My Two Cents worth...

Please note, this post is not in any way meant to diagnose/treat or OFFEND anyone!!!!!

Because I am a pediatric RN working in a pediatrician's office, I thought I should post some thoughts of mine on the relationship between autism and vaccines. I would venture to say that vaccinating children encompasses at least 75% of my job. I feel it is my professional responsibility to decide how I should deal with certain issues, this being one of them. I know of many people who are pregnant or who have very young infants who have varying concerns on this issue. So I began researching a month or so ago. I spoke with some of the pediatricians in my office about this, read on the CDC-Centers for Disease Control website, and researched the definition/signs/symptoms of autism on the internet-(all medically sound websites).

the question is, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate??? yes that is the question I am getting...
I say, go ahead and vaccinate your children. Before I launch into my theory, here is what I read about the causes of Autism in Wikepedia. *ASD=Autistic Spectrum Disorder
"Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by multigene interactions or by rare mutations with major effects.[3] Early studies of twins estimated heritability explains more than 90% of the risk of autism, assuming a shared environment and no other genetic or medical syndromes.[14] However, most of the mutations that increase autism risk have not been identified. Typically, autism cannot be traced to a Mendelian (single-gene) mutation or to single chromosome abnormalities such as Angelman syndrome or fragile X syndrome, and none of the genetic syndromes associated with ASDs has been shown to selectively cause ASD.[3] There may be significant interactions among mutations in several genes, or between the environment and mutated genes. Numerous candidate genes have been located, with only small effects attributable to any particular gene.[3] The large number of autistic individuals with unaffected family members may result from copy number variations (CNVs)—spontaneous deletions or duplications in genetic material during meiosis.[49] Hence, a substantial fraction of autism may be highly heritable but not inherited: that is, the mutation that causes the autism is not present in the parental genome.[48]
All known teratogens (agents that cause birth defects) related to the risk of autism appear to act during the first eight weeks from conception, and though this does not exclude the possibility that autism can be initiated or affected later, it is strong evidence that autism arises very early in development.[4] Although evidence for other environmental causes is anecdotal and has not been confirmed by reliable studies,[5] extensive searches are underway.[50] Environmental factors that have been claimed to contribute to or exacerbate autism, or may be important in future research, include certain foods, infectious disease, heavy metals, solvents, diesel exhaust, PCBs, phthalates and phenols used in plastic products, pesticides, brominated flame retardants, alcohol, smoking, illicit drugs, and vaccines.[6] Although parents may first become aware of autistic symptoms in their child around the time of a routine vaccination, and parental concern about vaccines has led to a decreasing uptake of childhood immunizations and an increasing likelihood of measles outbreaks, there is overwhelming scientific evidence showing no causal association between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism, and there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine preservative thiomersal helps cause autism.[51]"-From Wikepedia

So here is my theory. Austism is mainly genetic. What I gathered from all of my research is that there are some children that have the gene mutations and there is possibly some unknown environmental factor(s) that trigger these gene mutations and alas the child ends up on the austism spectrum. I also read that 23% of autistic children were completely cured of autism when put on a gluten-free and casein (milk protein) free diet. So in this percentage of children, gluten and casein may be those environmental "triggers."

Some of us are predisposed to have medical issues, and given the "right circumstances/stress/time of life" may go into having full blown health issue that requires a change of life or medication. Type 1 diabetes is another example. Some of us have DNA that predisposes us to Diabetes. (it is often genetic) Then we lead a stressful life, don't get enough exercise, and eat sweets on a regular basis, then suddenly one may find themselves with a diabetes diagnosis. (poor example I know, but easily identified with)
Another reason I feel that autism is genetic, is because in SOME cases, the autistic child often has a sibling with the same diagnosis.

So after the CDC takes mercury and other preservatives that are thought to cause autism out of vaccines, we are still having a child be diagnosed on average every 20 minutes! I think what has happened is that the medical community has learned how to better diagnose children at a younger age, and vaccines are getting the blame. (because of the time frame)

So here is why you should vaccinate your children. We as a society depend on what is called Herd Immunity(go look it up for more info). Polio, Measles, Pertussis, and Diptheria are still around and very much alive. The reason we never see any of this is because we have all been vaccinated against them!!! When working as a nurse at Arkansas children's hospital, I saw a 14 month child almost die from pertussis. He was in ICU for several several weeks with an unsure prognosis... (he did make it thankfully)-- This was easily preventable!!! His mother was in a small cult, and they did not believe in vaccinating their children.

So I will leave you with this: Weather or not you want to vaccinate your children is your choice. But please research this for yourself and ask questions!!!! Please find a pediatrician that will listen and respect your decision and discuss all possibilities with you (ex: a different or slower vaccine schedule?!) Thanks for reading!