Medical Council performed an investigation into the research methodology and ethics of Andrew Wakefield. The council discovered that Wakefield was paid over $675,000 by a law firm hoping to sue the companies who make the MMR vaccine. Nearly all of Wakefield’s data in his study was falsified and his conduct was ruled unethical. Once all of the information was presented, the British medical authorities stripped Wakefield of his ability to practice medicine. (USA Today) Unfortunately, the actions of Britain’s General Medical Council have come too late to halt the damage caused by Andrew
Wakefield.
The trend of opting out of childhood vaccinations is starting to become a serious problem in the United States and Europe. Some parents are delaying when their child is vaccinated, while others are not having the vaccinations administered at all. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) performed a study on the amount of parents partaking in this disturbing trend, and the results are astounding. It was found that nearly 40% of American parents have declined or delayed a vaccine at the time of this study in 1998. (USA Today) Studies on the link between the MMR vaccine and autism were performed in 2001, yet in 2011 people are still choosing to believe the misinformation spread by Wakefield. It appears that the information just being made public was enough to trigger and maintain people’s sense of fear regarding negative impacts of vaccines.
Since so many studies and research point directly to the fact that there is no link between vaccines and autism, there must be some other reason so many people are choosing to forgo vaccinations.
Unfortunately, the only reason that can be given for these peoples actions is ignorance. In 2007, a celebrity by the name of Jenny McCarthy published a book on her belief that the MMR vaccine caused her son’s autism. Her book became a national bestseller, further fueling the misinformation fire. In 2009 several outbreaks of Whooping Cough in California, Illinois, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania caused the deaths of over 20 children. The diseases that caused these deaths were all but eliminated 20 years ago but are now making a comeback because of the people choosing not to have their children vaccinated. (Mnookin) These outbreaks are costing taxpayers millions of dollars to contain and treat, but people are still choosing not to educate
themselves. The number of total deaths caused by outbreaks from not being vaccinated since the release of Wakefield’s study in 1989 is both scary and astonishing. In the United States alone over 400 people, mostly children, have died. A survey of 750 doctors found that 93% of pediatricians have had at least one parent who has decided not to have their children vaccinated. (Van Tine-Reichardt) It is becoming more and more of a necessity to find a way to reach these people who are not only putting their lives on the line, but other peoples as well. The CDC has issued report after report stating that there is no scientific basis for the notion that vaccines can cause autism. There are even studies showing that although people are refusing vaccinations, the amount of cases of autism are actually on the rise. In 2009 three families who claimed their children’s autism was caused by vaccines were seen before a special federal court that focused only on scientific evidence. The ruling in all three cases was that there is no evidence to support that the vaccines were the cause of their children’s autism. (Court Finds) Based in the purely emotional response of some families, it seems that the damage done by one article is going to take decades to repair. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has published a significant amount of literature on the lack of evidence of the link between vaccines and autism. The IOM has also formed a committee whose sole purpose is to find ways to educate people of the facts and about what is being done to find answers to the real cause of autism. (Meadows) There are also rumors of laws being put into effect at the state level that will mandate all children to be vaccinated to counter people’s fear-based reaction. Thankfully, there are already laws that will not allow any child whose vaccinations are not up to date to attend public school. It is wonderful that things are starting to be done about this problem, but will it be enough to sway the already strong opinions of these non-vaccinating parents? Even with true science and the numerous facts presented, people may still choose to act on their own ignorance as has been evidenced over the past two decades. Only time will be able to tell if the efforts of the CDC and IOM to educate people are enough. Hopefully over the years we will see a healthy decrease in this life-threatening trend.

Works Cited
“…And the ‘Final Word’ On the Role of Vaccines as A Cause Of Autism.” Child Health Alert [No Volume/Issue] (2010):2-3. Web 7 Apr. 2011
Baker, Jeffrey P. "BAKER RESPONDS." American Journal of Public Health 98.8 (2008), 1350-1351. Web 13 Apr. 2011 “Court Finds No Link Between Vaccines And Autism” Child Health Alert [No Volume/Issue] (2009):2-3. Web 7 Apr. 2011
Meadows, Michelle. "IOM Report: No Link Between Vaccines and Autism." FDA Consumer 38.5 (2004): 18-19. Web 11 Apr. 2011
Mnookin, Seth. “Autism And The Affluent” Newsweek 157.2/3 (2011):11-11. Web 7 Apr. 2011
Van Tine-Reichardt, Julia. "Vaccine Fears and Facts." Prevention 56.12 (2004): 115-16. Web 13 Apr. 2011
" '98 study linking vaccines to autism 'an elaborate fraud '." USA Today [No Volume/Issue] (2011) Web 11 Apr. 2011
Please do not plagiarize this work. I am submitting this as an example only. Thank you.