Community reacts on Autism group encouraging vaccinations
Some people have linked vaccines and autism in recent years despite the medical community denying such a connection. But one advocacy group took a definitive stance on the matter as the measles outbreak continues to spread in the United States. Getting vaccinated for the measles is a hotly debated issue, especially for parents trying to decide what’s best for their infant child, but according to Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, those ugly rumors of vaccines causing autism are just not true.
Chief Science Officer from Autism Speaks, Rob Ring, released the following statement on the group’s website: “Over the last two decades, extensive research has asked whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The results of this research are clear: vaccines do not cause autism. We urge that all children be fully vaccinated.”
But locals in the Coachella Valley autistic community aren’t quite convinced. Randy Corti, the owner of Lumpy’s and founder of the “Scramble for Autism” golf fundraiser said parents should still look at all information before making a decision one way or the other. “We did not vaccinate our son and he has autism, so it definitely wasn’t caused from the vaccination,” said Corti. “On the other hand, I do know parents and I do know families that they did get their kids a shot and there was a fever or there was something and their kid was never the same.”
Doctors believe vaccinations are a must. Dr. Michael Hughes practices family medicine at UCR Health in Palm Springs. Hughes described serious effects of measles as potential brain infections, birth defects in pregnant women, and possibly even death. “You know, all we can do is give them the information the best we can and the facts and the data,” said Hughes. “And the facts and the data are clear: that vaccines prevent illness and death and are important and there’s no link between vaccines and autism.”
Scott Visyak believes the science. He has an autistic son and still got him vaccinated at an early age. He knows some parents are still skeptical, but thinks if they look at the research and scientific studies then they’ll come around. “One out of every 10 families feels that (autism) might have been linked to (vaccinations). And of course that’s their opinion. (The) majority of us feel that this is something that has been passed down through DNA and through the hereditariness of the mother and the father. And hopefully we can educate them correctly so that way we can protect our children when they’re growing up.”
