immunizations, "childhood diseases" and autism

[mickeym]

There's a thing on the Today Show about a measles outbreak in San Diego County. Nine of the twelve children affected didn't have their immunizations. Six of those were because their parents objected to/decided against immunizing their children.

I know there's a lot of conflicting information out there about a (possible) link between childhood immunizations and autistic spectrum disorders. I don't know what to believe, because I've read credible arguments on both sides.

I do know this: autistic disorders aren't life-threatening. So far as I know, no one's ever died from autism. Measles, mumps, rubella, etc. CAN be, have been fatal. Even in this day and age.

Matthew has all his vaccinations. We've gotten them on schedule since he was born--and because of when he was born, we were among the first to get the chicken pox vaccination. Matthew also has (for those of you new to my journal, who might not know) Aspergers Syndrome, which is an autistic spectrum disorder.

If I had known when he was 4mos, 12mos, 18mos, whatever and getting his shots, what I know now? If I had a way of knowing all the different ways Aspergers would complicate (and enrich) and change our lives? If I'd been made aware that there was a possibility of a link between those vaccinations and ASDs? I would still make sure he had those vaccinations.

Things haven't been easy for Matthew -- and by extension, me. His AS affects all aspects of his life, in many varied ways. But knowing he's not going to die because of some (nearly) extinct infection that CAN BE PREVENTED is worth it. And he agrees: I've asked him, we've talked about it.

YMMV, I understand that. But I say the things above as a parent who is raising a child with an ASD. It's never been easy and sometimes I've wanted to pull my hair out in frustration. But at least I have my child, whole and healthy and happy. So please, *please* immunize your child. It's that important.

Comments

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

Well said.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon :)

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

*smooch*

[titti]

I agree with you. I've had both my girls vaccinated from day one, and I knew the risks, but I knew the risks of not getting them vaccinated.

They are now 10 and 11, and we've had the same quandary with the new HPV vaccine. I've heard a lot of parents complaining because the junior high schools require it, and people say that it's an okay to sex, but honestly at this age, my kids aren't thinking sex, and they can be protected by cervical cancer.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Thankfully I don't have to worry about the HPV vaccine, but if I had a girl, yeah, I'd get her vaccinated for that as well.

If the people in this country are worried about giving the impression of okaying sex for young girls, maybe they should think about not marketing midriff-baring tops, and ass-hugging shorts with cutsey expressions on them, and things like that. That's more of an issue than a vaccine that could prevent CANCER, down the road.

And sorry, preaching to the choir. Heh.

[titti]

Word. My oldest is very slim and small and anything will fit okay (and cover her). However my younger is built like me and at almost 10, she has ass and boobs, and it's IMPOSSIBLE to find clothes that make her look like the child she is. Low rise jeans and stops that show off her chest aren't what I'm looking for. It's so horrible. I went to Children's Place and one of the people there said that their collection is 'edgier' because the bigger sizes are bought by teenagers. I stared at him, blinking. My kids don't need to be 'edgier' in elementary school.

I'm sorry for the rant. It's just so frustrating and only other parents understand.

[giogio.livejournal.com]

I've been kind of puzzled by the whole HPV vaccine = invitation to sex debate since it started, since the vaccine only provides immunity from a couple of the more than 30 strains of HPV that are sexually transmitted, which nobody seems to be making a big deal of...my worry actually is that girls will believe the hype and think that the are now "immune against HPV" and take more risk, thus acquiring one of the other strains (which is perhaps inevitable, since about 75% of sexually active adults have one strain or another, but still...)

That said, I would probably vaccinate my future children--assuming that that won't be necessary for another 15-20 years at which point some more data on the long-term effects of the vaccine should be available.

[titti]

See my thing is that if you're vaccinating them at age 11, sex shouldn't enter into the discussion in any way. Once they are older, you can discuss all about it, but really before going to HPV, any parent should deal with a whole range of STDs, HIV and pregnancies.

I have to say that I love NY public schools, they've had HIV at age appropriate level since 1st grade.

