Vaccines And Autism A Tale Of Shifting Hypotheses

There is no doubt that the number of vaccines recommended by health care professionals and government agencies has increased rapidly since 1980. Furthermore, vaccines have also changed in how they are made, which is unknown or poorly understood by the general public. While reviewing the literature, this was shown in the article, â€Å"Vaccines and Autism: A Tale of Shifting Hypotheses†, by Gerber Offit (2009), where they discuss how vaccines have changed overtime. The authors state that today a single vaccine use uses less than 200 bacterial and viral proteins or polysaccharides compared to over 3000 immunological components used in 1980. In addition, the amount of protein chemistry and recombinant DNA has also increased. This helps cut back on vaccine-related reactions, because the vaccine only resembles a microbe and doesn’t function on one. Understanding Human’s Immunological Capabilities The human immune system having far greater capabilities than what it is often believed to have been was a common theme throughout the literature review. This was especially prevenient in two of these studies; first being in Gerber and Offit’s paper where they explain just how capable people are at responding against a vaccine. They state that studies have shown that a child’s immune system is capable of responding to a thousand vaccines simultaneously without any adverse effects. In addition, children are infected by up to 6 microbes daily, which far exceeds the 36 shots given over aShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On My Annual Flu Vaccination1042 Words   |  5 Pageseffects these vaccines could have on their children. This lead me to my quest on finding whether or not vaccines hurt society more than they helped. The first step I took in my expedition was increasing my understanding of vaccines and how they functioned. Luckily, since my major is microbiology, I have taken some courses that have given me a foundation to understanding vaccines. By simply googling how vaccines work, I found the CDC’s article thoroughly explaining the fundamentals of vaccines. BasicallyRead MoreVaccines And Autism : Do Vaccines Cause Autism?1231 Words   |  5 PagesPseudoscience? I. Vaccines Autism Do Vaccines cause Autism? II. Abstract Do vaccines cause autism is a question that has been bouncing around for over twenty years. The increase in the number of diagnosed cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased significantly and due to the impact this has in people’s lives several studies have been done in an effort to determine the cause. More specifically the MMR, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, vaccination has been accused of being the cause of autism. This accusationRead MorePros And Cons Of Vaccinations1285 Words   |  6 Pages Vaccinations are a heavily debated topic in society today. Vaccinations have long been defined as a successful health measure, but the safety of vaccines raise concerns among many parents. According to Glanz et al., â€Å"The issue of vaccine hesitancy can be examined from several different angles, many of which point to the delicate balance between personal liberty and public health† (2). Personal rights and public health concerns, collide on this subject. Many parents wa nt to decide if their childrenRead MoreChildhood Vaccinations And The Dangers1226 Words   |  5 Pages(in fear of their acquiring autism), and health professionals fearful that the population percentage of people acquiring measles, mumps, or rubella (for it was the M.M.R. vaccination that the parents feared in particular) would rise to a number which would lead to a mass risk of disease. Despite Wakefields’ study, the truth persists in all types of experiments related to vaccination. Whether being tested in a replication of Wakefields’ study or in any other, vaccines have been proven to work at preventingRead MoreVaccines And Its Effects On Society1485 Words   |  6 Pagesvaccinated early in life for diseases such as rubella, measles, and tetanus. Vaccines have been perfected to shield and protect our body from seriously life threatening diseases that could have the potential to wipe out large populations. Most of America and a lot of western countries see vaccines as beneficial and a common necessity for their children and themselves. However, this view has not always been accepted. In fact, vaccines were only first widely considered to be helpful for diseases when a man