I have hesitated so far to post my thoughts on autism and vaccines because there are so many autism bloggers out there who already do an admirable job on this subject. However, I want to blog about a recent incident in my own life, in which I overheard yet another conversation about autism and vaccines, and to do that, I need to lay down a quick foundation on the subject.
Autism is inextricably linked with vaccines in the minds of most people. Give almost anyone you know a word association test: say "Hamlet" and you'll probably hear "Shakespeare," say "George W. Bush" and you'll probably hear "incompetent," say "autism" and you'll probably hear "vaccine." And of those three, only two are valid. I'll give you a hint: if you think Shakespeare didn't write Hamlet or that Dubya is doing a heckofa job, you should probably leave now.
Now, most of you all know that it's generally impossible to conclusively prove a negative: one can't say with one hundred percent certainty that monsters don't exist or that your spouse has never had an affair or vaccines don't cause autism. However, it is possible to say that the probability that something is true is vanishingly small. Studies that do seem to indicate a link between autism and vaccines have turned out to be seriously flawed; reviews of the evidence have shown no link between vaccines and autism, while numerous studies have shown evidence to the contrary.
Now some of my readers, who know about autism only through the media and Oprah, may be just as surprised to learn this as some folks were to learn there was no link between Iraq and 9/11. (Again, you should probably leave now if you are still, like the president, saying, "Osama bin Who? Saddam Hussein ordered those attacks!") On the other hand, as familiar as the world at large is with the very improbable link between vaccines and autism, how many are familiar with studies showing link between a family history of depression and autism? Don't hear about that on Oprah much, do we?
The vaccine "controversy" is like the global warming "controversy": the evidence points us pretty firmly in one direction. Which direction is that? Well, if you haven't figured it out by now, let's just say both of my children are fully vaccinated and I try to recycle, use alternative energy and buy carbon credits when I can.
Next, I'll tell you why I don't think vaccines are related to my son's autism and why I want to kick the ass of the next person who brings up the vaccine "controversy" with me. But for that, you'll have to tune in tomorrow...
I particularly like the category "George Bush is a dumbass".
Excellent post. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts on the subject.
I've never heard of the link between vaccines and autism. Maybe it's because I've never watched Oprah before? Or maybe I'm just in my own little world.
Very well said.
What a great post....and if one person learns about this link between autism and vaccines then you have accomplished much. This is one of our major discussion questions in my Developmental Psychology class! You would have been a great 'guest lecturer'
That is so weird - might that be an American myth? I know I have never heard of that link in Germany.
I just went to check German Wikipedia, and only found a short blurb about the falsified study, financed by lawyers planning on using the data to sue medical companies.
But - urban myths have a tendency to stick... annoying as it is.
Serious topic. But I laughed a lot at your post. Great.
I have also heard that people think autism is linked with the vaccines, but I thought it was doubtful. My son is getting all of his shots.
Excellent post. This is a very frustrating issue, as is any where you find yourself trying to prove a negative.
I'll be back tomorrow to hear more!
Excellent post. I love your thoughts on this. Especially about how George Bush is a dumbass, yes.
In Oprah's defense (and you know i would come to it, right?), she has asked her guests to give their views on vaccines in terms of autism, but she never quite looks convinced herself. I think you need to be her next guest! I think she has a hard time finding people who are willing to say the things you are!
As a pediatrician, I get really mad at mothers who won't vaccinate their children, 'cause guess what? I HAVE seen a kid with meningitis die a most painful death, 'cause she wasn't vaccinated. I HAVE seen a child crippled by poliomyelitis for the same reason. Awww. I'm all alternative and spiritual, and thinking out of the box, but well, I have my boundaries, I guess.
Great posts up lately. Love you.