The suggestion is that a preservative in common use in vaccines, thimersol, is a cause of autism because it is mercury-based. Mercury poisoning is similar in symptoms to autism.
The problem with the scare is a) too little clinical information, b) too little attention to the vast benefits of the vaccines and the very small occurrence of autism in the population in general, c) the fact that most of the important vaccines are now available in a thimersol-free variety. In Canada, all infant vaccines are thimersol-free, as is the flu shot and the Rh shot for pregnant women. The thimersol-free vaccines are not standard in the States, but they can be requested.
So, while I'm reserving my opinion about the possibility of a link between mercury poisoning and autism pending more research, I'm also choosing to vaccinate because my government reacted to the scare in the only sensible way - they pursued equivalent vaccines without that ingredient, and made them standard.
no subject
The problem with the scare is a) too little clinical information, b) too little attention to the vast benefits of the vaccines and the very small occurrence of autism in the population in general, c) the fact that most of the important vaccines are now available in a thimersol-free variety. In Canada, all infant vaccines are thimersol-free, as is the flu shot and the Rh shot for pregnant women. The thimersol-free vaccines are not standard in the States, but they can be requested.
So, while I'm reserving my opinion about the possibility of a link between mercury poisoning and autism pending more research, I'm also choosing to vaccinate because my government reacted to the scare in the only sensible way - they pursued equivalent vaccines without that ingredient, and made them standard.