Q. Do vaccines cause autism?
A. Numerous scientific studies have investigated a possible link between vaccines and autism. Scientific data overwhelmingly confirm that no connection exists between vaccines and autism. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine issued a report on vaccines and autism. It concluded that the totality of the evidence available indicated that neither thimerosal nor the MMR vaccine is associated with autism. This report is available to the public at www.iom.edu/imsafety.
Q. Why does the thought that vaccines cause autism persist?
A. This belief persists because signs of autism may appear around the same time that children receive the vaccine that prevents measles, mumps and rubella, and some parents worry that the vaccine caused the autism.
Q. What are the benefits of childhood vaccines?
A. It is important to remember, vaccines protect and save lives. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccines are the single-most powerful, cost-effective public health intervention ever developed. Because of the availability of vaccines, few children in the United States are harmed by measles, polio, tetanus or other serious vaccine-preventable diseases. If parents stopped getting vaccines for their children the number of cases of these diseases will increase and so will the number of serious health problems and deaths.
Q. What measures are in place to ensure the safety of vaccines?
A. As with all medical products, vaccines undergo extensive testing to document their efficacy and to explore potential harms. Before a potential vaccine is licensed for use, FDA scientists conduct a thorough and independent review of the testing data and often employ the help of an FDA public advisory review committee. In addition, FDA rigorously oversees the manufacturing process for vaccines used in this country - including approval of each step in the process and on site inspection. Following licensure, vaccines continue to be monitored through information shared by parents, doctors, and other public health officials.
Q. What is the Vaccine Compensation Program?
A. The National Vaccine Compensation Program was established as part of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 and provides compensation to people found to be injured by certain vaccines. The VICP covers all vaccines recommended by CDC for routine administration to children. In addition to compensating those with rare, serious complications associated with vaccines, the Vaccine Compensation Program, in conjunction with other health experts and federal agencies, thoroughly investigates reports of possible associations between adverse events following vaccinations.
Q. Where can I go for more information about the safety of vaccines?
A. There are several sources of information including the CDC at www.cdc.gov and the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org. www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/Immunization/Vaccine.htm