When Super A was diagnosed with ASD, it was also about the same time when the MMR-Autism link debate was at its peak. I researched about it, even bought a book that I didn't finish reading because of its medical complexities. For a time, I was so scared about MMR that I even thought about deferring the vaccine schedule for my daughters. My research also led me to witness the rise and fall of some personalities, the most prominent of whom is Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the anti-MMR advocate who at one point (even until now by some groups) was hailed a 'hero' of some sort for facing the Goliaths in the form of the governments and drug companies until his work was proven fraudulent due to data manipulation. He was then stripped off his degree and was blamed for the measles outbreak in Wales because of his anti-MMR campaign. In fact, in one country, UK if I am not mistaken, his entry is blocked.
When I talk to pediatricians and specialists alike, they are very pronounced in their assurance and this was even backed up by Medical Science with published journals proving the non-causal link between MMR and autism. And with these, I felt secure again about the vaccine.
So when my friend sent me this link, I almost got transported to that time when my state-of-mind was still frenzied. But I guess time, experience, Faith and hope have taught me a thing or two. I ended up replying to my friend with, "all I could respond to this is prayers".
I just hope that the government and medical authorities will come out with an official statement on this and journalists to be more prudent with their articles. Here's a good article that raises issues on information dissemination.
And below is a light cartoon of the MMR-Autism-Dr. Wakefield saga just to downplay all the drama surrounding this issue. This is a piece of work by Darryl Cunningham, click here for more.
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