The link between childhood vaccines and Autism

I work in the field and have listened to some of the best doctors respond to this very question----the answer they had just this fall is that there does not seem to be a link between the vaccines and autism. The mercury and some other possible contributing chemicals were taken out of the vaccines in California some time ago and the thought was that if these were contributing to autism there should be a noticeable change in the rates of autsim in california-----there was not------ I can't site things more specifically---yet I do know that the bottom line message of very concerned physicians in the field----some with children themselves with autism----is that there is no known connection at this time. It is true that the age children get the vaccines is often the time when more symptoms become obvious-----around 18m to 24 months of age------some symptoms are observable to well trained people much much younger -----yet typically concerns and symptoms are seen around 18months to 24 months of age---

Those studies have been found to be unreliable.

thanks for starting this discussion. i had to do some research work and i came up with the following: Scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder. Studies of people with autism have found irregularities in several regions of the brain. Other studies suggest that people with autism have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain. These abnormalities suggest that autism could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how neurons communicate with each other. While these findings are intriguing, they are preliminary and require further study. The theory that parental practices are responsible for autism has now been disproved. i hope you've learned something here, too. source: national institute of neurological disorders and stroke

From what I've read they haven't found a link between vaccination and autism. I believe what they think might be the cause is environmental and genetics.

My aunt swears that her 8 1/2 yr old son developed Autism around the time of his 15 month shots. Or at least that if he would have skipped those shots, maybe he would have continued to develop normally. Personally, in my son's case, I don't buy that. My son's issues were there before that, if I think back to any "red flags". My son has had all of his vaccinations, and I have no reason not to continue to give him whatever is required, within reason, so he can be in school.