Why do some people believe vaccines cause autism?
Study after study has found no scientific evidence that autism is caused by any one vaccine, a combination of vaccines, or the mercury-containing preservative called thimerosal, which was once widely used in many childhood vaccines. The controversial 1998 study that originally started all of the debate by suggesting a link between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism was retracted — or thrown out — in 2004, long after it had been rejected by all major health organizations. But the study and the attention it received influenced parents worldwide and led to a devastating decrease in immunizations. Despite the lack of scientific evidence that it causes any harm, manufacturers began removing thimerosal from kids’ vaccines in 1999 to reduce childhood exposure to mercury and other heavy metals. Now, the flu vaccine is the only one used in kids 2 and under that contains any of the preservative. Although some of the flu vaccines do have thimerosal in them, most of those available
