Did you know that the first reported cases of Autism were reported in the early 1940’s which, coincidentally, was shortly after Thimerosal (ethyl mercury) was added to the Pertussis vaccine in the United States? I also found it interesting that cases were not reported in Europe until the 1950’s after Thimerosal was added to their vaccinations. I know this is purely an anecdotal observation, but there is and has been compelling evidence to the link behind vaccinations and the onset of Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

In the 1950’s vaccinations were limited to 4 (pertussis, diptheria, small pox and tetanus). Cases of Autism were reported to be around 1 in 10,000 at that time. Children currently receive approximately 12 vaccines and numerous booster shots. By the age of 2 most children receive a total of 33 shots and what would amount to over 200 micrograms of mercury exposure. The rates of Autism have continued to skyrocket during this time with 1 in 100 boys and 1 in 400 girls being diagnosed with the disorder in the United States. This condition is not only devastating for the child but also for the family. Currently 1 in 68 families has an autistic child.

There has been pressure on the Vaccine makers to reduce or remove mercury in their products in recent years. Unfortunately, many flu shots given to kids also contain Thimerosal.

An interesting fact is that the state of California began keeping record of the disease and that since the phase-out of Thimerosal began in 2000 their Autism rates have dropped 6 percent. Unfortunately, most battles over thimerosal removal are at the state level. The FDA has not recalled the existing vaccines containing Thimerosal and physicians are still using the existing stockpiles.

The debate rages on about the scientific cause of the disorder. Possible reasons include the childs ability or inability to detoxify mercury. Another is synergistic toxicity, which is the enhanced effect of mercury toxicity when other metal poisons are present such as aluminum. The most compelling evidence is associated with the Autoimmune response where the body is exposed to a toxin and has an immune response against its own cells or tissues.

Naysayers laugh at the notion that there is any scientific link between mercury and Autism, and write off the evidence as circumstantial. I believe that where there is smoke there is fire and would much rather error to the side of caution. I did not follow the CDC guidelines for vaccinating my children. I spaced out my schedule for my my kids so that all vaccines were given at an older age than recommended and minimized multiple types of vaccines at once. The MMR vaccine has had one of the worst track records and should be used with caution. I waited until after 2.5 years for the first MMR shot rather the the recommended 12 to 15 months.

My childrens pediatrician stated that multiple vaccinations bundled together “enhanced” their effectiveness. Not only could I not find a single study validating this claim I also referenced the CDC website stating that studies show that vaccines are as effective when given individually as they are when administered simultaneously. Once again validating my point of why I errored to the side of caution to have vaccines administered individually and later in life.

Parents should be cautioned when it comes to vaccines. Like any drug introduced to the human body, they can have dire consequences. Regardless of whether or not you believe the Mercury link is junk science, it is important to at least understand there are risks. I would challenge even the biggest cynics to convince me that there is anything wrong with taking precautions on how your children are given their immunizations. By minimizing the number of vaccines given at once, starting shots later in life and spacing them apart I feel as though I’ve given my kids a safer route to navigate through this critical time in their development.