Recently, President Trump issued an executive order calling for childhood vaccines to be spaced out, and the separation of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual vaccines.
Not a single mainstream medical organization has endorsed this directive. It is actively opposed as a very poor decision, with no scientific data to support it.
During the signing of the directive the President made several unsubstantiated claims. Let’s break those down and get the facts straight.
Is A “Soda Bottle” Equivalent Of Fluid Injected With The Current MMR Vaccine?
The standard dose of the MMR vaccine, given at approximately 12 months of age, is 0.5 mL/cc – equivalent to one-tenth of a teaspoon. For comparison, the average size of a single-serving soda bottle in the US is 20 ounces (591 mL/cc) – 1,182 times more fluid than a single dose of the MMR vaccine.
Is There Valid Scientific Evidence For Splitting The MMR Vaccine Into Three Separate Vaccines?
There is absolutely no evidence that splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate vaccines is beneficial. In fact, there is compelling evidence of harm in doing this.
Splitting the MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines not only increases the risk of disease by delaying the development of protective antibodies, it would add an unnecessary burden on parents and increase pain and suffering for children. Non-compliance is also an issue, that could increase disease cases and spread. Afterall, it’s difficult to get a child to the doctor for 2 shots let alone 6. And what child wants to get even more shots?
The combined MMR vaccine has been used safely and effectively for over 50 years, and individual measles, mumps and rubella vaccines have not been made since 2008, and even then, they were rarely used. Reintroducing the individual vaccines would require years of clinical trials and regulatory evaluation for approval.
This New Executive Order Is Supposed To Help Prevent Autism – Will It?
The thought that vaccines cause autism has been around for a while, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This myth continues to be perpetuated by individuals with limited understanding of the subject, despite no scientific evidence, or any proof whatsoever, to back up their claims.
To be crystal clear, vaccines do not cause autism. We do however have decades of irrefutable evidence of what vaccines actually do – prevent disease, disability and death, in children and adults.
If Vaccines Are Not To Blame, Why Is Autism On The Rise?
The reason autism incidence is on the rise is not yet fully understood. While we know that vaccines do not cause autism, the actual cause is the subject of intensive investigation and research. The cause is most likely multifactorial, with genetics, environment, and other unknown factors playing a role. Early screening, better classification, and more accurate identification, could also play a significant part in the increase in cases. This effect is recognized in other areas of medicine, like cancer screening.
As always, if you want the facts or have questions about autism, please reach out to us at Coralis Health. Our highly qualified specialists are always here to help!
