Over the last decade, autism has gone from a rare and misunderstood condition to a disorder that may affect as many as 1.5 million Americans. Without a clear explanation in sight, parents and doctors have worked tirelessly to pinpoint the cause of autism, but the answer remains elusive. Are vaccines the missing link?
In 1980, the recommended childhood vaccine schedule included vaccines for seven illnesses and contained over three thousand proteins. In 2000, the schedule included eleven recommended vaccines; however, all the vaccines together contained less than 130 proteins. The number of proteins in vaccines has gone down and is small compared to the number of proteins the body makes in response to an actual illness or compared to the thousands of bacteria newborns are exposed to after birth. There is no evidence that delaying certain vaccines will prevent autism and it is therefore advised that children continue to receive vaccines based on the current immunization schedule. Parents who have questions about vaccines should consult with their pediatrician.
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