The argument in health controversies-mmr vaccine

Document Type:Research Paper

Subject Area:Health Care

Document 1

Real but misinterpreted scientific facts and observations, charismatic scientists weather charlatan or misguided have all played a significant role in the emergence of controversies and myths. In many human biological processes, what was the cutting edge of science yesterday becomes ridiculous and irrational myths today. This relentless process where science progresses and corrects itself dispels old myths and creates new ones. However, some myths persist long even after substantial scientific evidence has provided alternative explanations. This is most prevalent in the fields of neurological illness and mental health, where the understandings related to the disease etiologies tend to lag behind the rest of other medical disciplines and the issue on Autism is no exception Autism The first ever explanation of Autism was brought by around 1950 by Leo Kanner and extended by Bruno Bettelheim, both who are the US psychoanalytically oriented academic physicians (Thakkar, 2011).

Sign up to view the full document!

Myths that indicate that vaccines or mercury are concerned with autism to have been amplified by the misguided scientist — angry but active groups of parents and well as politicians. Furthermore, preventing the protection that is provided by vaccination's or the administration of mercury-cheating agents is most likely to cause real damage to autistic patients and to innocent bystanders who may be exposed resurgent infections which have been extinguished already this report presents a narrative of the origins of the myths that surround autism. A Controversy is Born MMR stands for Mumps/measles/rubella. The vaccine is one among the many live viral vaccines given to children. MMR is given routinely to 12-15 months of age when they are most likely to develop autism.

Sign up to view the full document!

Furthermore, according to some reports from the parents, most children start having signs of autism after various events. They either go to healthcare centers, or they get vaccinated by MMR, and their lives begin to change. Autism is the results of the developing series. However, as much as these claims are concerned, they have not been supported by any other studies inclusive of the ones that attempt unsuccessfully replicate the results. A good number of peer-reviewed epidemiologic research have indicated the link between MMR and Autism. A decrease in exposure rates did not appear to correlate with a reduction in the cases of Autism. On the contrary, even though more parents were opting out of the vaccination, the rates of Autism continued to be on the rise.

Sign up to view the full document!

However, scientific evidence notwithstanding also though the MMR virus is not responsible for Autism in children, it was thought that another component in the vaccine might be. To prevent contamination, the vaccine contains antiseptic thimerosal which is a combination of thiosalicylate and ethyl-mercury. The large mercury amounts that are disposed of in the oceans like as industrial waste, if consumed by people they are likely to cause Central Nervous System (CNS). A sustainable campaign conducted in the UK was launched with the aim of reassuring parents on the limited damage. But even so, anti-vaccination attacks have been observed to trend on the internet globally and have interfered with the uptake of MMR vaccination seriously in various nations in the world. Epidemiological Evidence Responding to the call on further investigation, one researcher, Taylor took up the epidemiological research to conduct more investigations in regards to Wakefield's claims the MMR is associated with Autism (Young, 2016).

Sign up to view the full document!

The study concluded that there was barely any change concerning autism trend after the vaccine was introduced, there was also no causal association between Autism and the vaccine which is one of the reasons that provoked a letter to the Lancet who expressed various critics regarding the study. And went ahead to produce personalized data that showed some delay in the increase of autism cases in the UK in comparison to the United States of America. Analysis Measles vaccines are regarded to be useful but not 100% effective. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective. The first dose of the vaccine is usually given in 12-15 months (G Woods, 2013). The second one which is provided between the age of 4-6 years is 97% effective.

Sign up to view the full document!

Children who are younger than 12months are regarded too young to partake the vaccine regardless of whether their parents are pro vaccines or not. This means that the hypothesized link existing between Autism and measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine continues to cause significant challenges and concerns in regards to vaccine uptake. There exist diverse ways in which caregivers and parents can avoid vaccinating their children, considering the vaccination schedule that was made by the CDC indicates that it is not to be forced to anyone. As far as parents are convinced that MMR is linked to Autism only few will take the risk. After many studies have concluded that children developed Autism around the same time that the vaccine was given to them, of course, the argument can be based on coincidence but not every parent can believe that ("MMR vaccination not linked to autism," 1999).

Sign up to view the full document!

In some cases, the parents feel like their children will not get the illnesses as they are not that common in the society today. 7 per 100,000 person-years) while 6518 others were censored in which 335 had an autism syndrome, 628 had lost their lives while 5537 emigrated and 18 diapered from the sources. The table below shows the characteristic of the research population. Figure 3: Source: https://annals. org/aim/fullarticle/2727726/measles-mumps-rubella-vaccination-autism-nationwide-cohort-study#215745261 The most significant single risk factor related to Autism was unknown or older, an older mother smoking in pregnancy (Offit & Coffin, 2003). The table above shows that the hazardous crude ratios that are associated with the deciles of the autism risk score range from 0. 73to 0. The MMR vaccination is seen not to have increased the risk of having Autism in children who are characterized by other treatments, having autistic siblings or high risk for Autism (Bailey, 1998).

Sign up to view the full document!

When the history of autism among siblings can be treated in time depending with the covariate, MMR vaccination was concluded to not in any way be connected with Autism among toddlers who have autistic siblings. The figure below represents the information. Figure 5: Source: https://annals. Even the superficial has openly revealed that the anti-vaccines movements walking through a thin line between using either conventional scientific argument or rejecting the scientific credibility instead. Lak of scientific backgrounds in the attempt to protect their children, many parents are left contemplating the risks associated with the vaccine are somewhat vulnerable to omission biases in which they are most likely to take the risk of inaction. The efforts of breaking the link between MMR and autism among healthcare givers and healthcare organizations through providing compassionate and nonconfrontational education means have also been unsuccessful.

Sign up to view the full document!

Instead of more surveys are being conducted in the recent times to understand the reasons while trying to find remedies at the same time. In contrary, for those parents who are inclined to reduce the vaccine, well supported scientific explanations in regards to the significance of vaccines have seemed to reinforce their convictions. According to the CDC, immunization procedures are not to be forced down on any parent. The choice is entirely left on the parents to decide. This means that they should carefully educate themselves on descriptive studies regarding the value of vaccination and the risk of problems from it so they can make the right choice for their children while still taking public health and safety into account. Refrences Bailey, M.

Sign up to view the full document!

From $10 to earn access

Only on Studyloop

Original template

Downloadable