Vaccines cause Autism

Question

There is a long standing belief that the effects of vaccines are harmful to younger children, potentially aiding in them developing autism. This claim about autism and vaccines was first published in the late 1990s by former physician Andrew Wakefield.

Answer 1

 The claim that vaccines cause Autism is false.The original 1998 study that claimed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism was proved false and later labeled as fraudulent. The researcher behind that study, Andrew Wakefield, had serious conflicts of interest and his methods were found to be unethical.

https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/do-vaccines-cause-autism

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5789217/

Comments

This is such a succinct and to the point fact-check. Nice work!

Answer 2

According to the CDC, vaccines do not cause autism. This is a widespread controversial belief that stands on little to no evidence. Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism. 

"Vaccines are safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines save lives.

Claims that vaccines are linked to autism, or are unsafe when administered according to the recommended schedule, have been disproven by a robust body of medical literature. Delaying vaccines only leaves a child at risk of disease. Vaccines keep communities healthy, and protect some of the most vulnerable in our society, including the elderly, and children who are too young to be vaccinated or have compromised immune systems." - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8207024/

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html

Comments

I think it is useful that you referenced the CDC which is a reputtable source for providing health related information based on evidence and research. I think it would have been interesting to provide more context to elaborate/ explain this claim. Perhaps who is spreading this information and if this is a reason as to why... Overall you analyze the evidence to prove this claim is false.

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The CDC is a reliable source, so I like how you included that. However, I think your fact check could use more information. One thing you could have added was "X" as a source itself. It also would have been helpful to speak on who X was claiming made this post. Overall, I think you used a helpful quote to prove your point, but you could have provided more information.

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The CDC's definitely a solid source, so thumbs up for bringing that into the mix. But, I think your fact-check could've been beefed up a bit. Like, throwing in X as its own source would have been a good move.

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I think that this is a great fact check! I think that it was smart to reference the CDC, as they are generally regarded as a particularly reputable authority for health related material. I would recommend diversifying your sources as much as possible, as expert opinion is often compromised by contrasting opinions. While the CDC is a great primary resource, including other more specific expert opinions might strengthen your argument.

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I really like the use of the quote and how you made it stand out. It immediately draws your eye to it and gets your point across

Answer 3

This claim is false. For starters, X, the source that posted this, is known to post misinformation. They commonly post about celebrities and often in favor of republican opinions. According to Center for Disease Control, there has been no link between vaccines and autism. Secondly, Larry Clark is an anti-vaxer, and often posts information in favor of anti-vaxers. I can't find any information about this post in particular, however even if he did post it, it is false information.

https://iddp.gwu.edu/majority-anti-vaxx-ads-facebook-are-funded-just-two-organizations

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html

Comments

Great comment! Your links line up, although I think it could be good to also go into the history of the vaccines-cause-autism myth as well.

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I like how you referenced the source and know that they have a history of spreading misinformation.

Answer 4

This claim is false. There are no studies that show a correlation between autism and vaccines (CDC). Although a study conducted in 1998 suggested a link between the two, the information was retracted after it was discovered that the author falsified information. Since then, there were no studies that showed a relationship between the two (MayoClinic). According to HistoryofVaccines, "While genetic and environmental reasons for autism have been found, vaccines are not among those reasons." 

Comments

Nice job going back to the study that linked autism and vaccines and mention that it relied on falsified information. I didn't know about that tidbit!

Answer 5

Vaccines do not in fact cause autism.

Comments

Strong fact-checks include thorough explanations that include information surrounding the claim as well as data or quotes from sources that refute or confirm the claim. Also, URLs for all your sources! Thanks!

Answer 6

I found this claim to be false according to credible sources such as the CDC, NIH, and children’s clinics. There is no link between vaccinations and autism and the people spreading this common misconception do not have any evidence to back it up. The NIH states, 

Myths that vaccines or mercury are associated with autism have been amplified by misguided scientists; frustrated, but effective parent groups; and politicians. 

vaccines have turned into a political issue so many of the people who oppose it are trying to follow the lead of their political party, although some people are genuinely misinformed and believe the information that is being spread. 

Comments

Don't forget to add hyperlinks to all your sources. Thanks!

Answer 7

As others have already pointed out, this is false. Vaccines do not cause autism. The CDC has a great information that is summarized here, but they also link to lots of sources in that post.

On the folks involved in the X post you've linked: I think that the subject of the attached video, Jamie Melillo Juarez, is interesting. Searching up her name shows an amazon listing for a book authored by her titled "Hope for autism". The description of the book says: "A diagnosis of autism is the single most heart wrenching experience a family can go through", which feels really gross to me. Autistic people are just people, a child isnt dead to the world following an autism diagnosis. I think most autistic people would be upset if you asked them how their family was coping with their autism diagnosis. I can't access much more information on Juarez as far as here counseling practice, but the description of the book she is selling leads me to believe Juarez is taking advantage of parents who are struggling to adapt to a child's autism diagnosis to sell her book or advertise her practice.

On the topic of anti-vaccine voices, I did a little digging into the history of the claim that vaccines cause health complications. I've linked below some information on Andrew Wakefield, the first (formerly) credited Doctor I could find making these claims. There's information about his published research and subsequent falling out, and information which may provide insight to his motives. I have also linked to an article from the College of Physicians of Philadelphia which traces anti-vaccination movements all the way back to the first vaccines in the 1800's, which I found very interesting. Not necessarily related to the fact check, but interesting all the same.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136032/ 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6181752/ 

https://historyofvaccines.org/vaccines-101/misconceptions-about-vaccines/history-anti-vaccination-movements