We have probably discussed this issue countless times over the past few years on Science Sensei, yet here we are again. Perhaps the most vocal person on this topic has been the celebrity, Jenny McCarthy. Her son is autistic, and she seemed to notice the signs of autism after his earlier vaccinations. Yet autism is not exactly something vaccines actually cause. While they can cause some mild symptoms that usually go away within a few days to a few weeks, this is usually the extent of it. In fact, if they do cause something more problematic it is usually due to an allergic reaction to something in the vaccine. Doctors can trace the substance the child is allergic to and even help with their symptoms.
[Image via M-Foto/Shutterstock.com]In spite of literally no evidence, McCarthy and so many others believe autism can be caused by vaccines. They often cite a paper from the 1990s where the team involved found a link between vaccines and autism. This paper has now been debunked with nearly every single person involved actually coming out against it. McCarthy and most who push this conspiracy usually do not have any scientific background. Especially something in chemistry or biology, not even pharmacology. Thus, it is pretty odd that we still see people without these backgrounds being the most vocal about the whole thing. You’d think that if every expert has told you this is not true, it would be good to believe those who ACTUALLY know what they are talking about. Guess not for these people.