The Truth About Vaccines

Vaccines can cause autism.  Vaccines have deadly preservatives and chemicals in them.  Vaccines do more harm than good.  Many people read these myths and believe them to be true.  Misleading articles and oldwives tales present these myths as the truth.  This misinformation prevents many young children and immigrants from receiving beneficial vaccinations, which help prevent disease, not cause it.  After detailed analysis on the subject of vaccines and the spread of infectious diseases, many, if not all, children should become vaccinated according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended schedule.

            Because there are very few risks currently associated with vaccines backed with scientific data and reasoning, a majority of children in the United States should be required to follow the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedule.  There are many tales and legends about the dangerous affects of the preservatives such as the theory that they are responsible for a sharp growth in the number of cases of autism.  This theory is merely based upon the suggestion of a European doctor who stated that exposure to the measles virus could be a cause for autism.  However, anyone has failed to present why there was no increase in the number of autism cases when the MMR vaccine, currently accused for causing many cases, was first introduced in the US.

            There has also been increased speculation over the dangerous effects of the mercury derivatives used as preservatives like thimerosal in many vaccines.  During a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA measured the amount of mercury that would accumulate in a 6-month-old infant after receiving regular vaccinations according to the CDC’s recommended schedule.  The EPA found that the accumulated mercury was only twice that acquired from a regular diet including fish and poultry.  Considering the fact that an infant has a limited diet, these levels of mercury could be considered safe.  If many parents are still afraid of the how dangerous the preservatives may be, there are thimerosal-free vaccines for common diseases such as Hepatitis B and Tetanus.

            Parents are also very concerned about pumping pathogens and harmful bacteria into the next generation.  Distress arises as parents face the decision between vaccinating and not vaccinating.  After contemplating providing a child with hundreds of germs, someone may wonder how safe vaccines can actually be.  Later, many parents who chose not to vaccinate their children regret not having done so after watching their kids agonize dealing with disease.  With fewer than 90 vaccine related deaths alone in the US, vaccines are very safe when administered according to the CDC’s recommended schedule.

            The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has organized and developed a vaccination schedule suitable for all healthy infants.  When vaccines are administered according to this schedule, children across the states will be safe from many common infectious diseases.  In addition, vaccines have not been a risk factor for autism or other neurological disorders.  Vaccines should be administered to all children and infants according to the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedule to help prevent the spread of disease and death.