There is a niche group of people that are against vaccinating babies due to the perceived risk of autism. Whether or not you agree with that, the use of vaccines can prevent your kids from some of the most horrible contagious diseases throughout their lifetime. It really boils down to if the risk supersedes the benefits.
What Diseases Have Vaccines Cured?
Thanks to the diligence of vaccination in developed countries, the likes of Smallpox, Poliomyelitis, yellow fever and more are no longer major threats to modern society. Other diseases are heavily being mitigated with recent advances in medicine, notably the HPV vaccine for preteen boys and girls.
India has been improving in vaccinating babies in recent years, and the benefits are already noticeable. In particular, there is a big push for vaccination against Rotavirus diarrhea, which causes severe dehydration and vomiting in babies. If this vaccine is well propagated in the country, this could help mitigate child mortality.
There are plenty of new vaccines on the horizon that could improve the quality of life for future generations. There are hundreds of clinical trials being reviewed by the FDA, some of which have had impressive results.
The biggest push in the medical world is to vaccinate the biggest killers, which are malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. There are multiple HIV concepts being tested and considered, and one had recently shown to have a positive immune response in humans and monkeys.
The HVTN 702 that is currently being conducted may have the biggest impact in the history of vaccines. Approximately 5,400 individuals have been enrolled in South Africa with the most tolerable form of the vaccine, making it one of the biggest trials conducted thus far.
Is There a Significant Risk For Autism?
The best answer to that question is that there is no conclusive evidence from either side that vaccines are linked with autism. Having said that, researchers have been actively looking for a link and nothing has been found.
There was a study conducted in 1998 about the MMR vaccine showing that there may be a slight increase in the chance of autism. Unfortunately, that study had a sample size of a mere 12 children so findings could have been coincidental if anything. Several studies about the same vaccine were conducted since then and nothing similar was replicated.
A substance commonly used in some vaccines, known as thimerosal, had also caused a bit of public panic since it had a small amount of mercury. Even though mercury is toxic, doctors had used a tiny amount for anti-bacterial purposes. Nonetheless, many studies were conducted around thimerosal and nothing major had been found.
Thankfully, thimerosal had been taken out of most vaccines around the world so that factor isn’t in the picture. What’s left to look at in autism diagnosis should be other environmental factors, genetics or perhaps even diet.
Conclusion
If you trust the advice of your doctor, you should hesitate to at least vaccinate your children with at least the basics. Nothing in life is risk-free, including vaccines, but most studies should that they are better off with them.