Comparison of Research Articles

Comparison of Research Articles

Rate of Autism related to Vaccines

Grand Canyon University

HLT-314V

Abstract

Autism is increasing at an alarming rate in American and around the world. As a response to this finding, heath care providers, researchers and parents are seeking an explanation. They are eager to determine why their children are being diagnosis with this more so in the past 20 years than ever before. There are some who have made a claim as to a correlation between childhood vaccines and the increase in Autism Diagnosis’s. Much research has focused on providing a clue to this increase in Autism Spectrum Disorders and to provide ways to reduce the instance and even prevent it. In this paper, I will look at two research articles that focus and the prevalence of Autism in sound children and how it relates to the occurrence of Vaccine, primarily to MMR Vaccine or measles, mumps and rubella.

I have chosen to select the topic of Incidence of Autism as related to Vaccines in children. This topic is of great importance to me. Over the last 5 years I myself have done a great deal of study into this topic. At age 3, my daughter was diagnosis with Autism spectrum Disorder. After going through the stages of grief, the first instinct of a mother is to determine WHY. Why did this happen, what did I do, How could I have prevented this are just a few question that a mother must face and overcome. As I went through an abundance of research and literature, one item that stands out to mothers is the suggestion of a link between autism and vaccines particularly the MMR because it contains live viruses opposed to the other vaccines given to children. In hindsight, I feel a factor may be because identifying a cause provides some closure to the parents and a psychological component is involved. Being able to pinpoint that the diagnosis may be caused by Vaccines most likely provides some form of comfort to the parents. As I continuously wen through countless articles, my personal rationale is that the likelihood of the vaccine causing the Autism is slim. I believe that most parents, like in my case, relate that the time of Vaccine being at or around age two and the symptoms usually begin to become noticeable at age two. Its easy to place blame somewhere to find closure. The facts are that An alarming rate of children today are being diagnosis with Autism. This is a very difficult to understand diagnosis because it is a spectrum disorder. Children present with a vast variety of symptoms. There is a stereotype associated with Autism. My daughter thankfully has made great improvements with the help of therapy now causing me to question the validity of the diagnosis in the first place. She also has hypoparathyroidism resulting in the production of ZERO growth hormone. I can also attribute the improvements to the time we began to supplement growth hormone adding to my suspiciousness of an actual creditable diagnosis of Autism. Today unless I told some one she was autistic, they would never know. She still has subtle symptoms that only an educated professional may notice.

The two studies I have chosen are:

Autism and thimerosal-containing vaccines

Stehr-Green, P., Tull, P., Stellfeld, M., Mortenson, P. B., & Simpson, D. (2003). Autism and thimerosal-containing vaccines: lack of consistent evidence for an association. American journal of preventive medicine, 25(2), 101-106.

2. A Population-Based Study of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination and Autism

Madsen, K. M., Hviid, A., Vestergaard, M., Schendel, D., Wohlfahrt, J., Thorsen, P., … & Melbye, M. (2002). A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(19), 1477-1482.

Both studies were conducted in Denmark over a period of several years. Children at birth were given a identification number to remain private and were followed throughout there childhood. Both studies conclude the findings are inconclusive and cannot support a correlation between vaccines and Autism rates in children.

Funding for Article number one was provided by the National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Funding for Article number two was supported by grants from the Danish National Research Foundation; the National Vaccine Program Office and National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the National Alliance for Autism Research.

Study #1

Study #2

The impact of the studies on health care is informative. Both studies were funding be reputable and non biased institutions. Control method were reported as being upheld. Vaccines are a crucial part to children health in America. We have been able to eradicate such childhood illnesses as polio thanks to the introduction of the polio virus. Many parents are now tempted to refuse vaccines feeling they are protecting their children when in reality, studies show that is not the most beneficial for the children and in contrast puts them at risk for diseases otherwise preventable. Many parents act out of fear and truly lack a knowledge base behind their decisions. There are ads and public announcements that speak untrue and unfortunately impact the parents thoughts and life decisions despite literature and the pediatricians recommendation. This is an important topic as our children are America future and we must provide for them a safe and healthy environments. As healthcare providers it is our duty to educate and provide resources to these parents and the public as a whole.

References:

Stehr-Green, P., Tull, P., Stellfeld, M., Mortenson, P. B., & Simpson, D. (2003). Autism and thimerosal-containing vaccines: lack of consistent evidence for an association. American journal of preventive medicine, 25(2), 101-106.

Madsen, K. M., Hviid, A., Vestergaard, M., Schendel, D., Wohlfahrt, J., Thorsen, P., … & Melbye, M. (2002). A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(19), 1477-1482.

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