For many children, back-to-school time means shots — and a renewed push by health care officials to dispel what they say are myths and misconceptions around immunizations.
“People are listening to the wrong individuals,” said Dr. Dan Levy, past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Maryland chapter, referring specifically to television personality and author Jenny McCarthy.
McCarthy, whose son was diagnosed with autism at 2, has been speaking out against vaccines, saying the toxins in the vaccines caused his condition.
“They have connected fear and doubt into a highly vulnerable population, namely new parents,” Levy said.
Some parents have raised concerns that thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative previously used in the flu vaccine and the measles vaccine, causes autism.
But health officials say “huge research” has shown vaccines don’t cause autism, said Dr. Julia McMillan, a professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Thimerosal is no longer used in vaccines, but autism rates have not declined, McMillan said.
“The diseases vaccines prevent can cause significant illness and need for hospitalization and even death in some children,” she said.
Cases of measles are at their highest levels since 1996, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard County’s health officer, attributed the increase to parents not having their children immunized. He said immunizations are one of the greatest public health advances of the past 100 years.
Since 2000, most vaccines have been mercury-free vaccines, said Dr. Anne Bailowitz, director of Baltimore’s bureau of child health and immunization.
However, not everyone has had their concerns quelled.
The National Autism Association said more research is needed on the effects of the combinations of vaccines, said President Wendy Fournier. The association urges parents to educate themselves.
“We have a nation of very sick children and a lot of them have autoimmune problems so we do believe the vaccine schedule is driving that,” Fournier said.
