Autism and Vaccination: The False Health Claim

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Autism and Vaccination: The False Health Claim

Health is one of the most valuable attributes for humans, and they tend to be curious about it. Nowadays, using the Internet seems easier than consulting a specialist, so many people are exposed to unfiltered information. Some of it might include false claims, which are further perpetuated by conspiracies. A popular one concerns the relationship between autism and vaccination, suggesting that the latter causes the former. Although the claim is relatively old, it continues to make parents doubt whether they should vaccinate their children, and the hesitation may be fatal, especially during the pandemic.

The claim suggests that certain elements of the MMR vaccine, which targets such diseases as measles, mumps, and rubella, increase the risk of autism. The idea was initially reported by Dr. Wakefield, who linked the two, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seemingly withheld the information, which is revealed in a documentary (Vaxxed, n.d.). The claim became widespread, and Vaccine Liberation (2019) also draws a connection, claiming that vaccination is responsible for the rise of autism and suggesting that rubella, which is the composite part of the MMR vaccine, causes it. ThinkTwice (n.d.) supports Wakefield and provides parents accounts of changed children. According to Lord (2017), who is the administrator of the Vaccine Resistance Movement website, vaccines are toxic, containing such elements as aluminum, and cause ear infections, subsequently leading to autism. Apparently, it happens due to the component being a neurotoxin, which infiltrates the nervous system through the inner ear (Lord, 2017). Additionally, Dr. Zimmerman believes that the MMR vaccine can be responsible for autism in select cases, linking it with mitochondrial dysfunction (Autism Eye, 2019). Thus, the claim is well-established and has dubious academic evidence.

Many studies suggest otherwise, directly debunking Wakefields study and derivatives misconceptions. For instance, DeStefano and Shimabukoro (2019) provide an extensive review of the evidence indicating that MMR vaccination is not connected with autism, including high-risk children from families with autistic siblings. Wimberley et al. (2018) investigated the connection between ear infections and autism, discovering that it might exist, but the use of vaccines or antibiotics is unlikely to have a synergetic effect. According to Hutton (2016), rubella can cause autism, including those who undergo vaccination, but the vaccine itself, which uses the virus, is not associated with it and, conversely, contributes to its decreased risk. Principi and Esposito (2018) studied the issue of aluminum in vaccines, which is used to enhance their efficacy, and found no association with neurotoxicity claimed by Lord, although other concerns may exist. Regardless, the MMR vaccine does not contain the element exclusively. Lastly, while researchers suspect that autism may be linked with mitochondrial dysfunction, the findings are still insufficient to prove that a vaccine connection exists (Hollis et al., 2017). Thus, scientific evidence refutes the claim and the presumed danger of the MMR vaccines elements.

A healthcare professional should be educated on the recent developments in the field and always double-check if they are unsure about something. Failing to do so may result in medical errors and decrease quality of care, threatening a patients life (White, 2021). Besides the issue of safety, new evidence is likely to indicate novel approaches, including treatment and medicine, leading to improved outcomes, which should be adopted as soon as possible (Stanik-Hutt, 2011). Even being updated on ongoing research is beneficial; for instance, an HIV vaccine is in development, which can potentially save millions of lives and give hope to those who are in risk groups (Hosseinipour et al., 2021). An unaware professional may offer the outdated picture and produce the opposite effect on a patient, instilling fear in them due to their condition. Having up-to-date health information in ones office is also important, and it concerns various pamphlets, books, and other materials used by the professional and the patients (Flaherty & Kaplan, 2016). Otherwise, some medicine might be unavailable at best, and certain points could be harmful at worst. Overall, remaining current facilitates patient safety and improves health outcomes.

New diseases appear frequently, and some may pose a danger to the entire world. However, old misconceptions can cause hesitation in people, which is evident in the reluctance to vaccinate oneself against COVID-19 due to a false claim. On the one hand, it is understandable why it became widespread, as the attitude towards autism is still awkward, with parents inclined to believe the condition is caused by external factors and can be reversed. On the other hand, multiple studies from various countries throughout the years have disproved the claim, and vaccine-related FAQs, along with autism organizations, tend to highlight the fact. Although some associations spread by the conspiracy websites are true and confirmed by legitimate research, they are likely to be distorted to fit the agenda. In the ocean of misinformation, it is crucial for a healthcare specialist to remain current and constantly check new developments in their field as data becomes obsolete at a faster rate. One should not view it as a nuisance because a patients life and wellbeing may be at stake.

References

Autism Eye. (2019). Doctors says vaccines may cause autism. Web.

DeStefano, F., & Shimabukuro, T. T. (2019). The MMR vaccine and autism. Annual Review of Virology, 6(1), 585-600.

Flaherty, M. G., & Kaplan, S. J. (2016). Health information: Print materials assessment in public libraries. Reference Services Review, 44(2), 163-177.

Hollis, F., Kanellopoulos, A. K., & Bagni, C. (2017). Mitochondrial dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical features and perspectives. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 45, 178187. Web.

Hosseinipour, M. C., Innes, C., Naidoo, S., Mann, P., Hutter, J., Ramjee, G., Sebe, M., Maganga, L., Herce, M. E., deCamp, A. C., Marshall, K., Dintwe, O., Andersen-Nissen, E., Tomaras, G. D., Mkhize, N., Morris, L., Jensen, R., Miner, M. D., Pantaleo, G., & HVTN 111 Protocol Team (2021). Phase 1 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) vaccine trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of HIV subtype C DNA and MF59-adjuvanted subtype C envelope protein. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 72(1), 50-60.

Hutton, J. (2016). Does rubella cause autism: A 2015 reappraisal? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 25.

Lord, J. (2017). VRM: Vaccine toxicity Middle ear infections and autism. Vaccine Resistance Movement.

Principi, N., & Esposito, S. (2018). Aluminum in vaccines: Does it create a safety problem? Vaccine, 36(39), 5825-5831. Web.

Stanik-Hutt, J. (2021). Translation of evidence for improving clinical outcomes. In K. M. White, S. Dudley-Brown, & M. F. Terhaar (Eds.), Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare (pp. 77-102). Springer Publishing Company

ThinkTwice. (n.d.). MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

Vaccination Liberation. (2019). Autism, MMR article index and reversing autism.

Vaxxed. (n.d.). About.

White, K. M. (2021). Translation of evidence for improving safety and quality. In K. M. White, S. Dudley-Brown, & M. F. Terhaar (Eds.), Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare (pp. 103-124). Springer Publishing Company.

Wimberley, T., Agerbo, E., Pedersen, C. B., Dalsgaard, S., Horsdal, H. T., Mortensen, P. B., Thompson, W. K., KöhlerForsberg, O., & Yolken, R. H. (2018). Otitis media, antibiotics, and risk of autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 11(10), 1432-1440.

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