In a new study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found no association between receiving too many vaccines too soon, and autism. Despite the evidence, one third of parents are still concerned that vaccines may play a role in causing autism, and one in ten parents delay vaccinations or refuse to vaccinate their children.
Researchers from the CDC looked at data from 256 children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and 752 children without ASD over a five-year period. They looked at each child s lifetime exposure to antigens the microbial proteins that generate the protective immune response from vaccines, as well as the highest possible number of antigens received from vaccines in one day. They found that the total number of antigens received by 2 years of age was the same in both groups. Further, the immune system of an infant can handle extremely large amounts of immunologic stimuli and the majority of the stimuli to which an infant is exposed come from viruses and environmental antigens from sources other than immunizations.
Researchers concluded, in agreement with a 2004 review by the Institute of Medicine, that The possibility that immunological stimulation from vaccines during the first 1 or 2 years of life could be related to the development of ASD is not well-supported by what is known about the neurobiology of ASDs.
ACSH s Dr. Gilbert Ross had this to add: Cutting to the chase there is absolutely no evidence supporting a link between any vaccine or combination of vaccines and any autism-spectrum disorder. And there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Still, many parents fear children s vaccines, and we in public health communication must keep beating this drum until it sinks in: Get your kids vaccinated, there is no reason to fear.
