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Vaccine safety, mercury additives, and autism

Though studies and research of autism and autism-spectrum disorders have been more plentiful in recent years, the medical and scientific research has resulted in more unanswered questions about the cause(s) and/or triggers of onset, proper diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and most of all prevention.

A variety of potential autism triggers and causes have been debated, researched, and in some cases dramatized, including diet, food additiives, environmental contaminants, immunizations, etc. A specific example that has recently resurfaced is the controversy surrounding autism and vaccines.

We feel that parents and guardians should arm themselves with as many facts as possible in order to stay insulated from the hype and drama that naturally arises from such an important subject as child health. The following are some facts and links about this topic to help parents and guardians make informed decisions regarding this matter:

• Drug companies began introducing the mercury-derivative 'thimerosal' into vaccines in the 1930's, in order to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
• Thimerosal (a.k.a. ethyl mercury) is structurally different from the kind of mercury that is related to contaminated fish and industrial releases (a.k.a. elemental mercury), and is handled by the body differently (for example, thimerosal clears from the body much more quickly than elemental mercury).
• Most major scientific studies have concluded that thimerosal does not cause autism (including the most recent one published in the New England Journal of Medicine, September 2007). Very few studies have supported any linkage whatsoever between thimerosal and autism.
• Most vaccines today do not currently contain any thimerosal.
• Thimerosal began being phased out of vaccines for young infants starting in 1999. Most such vaccines have been thimerosal-free since 2002. Despite the phase-out, autism rates continued to rise each year through 2003, strongly suggesting that thimerosal is not a major cause of autism as was once suspected.
• Some parents and physicians are also becoming concerned that the volume of vaccines given around age 2, which has increased over the years from around 10 to around 36, could trigger the development of autism for some children, such as those with genetic predisposition for autism. There have been no studies to support this theory to date.
• Scientists don't yet know what causes (or contributes to causing) autism. There are still many unknowns.
• Officially, autism is not currently considered to be an illness that can be treated or cured to any significant degree. However, some parents and pediatricians have begun reporting cases of partial recovery from the symptoms of autism in children, usually through a combination of rigorous therapies including diet restrictions and intensive language coaching.

Since vaccines have been a large part of this debate, it is important for parents and guardians to also be informed about the diseases intended to be prevented by childhood vaccines. More information about these (measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, chicken pox, influenza, etc.) can be found using our alpha-search tool.