[ihearthings-ii.livejournal.com]

My objection to having my (imaginary) kids vaccinated, wouldn't be possible autism, but there is the risk that these mostly harmless diseases mutating and becoming resistant to the vaccine and treatments. I've never heard that vaccines could = autism before now.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Well, depending on who you ask, there's a possible link between the preservative, thimerosal (sp), that used to be used in vaccinations, and ASD. As for the diseases mutating and becoming resistant...I don't know. So far as I know that hasn't been an issue yet (wrt measles, etc) -- though if enough people don't get the vaccinations I see how it could become one.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

What you said. I have some conflicted but occasionally strong feelings about this, which I won't go into because it's not my LJ to start a fight in, but...yeah.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

If you see something in here that you feel you need to address, go for it (unless you're going to pick a fight with me, and then I say simply: be nice while doing so, please :)).

I go back and forth on whether or not the vaccinations have anything to do with triggering things -- I know there's a genetic component to autistic disorders -- but I still say I'd have gotten Matthew vaccinated, even if I knew what would happen.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, not with you at all! I...okay, and keep in mind, I said "conflicted," okay? I try very hard to be understanding of parents who are, after all, just trying to do what's best for their children. But there's a part of me that resents that they're at best taking advantage of the herd immunity maintained in part by my child taking that risk, and at worst compromising that herd immunity in ways that could end up hurting even those who are vaccinated. So...conflicted.

[pensnest]

Absolutely right. I think I remember having some slight variations on the usual schedule for my Boy's vaccinations, because of his epilepsy, but he's had all the jabs, and thank goodness for that, as it gives me *less* to worry about. I want him here, not dead or crippled by something preventable. (Also, my in-laws had polio, and I would never have wanted my children to have to live with the problems my MIL had as a result.) And vaccinating my children protects other people's children too.

In my Boy's case, it's very clear that his AS is inherited, so I don't even think of feeling was-it-my-fault guilt. I'm not inclined to believe there is a correlation with the vaccines, but obviously it's not impossible. However, from what I've read it seems very likely that it's a case of the diagnosis (or at any rate, the parents noticing something 'odd') and the vaccinations coinciding, but that doesn't mean there's necessarily a causal relationship.

[giogio.livejournal.com]

At the risk of being the lone dissenting voice: I think we overvaccinate. I'm all about vaccinating for certain afflictions--polio, diphteria, tetanus, that sort of thing--but I don't think vaccinating against all childhood diseases is necessarily a good idea. I think that children have to battle a few comparatively harmless viruses in childhood in order to exercise their immune system. Yes, there are risks of complications from say, chickenpox, but those are pretty small provided you have them in childhood and you have a normal immune system, and as you note, there's quite a bit of controversy surrounding the vaccine, which comes with its own set of possible complications.

Personally, when I do start having kids, I will use pretty much my parents' approach: vaccinate against the biggies (polio, etc.), and leave them to catch the standard childhood diseases (we had them all). you can always vaccinate the girls against any remaining diseases they haven't had that are pregnancy risks when they're teenagers (and their bodies are much better prepared to deal with the vaccine).

[silviakundera.livejournal.com]

I have a brother with pretty heavy Aspergers, which at times is frustrating and just really fucking sad (see: panic attacks, inability to make friends, unable to process his sexuality/terrified of women, unable to handle the due dates and stress of college despite being amazingly bright)... but I would never in a million years wish he hadn't been immunized, even if that would have meant he'd have Aspergers. It's made most of his 19 years of life very hard, but he's healthy and here.

Honestly, I don't know for certain, though, about my autistic cousin. I mean, I. I'm just glad I would never be able to make that kind of decision: roll the dice on immunization, and give him a normal life. His "quality of life" is really low, and there's so much in this world he can't experience. Some eternal child-like joy mixed in there, but also a great amount of pain and endless frustration. (his pain and frustration, not his family's - which is also there, of course, but not something that is relevant in this discussion). But not immunizing due to the tiny possibility of autism? No way! The only way I'd think twice is if it were a 100% certainty.

[thoughtful-kaos.livejournal.com]

As a parent who is fairly certain that Giles' vaccinations did have something to do with triggering his Autism, I still wouldn't go back and change getting him vaccinated. Like you, I would rather deal with the many challenges of ASD then have to worry that my son was going to die because I didn't do something.

[thehighwaywoman.livejournal.com]

*takes off hat* Word and word again.