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Frequently Asked Questions - Autism

Does the MMR vaccine cause Autism?No, several studies have shown that there is no relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism. The biggest study was in Denmark in November 2002. Approximately 537,000 were examined over 6 years. One group was given the vaccine the other was not. Among the participants the incidence of autism was the same in both groups.

What about the studies that showed a relationship between the MMr vaccine and Autism? Those studies were flawed. The papers published by Wakefield in 1998, did study the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Secondly, in all eight cases, the instestinal symptoms were observed after not before the symptoms of autism.

Does thimerosal cause Austism? No, just like the MMR vaccine, several studies have been done among children who received vaccines with and without thimerosal and the risk of Austism was the same in both groups.

Is Autism caused by children receiving too many vaccines too soon? No, there is no evidence of that.

What causes Autism? This is still debatable, but several studies have shown that autism occurs in the womb during fetal development. Children who were exposed to thalidomide during the first or early second trimester had an increased incidence of autism as well as children who were exposed to Rubella (German Measles) before birth.