What is your advice on vaccinations for children with siblings diagnosed with autism?

lagjan: What is your advice on vaccinations for children with siblings diagnosed with autism?
This question is for people who have family members, or more specifically children, who have autism. My first child was diagnosed at 2 and I recently had another child (10 days old). I want to get more insight from parents about how they feel about vaccines in regards to autism and whether or not we should put the vaccines shots on hold for younger siblings until they get older.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Rhianna
There is no Vaccine-autism link. If you look at the data, vaccines are quite clearly not the cause of autism. There is no connection. Data disproves any link.

There was only one paper that suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, it was horribly flawed, never reproduced and has since been retracted. The main author, “Dr”. Wakefield has also lost his medical licence due to, what can only be described as, dishonesty.

Evidence so far, seems to show that autism is genetic and parental age plays some role too.

Delaying vaccinations on the basis that the vaccine may in some way cause autism or some other problem, isn’t logical. You are simply putting the child at risk….for no good reason.
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@ Kimmie: There is unlikely one single factor involved in sutism. But scientists DO know it isn’t caused by vaccines. In the numerous studies that have been done, if there was a direct or indirect linked, it would have shown up. It hasn’t.

” I believe they need to be vaccinated but not so much at one time. ”

That statement is based on emotion, not scientific thought. Delaying vaccines will put a childs health at risk. Vaccines induce far less reponse that any disease that they may encounter naturally.

Answer by Weise Ente
Considering there is not a scrap of evidence of any association between vaccination and autism it is a nonissue.

Answer by Michelle
I don’t know if there is a link in the vaccines or not. I can tell you I have three kids, the youngest has Asperger’s. He was different from day one, not wanting anyone to touch him etc. He slept through the night at 7 weeks. Never wanted to be rocked or held. So I can safely say that vaccines did not cause his autism. As for others, I can’t say. Personally I would vaccinate though because the risks of not vaccinating can be high and have severe consequences.

Answer by corslets
I don’t believe there has actually been any proof that the vaccines “caused” autism, although there is a lot of speculation. A lot of that comes from the measles/mumps vaccine that children get at 18 months, which is usually about the same time frame that major signs of autism start showing up. So it could just be a timing issue.

My sisters children all received the same vaccinations on the recommended schedule, two have autism one does not.

I have twin nephews, both with classic autism. They are almost 5 years old, barely speak, eat only 3- different foods, do not make eye contact with you, are not potty trained, cannot dress themselves, brush their own teeth, etc.

Their younger sister is 2 years old and they recently had her tested as well. At first they thought she had a sort of developmental delay, but after further testing they determined that she was just mimicking a lot of the behavior of her brothers. She is home with them all day and are primarily the only other children that she is around and plays with. It was suggested that she spend time alone, away from the boys, with other children (either a day care or church school setting possibly) in order to “see how other children behave”.

I personally have 3 children of my own. All of them have been vaccinated according to the recommended schedule, and they are all extremely bright, social and happy children.

Whether or not to (or WHEN to) vacinate your children is your choice, but I would take in consideration your doctor’s recommendation on this before making your decision. Also, keep in mind that the majority of schools will not allow children to attend if they have not had all their vacinations.

Best of luck to you and your family.

Autism is a very difficult issue to work through, but the love you have for your children will help you get through each day, one day at a time.

Answer by kimmie el
Thumbs down to me for not agreeing with everyone. I have 3 children who I kept up to date with shots. My youngest which is to my second husband was recently diagnosed with autism. If I were to have another baby, I would vaccinate, but I would have them spread out. The bottom line is we don’t know what if any one thing is causing autism. I believe they need to be vaccinated but not so much at one time. As far as maternal age, I’ve recently met alot of people with children with autism and unless 20’s is advanced age then I don’t know. Best of luck with your decision. God bless you and your family.