Vaccine Link to Autism?

[coleen2008]

Hi there everyone, just wanted to know your views about vaccines link to autism...I read some articles regarding vaccine that contains mercury and that causes autism.I have a 2 year old son, and I always make it sure that he receives safe medications..especially on his scheduled vaccines.Just a worried mom..any opinions, ideas would be appreciated..thank you

[dmongking]

Coleen,

The implicated vaccine is mainly the MMR vaccine but the studies are inconclusive about that. I know many parents who are delaying their vaccines due to fears of autism. The American College of Medical Toxicology report on the link of Thimerosal and Autism is that there is no causal link. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for Thimerosal to be removed from vaccines, as a result. Consult your Pediatrician who will have the latest update on this.

[Ultahealth]

We keep getting letters from my daughters school telling us she needs more vaccinations. This worries me. You can research so many bad side effects. I heard the government makes money on each one and thats why some of the vaccines are pushed on us. When someone can tell me why a baby needs a hep b vaccine which is transmitted through needle use and sex , than I will believe its not a conspiracy.

[Purple98Lady]

Link regarding:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/parents.htm#myths

[dmongking]

Ultahealth,

Here are the answers to your question why kids needs the Hep B vaccine. Read below then after that get your kids vaccinated.

There are three basic reasons for recommending that all infants receive hepatitis B vaccine, starting at birth.

First, babies and young children have a very high risk for developing chronic HBV infection if they become infected at a young age.

It is estimated that about 1 out of 3 of the nearly 1 million Americans with chronic HBV infection acquired their infection as infants or young children. Those with chronic HBV infection are most likely to spread the infection to others. Infants and children who become chronically infected have an increased risk of dying prematurely from liver cancer or cirrhosis.

In contrast to other vaccine-preventable diseases of childhood, HBV infection in infants and young children usually produces no symptoms. Thus, the small number of reported cases of hepatitis B among children represents the tip of the iceberg of all HBV infections in children. For every child with symptoms of hepatitis B, there are at least 100 HBV-infected children with no symptoms---hence the increased risk to spread the infection to others without knowing it.

Second, early childhood infection occurs. About 16,000 children under 10 years of age were infected with HBV every year in the United States before routine infant hepatitis B vaccination was recommended. Although these infections represented few of all HBV infections in the United States, it is estimated that 18 out of 100 people with chronic HBV infection in the United States acquired their infection during early childhood. Clearly, infections occur among unvaccinated infants born to mothers who are not HBV-infected. In addition, unvaccinated foreign-born children account for a high proportion of infections. More effort needs to be placed on vaccinating these unprotected children.

Most early childhood spread of HBV occurs in households where a person has chronic HBV infection, but the spread of HBV has also been recognized in daycare centers and schools. The most probable ways children become infected with HBV are from skin puncture (e.g., biting) or from having their mucous membranes or cuts and scratches come in contact with infectious body fluids from an HBV-infected person. HBV remains infectious for at least seven days outside the body and can be found on and spread through sharing of inanimate objects such as washcloths or toothbrushes.

Third, long-term protection following infant vaccination is expected to last for decades and will ultimately protect against acquiring infection at any age.

Why should your child be protected against hepatitis B if h/she won't ever inject drugs or be sexually promiscuous?

HBV can be transmitted in many ways in addition to sex contact and injection drug use. On average, an unvaccinated baby born in the United States has 5 out of 100 chances of developing HBV infection sometime during his or her lifetime. By avoiding obvious means of exposure, people can reduce their odds of becoming infected. But while there are degrees of risk involved in contracting HBV infection, there is no such thing as "no risk." Moreover, hepatitis B vaccine is the first vaccine to prevent cancer--HBV-related liver cancer.