Anti-Vaccines...Say What?

During my search for information on Polio, I cam across an article written by the actor Jim Carrey. I was surprised to read that Jim Carrey, like Jenny McCarthy, is anti-vaccinations. Jim and Jenny both claim that childhood vaccinations such as Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (commonly referred to as MMR) contain environmental toxins that are causing more and more children to be diagnosed with autism and other disorders like Aspergers, ADD, ADHD. 

Personally, I find it extremely frustrating that actors and other non-health professionals, have the ability to sway millions of parents decisions to vaccinate their child. Vaccinations are evidence-based, medically tested, and recommended standards of health care supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It amazes me that these anti-vaccine individuals believe that governmental organizations and medical physicians would be recommending vaccines that were found to have a casual link with any disorder. Laws have been established so that vaccines are rigorously tested before licensed for use. Additionally, vaccines, like the majority of medications, are produce for the majority, not the minority. Most children who get the MMR vaccine don't have any problems. If a child does have a problems the majority of them are minor: fever, mild rash, or minor swelling. 

I think I would be more open to the anti-vaccine campaign if health professionals were supporting the effort. However, the fact remains that those said professionals are few and far between. I also would be more apt to support the anti-vaccine campaign if scientific research has shown a connection between vaccines and autism, or any other disorder for that matter. The fact of the matter is, as with any disease or condition, multiple factors can determine an individuals likelihood of getting that particular disease. This is why researching this topic and many others like it is so difficult; everything is every individualized. The Autism Speaks website reports that there are over 100 autism risk genes. These genes can then be turned on or off due to thousands of environmental factors. Autism is a very complex disorder that can't solely be linked to vaccinations. 

Has anyone considered that maybe it is a cultural shift that is causing the increased diagnoses of the other disorders (Aspergers, ADD, and ADHD) Carrey claims in his article is a result of vaccinations? We live in a culture where individuals need to be diagnosed and treated. So when a young child has trouble focusing on tasks and exhibiting “abnormal” characteristics we, as a culture, label and treat them. Don’t get me wrong; I believe that there are times that these disorders need treatment. I just think that when disease or illness is in fashion, more individuals are diagnosed with them.
 Vaccinations, like MMR, protect our children, as well as adults; from diseases the majority of Americans have never seen first hand. When you have never witnessed the devastation that an illness can cause it is easy to see how the grass could be greener on the other side, without the protection that vaccines give. Below is a little reminder of the devastation that once was caused by measles, mumps, and rubella. When looking at the problems these diseases cause, personally, having a child with autism or ADHD doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

• Measles causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. Complications can include ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking or staring), brain damage, and death.

• Mumps causes fever, headache, and swollen glands. Complications can include deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, rarely, death.

• Rubella (German measles) causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis (mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.