You know, the autism rate increase and the attempt to link it to autism is kind of like the 'increase' in childhood sexual abuse being linked to any societal problem...
Here's the thing. To start with childhood sexual abuse part of the reason for the increased rate is increased reporting. This is undeniably a good thing. Most modern american children are now educated on what sexual abuse is, where people shouldn't be touching you, and what to do if someone does. They are educated that, no matter what the abuser threatens, they should still tell. This education has aided in stopping the abuse, which probably existed at similar rates in the past but went unreported.
With autism, it used to be that unless the child was very severe to the point of almost complete debilitation (inability to talk, etc) the child was labeled a 'behavioral problem', a 'bad kid', 'a little slow',... but not autistic. Not only that, but children weren't screened for these problems routinely and, unless there were severe signs, it wasn't caught early. Now early intervention programs lead to routine screening and early treatment. In physical and occupational therapy you will see two or three year olds that appear shy or quiet but are being treated for, "something in the autism spectrum."
Who knows if the rates were the same in the past? Children were not screened and were not treated like they are now.
Now, I'm not advocating that anyone be given multiple vaccinations to catch up all at once,.. but routine vaccination is just that, routine. Millions undergo it and it has saved many lives over the years. It scares me to think of what might happen as more and more children go unvaccinated. While I am vaccinated, it will be sad to be treating children for potentially fatal preventable illnesses.
I can only imagine what it must be like as a parent to be faced with this choice. The media says one thing, the medical community says another. If your child ends up with any mental problems, you will blame yourself for getting the vaccine. If your child ends up with a preventable illness, you will also probably end up blaming yourself.
What I will say is this, there is a definite, provable, link between not getting a vaccine and the ability to get one of the devastating childhood illnesses, whereas the link between vaccines and autism is not provable or definite.
Here's the thing. To start with childhood sexual abuse part of the reason for the increased rate is increased reporting. This is undeniably a good thing. Most modern american children are now educated on what sexual abuse is, where people shouldn't be touching you, and what to do if someone does. They are educated that, no matter what the abuser threatens, they should still tell. This education has aided in stopping the abuse, which probably existed at similar rates in the past but went unreported.
With autism, it used to be that unless the child was very severe to the point of almost complete debilitation (inability to talk, etc) the child was labeled a 'behavioral problem', a 'bad kid', 'a little slow',... but not autistic. Not only that, but children weren't screened for these problems routinely and, unless there were severe signs, it wasn't caught early. Now early intervention programs lead to routine screening and early treatment. In physical and occupational therapy you will see two or three year olds that appear shy or quiet but are being treated for, "something in the autism spectrum."
Who knows if the rates were the same in the past? Children were not screened and were not treated like they are now.
Now, I'm not advocating that anyone be given multiple vaccinations to catch up all at once,.. but routine vaccination is just that, routine. Millions undergo it and it has saved many lives over the years. It scares me to think of what might happen as more and more children go unvaccinated. While I am vaccinated, it will be sad to be treating children for potentially fatal preventable illnesses.
I can only imagine what it must be like as a parent to be faced with this choice. The media says one thing, the medical community says another. If your child ends up with any mental problems, you will blame yourself for getting the vaccine. If your child ends up with a preventable illness, you will also probably end up blaming yourself.
What I will say is this, there is a definite, provable, link between not getting a vaccine and the ability to get one of the devastating childhood illnesses, whereas the link between vaccines and autism is not provable or definite.
