Immunization vs Autism, Research Paper Example

The topic of the effectiveness of immunizations on children that are subsequently diagnosed with autism will be discussed in this paper. Recently, newborns are required to undergo a set of immunization shots before they can leave the hospital. Some allege that the immunizations may contain a substance that could be complicit in the later development of autism. Signs of autism are reported as early as nine months. The natural development of activities like walking, talking, and basic social interactions appear to be retarded.

Vaccinations for newborns have been in place for many years.  However, the new batch is alleged to be causing symptoms of autism. The Hepatitis B vaccination seems to be the culprit. Infants are given several shots at once, and some physicians consider this too much. One doctor said that he did not see a need for a child to have a Hepatitis B vaccination because Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease that can only be contracted by sharing of needles, use of razors, and toothbrushes of an infected person (CNN).

According to Walene James, there are four reasons why vaccinations exist: (1) vaccinations are relatively harmless; (2) vaccinations are effective; (3) vaccinations were primarily responsible for the decline in infectious diseases; and (4) vaccinations are the only practical and dependable way to prevent both epidemics and potentially dangerous diseases (James 8). Newborns should be protected against all of the above. However, at what expense? Should the possibility that a child could develop autism override the wisdom of having them vaccinated against dangerous diseases?

That is the premise of this paper. The debate that rages over immunization vs. autism has no clear winner. The loser in the whole situation is the child. The child loses if he is vaccinated and loses if he ends up with autism. Such are the ethical issues that must be addressed and pondered in the nursing field. Parents, especially parents of newborns, are highly skeptical about the effectiveness of vaccinations. They are left to wonder if they are doing the right thing for their child.

Autism and other developmental disabilities are acutely demanding on the child and his or her caretakers. An autistic child is a “special needs” child and has to live with that description throughout his or her young life. A parent of a newborn envisions a world of opportunity and potential for his child. Autism can impair a child’s opportunity for a bright future by virtue of the stigma of the disease. The diagnosis of autism can have the same effect upon a child as one who has been diagnosed with a mental illness.

Imagine the conflict that a parent must be in who has to make the decision to have his or her child vaccinated, (which is the law in most states) and risk the chances of the child developing life threatening diseases or to be vaccinated and increase the risk of the child developing autism. This is the situation that thousands of new parents find themselves in. The debate over the vaccinations of newborns is much more than a theoretical exercise because the debate involves human lives.

Controversial topics most often provoke emotional responses. However, in the case of whether or not to vaccinate a child in order to prevent autism, passion is an admirable thing. Medical science makes advances every single day and oftentimes looses track of the human side of things. Medical scientists and practitioners tend to lose themselves in chemistry and the equations rather than spending more time on the psychology of medical science.

What is the evidence behind the contention that immunizations cause autism? Studies have concluded that this proof cannot be verifiable (James). In other words, no one knows if vaccinations cause autism. All of the hype and publicity on the internet and other miscellaneous outlets would lead one to believe that vaccination induced autism was at epidemic levels.

James makes a particularly compelling point in his book, Immunization: The Reality behind the Myth. He says that it is essential to sort out the truth from the fiction when it comes to researching the effects of vaccinations and their implicitness in causing autism (James 3). Vaccines inject viruses into the infants systems with the hopes of that system producing enough antibodies to fight off the disease in the future. Vaccinating one’s child is a peremptory strike against infectious childhood diseases, all but autism.

To this date, there is no known vaccination for autism. Critics of newborn vaccinations claim that it is too dangerous to give newborns immunizations because it could lead to the child developing autism. This is pure speculation. There is no empirical evidence that immunizations cause autism. There is evidence that vaccinations bar and ward off infectious diseases.

Smallpox is no longer a death sentence for young children in America. At one time, smallpox was the most dangerous and deadly of all childhood infectious diseases. Current advances in medicine and medical technology proves that this is no longer the case. If medical science can rid the world of small pox through the use of vaccinations, parents should feel confident in their ability to prevent unwanted side effects from vaccinations and immunizations given to newborns.

As in every endeavor, medical science is not an exact science, although we would like it to be, especially as it applies to the health and safety of children. As stated earlier in this paper, autism cannot be empirically linked to immunizations. It would be in the best interests of the child to have him or her vaccinated. The risk of autism could be a possibility, but the proven effectiveness of the vaccinations in their ability to ward off infectious diseases is well worth it.

Works Cited

“Do immunizations cause autism? – Autism-World.” 18 May 2011 <http://www.autism-world.com/index.php/2007/09/28/do-immunzations-cause-autism/>.

“Should I vaccinate my baby? – CNN.” CNN Blogs. 18 May 2011. CNN Blogs. 18 May 2011 <http://articles.cnn.com/2008-06-19/health/ep.vaccines_1_vaccines-and-autism-vaccine-schedule-hepatitis?_s=PM:HEALTH>.

“Immunization: The Reality behind the Myth by Walene James.” 18 May 2011 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=28019800>.

Leifer, Gloria. Introduction to Maternity & Pediatric Nursing. Sixth. US Elsevier Health Bookshop, 2011.