I feel that one of the ways I “matured in social media” while serving as the daddy blogger of Parents.com for the past 3 years was to actually stop writing from such a polarized perspective. I have no desire to make people argue with each other in the comments section.

Instead, I enjoy starting open-minded conversations. I like to bring people together, not divide them.

CNN and Fox News are both ridiculous. I seek truth without a right or a left spin.

That’s why you’ll probably never see me endorse a Presidential candidate again. Because I’ve learned that basically half of America is die hard Republican while the other half is die hard Democrat. Our election process is set up in a way to where politicians are rewarded for not compromising, but instead, sticking 100% to the predetermined agendas and ideals of their party affiliation.

By refusing to consider the other side’s point of view, politicians (and voters) can keep themselves from being open-minded because of it.

Similarly, it seems the same way with other polarizing topics; like abortion, gay marriage, or the deity of Christ.

And don’t forget, of course, the controversy of whether or not vaccinations are harmful; particularly, whether they cause Autism.

So with that being said, I want to share this new infographic called “The Science Facts About Autism And Vaccines”.

I believe it contains some interesting information that is worth at least considering.

When it comes to vaccinations, I have always remained… indifferent. What I mean that is I personally refuse to get a flu shot, but I have never been opposed to children receiving vaccinations, because I think there is a lack of evidence proving that it is harmful; especially that there is a link between Autism and vaccinations.

And that’s exactly what this infographic shows…

Don’t get me wrong. I definitely have solid opinions on certain topics, but for certain polarizing one like this one, that get people “shouting” at each other online (in ALL CAPS), I prefer just to hear more facts before making a decision, if I don’t already have one.

But as for me personally, regarding Autism, I still think there’s a good chance that exposing children to too much TV and media devices at too early of an age is linked to Autism.

I guess I’ll have to wait for someone to make on infograph on that…

Source: Healthcare-Management-Degree.net

The Science Facts about Autism and Vaccines

What started the rumors?

1998: Lancet published a paper by Dr. Andrew Wakefield it was a dramatic study that found a connection between autism and vaccines

The Study Had Some Problems:

• Not based on statistics
• No control group
• It relied on people’s memories
• Made vague conclusions that weren’t statistically valid

No Link was Found, so people started investigating his claims

 

 

Following Dr. Wakefield’s study, here’s what other more rigorous studies found:

• • • 1999: A study of 500 children no connection was found
    • 2001: A study of 10,000 children still found no connection
    • 2002: A study from Denmark of 537,000 children found no connection
    • 2002: A study from Finland of 535,000 children. Guess what? No connection

“They had conducted invasive investigations on the children without obtaining the necessary ethical clearances… picked and chose data that suited their case; they falsified facts.”

• • 2004: Lancet released a statement refuting the original findings
    “They had conducted invasive investigations on the children without obtaining the necessary ethical clearances… picked and chose data that suited their case; they falsified facts.”
  • 2005: A review of 31 studies covering more than 10,000,000 children, also found no connection
  • 2012: A review of 27 cohort studies, 17 case control studies, 6 self- controlled case series studies, 5 time series trials, 2 ecological studies, 1 case cross-over trial covering over 14,700,000 children

No link to autism was found in ANY case, in all of the studies.

Vaccine Vilification Survives

• 1/4 of U.S. parents U.S. parents believe some vaccines cause autism in healthy children
• 1.8% of parents opt out of vaccines for religious or philosophical reasons
• There have been 0 credible studies linking vaccines to autism
• Recently an anti-vaccine religious community has seen measles outbreaks

Although Declared Eradicated in 2000…

• France reported a massive measles outbreak with nearly 15,000 cases in 2011
• The U.K. reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 2012

Before Widespread Vaccinations of Babies

• in 1980, 2.6 million deaths from measles
• in 2000 562,400 deaths 72% of babies vaccinated
• in 2012, 122,000 deaths 84% of babies vaccinated

In the United States, Whooping Cough Shot Up in 2012 to Nearly 50,000 Cases

A new study concluded thatvaccine refusals were largely to blame for a 2010 outbreak of whooping cough in California.

A new study concluded that vaccine refusals were largely to blame for a 2010 outbreak of whooping cough in California.

It is clear that immunization protects children from disease and saves lives. Outbreaks of many deadly diseases are on the decline globally, thanks to vaccinations. Immunizations can help eradicate many dangerous childhood diseases. Just like Smallpox, they too can be wiped off the face of the Earth. In the U.S., we almost had Whooping Cough beat in the 80s — then Dr. Wakefield’s fabulously flawed paper was published:

• 1960s – 150,000 cases of whooping cough
• 1960s – Widespread vaccinations introduced
• 1970s – 5,000 cases of whooping cough
• 1980s – 2,900 cases of whooping cough
• 1998 – Dr. Wakefield’s paper published
• 2004 – 26,000 cases of whooping cough
• 2012 – 50,000 cases of whooping cough

Common Vaccine Myths

• Vaccines are ridden with toxic chemicals that can harm children
  Thimersol, the chemical being referenced, does contain mercury. However, thimersol has been removed from scheduled vaccines and only resides in the seasonal flu vaccine.
• The decision to not vaccinate my child only affects my child
  Un-vaccinated children who contract a disease can infect infants yet to be inoculated, the small percentage of people whose vaccines did not take, and people with compromised immune systems.
  
• Receiving too many vaccines at once can override a baby’s immune system
  Baby’s immune systems are strong enough to defend from the day to day viruses and bacteria with which they come in contact; they can also handle the vaccines. Remember, vaccines use deactivated viruses in their ingredients.
  
• Drug companies just do it to make profits
  According to the WHO, estimated 2013 global revenues for all vaccines is around $24 billion, which only accounts for approximately 2 – 3% of the total pharmaceuticals market.

Vaccines Work!

Positive effects of vaccines:

• Helped eradicate Smallpox
• Save about 8 million lives every year
• Significantly reduce disease in the world
• New and underutilized vaccines could avert nearly 4 million deaths of children under the age 5 by 2015