# Vaccines Do NOT Cause Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191 "2014-07-02T14:39:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/41 "2015-06-10T20:00:46Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > If there is one thing that’s become clear(er), it’s that autism has no one cause and is very likely a genetic predisposition triggered by a number of catalysts. > > As for fathers… I have observed intensive autism therapy from the sidelines for almost 20 years, perhaps 300-400 cases in all, and a strong trend is fathers who are clearly on the spectrum themselves, from functional Aspergers to “kind of weird techy sort of guy.” Which is why I would bet there are very few cases from outside causes (fetal nutrition, infant illness, etc.) alone. My husband worked with teens with Asperger’s for years, and he noticed the same strong trend with the fathers. His theory is that that might play some part in why older fathers are more likely to have kids on the autism spectrum: men who have some level of functional Aspergers are more likely to take a longer time to find a partner and start a family, and more likely to pass on that genetic predisposition. So connection rather than causation. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/42 "2015-06-10T21:35:36Z")
Great. Just fucking great. One more reason I should never have children. 🙂 and ☹ at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/43 "2015-06-10T21:39:52Z")
[If Google was a guy…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k00anSFA4-Y) (video) My standard response to Antivax screed on fb while I still had antivax friends on fb. Can’t say that I miss them. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/44 "2015-06-11T01:30:19Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > If there is one thing that’s become clear(er), it’s that autism has no one cause and is very likely a genetic predisposition triggered by a number of catalysts. > > As for fathers… I have observed intensive autism therapy from the sidelines for almost 20 years, perhaps 300-400 cases in all, and a strong trend is fathers who are clearly on the spectrum themselves, from functional Aspergers to “kind of weird techy sort of guy.” Which is why I would bet there are very few cases from outside causes (fetal nutrition, infant illness, etc.) alone. I can add one more case. A woman came up and started talking to me a supermarket. (She decided I must be a professor because who else can be there in the mid-morning and she had noticed me regularly.) It turned out her son had taken a course from me. Most names I forget as soon as the course ended, but not that one. Severe autism. He spoke at max volume and in individual words. Very painful to talk to and in any argument he usually got his way because no one wanted to argue with him. Then the father came by and the mother introduced us. I immediately said to myself: borderline autistic. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/45 "2015-06-11T01:55:52Z")
So you’re blaming the fathers, Dr Freud? And now mom’s will have some (anecdotal) evidence to push the blame somewhere else? :dubious: Okay, interesting possible link! Bears some official study, but I can see it. Maybe doctors hadn’t made the connection because the mothers are usually the ones taking Junior to the doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/46 "2015-06-11T12:11:55Z")
I hope you are all aware that SB 277 is actually part of a [racist plot](http://www.breitbart.com/california/2015/06/09/hundreds-gather-in-sacramento-to-protest-vaccine-bill/). \*"Minister Tony Muhammad, Western Regional Representative for the Nation of Islam, identifying himself as a Representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan, said, “This heinous bill has come to the attention of the black community. I’m here to represent a man who told me to tell you that this fight is a universal fight.” He compared the bill to the story of the Pharaoh of Egypt killing all male babies under two in Egypt. “Could this be a bill to destroy our boy babies? I’m letting you know that the black community, we are not going to stand by.”"\* ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/47 "2015-06-11T12:29:40Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I hope you are all aware that SB 277 is actually part of a [racist plot](http://www.breitbart.com/california/2015/06/09/hundreds-gather-in-sacramento-to-protest-vaccine-bill/). Man, that was difficult to read. The stupid kept getting in my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/48 "2015-06-11T12:38:25Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Okay, interesting possible link! Bears some official study, but I can see it. Maybe doctors hadn’t made the connection because the mothers are usually the ones taking Junior to the doctor. I don’t think it’s unknown - the gist of understanding in the field is that it’s from genetic predisposition and strongly patrilineal. Like most afflictions with genetic roots, the efforts are in finding the triggers and developmental causes, since those can theoretically be controlled more easily than genes. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/49 "2015-06-11T13:41:18Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I hope you are all aware that SB 277 is actually part of a [racist plot](http://www.breitbart.com/california/2015/06/09/hundreds-gather-in-sacramento-to-protest-vaccine-bill/). > > \*"Minister Tony Muhammad, Western Regional Representative for the Nation of Islam, identifying himself as a Representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan, said, “This heinous bill has come to the attention of the black community. I’m here to represent a man who told me to tell you that this fight is a universal fight.” > > He compared the bill to the story of the Pharaoh of Egypt killing all male babies under two in Egypt. “Could this be a bill to destroy our boy babies? I’m letting you know that the black community, we are not going to stand by.”"\* Dear god the comments on that article. > [@](#): > > Beware of the Magic Medicine Men ! ! ! > > “Since 2005 there have been no reported deaths from measles, but there have been 86 deaths from the MMR vaccine. During 2008-09 Aussie epidemic, 84% of all whooping cough and 78% of all measles cases had been fully vaccinated” ~ Dr Lee Hieb, MD > > [KellyBroganMD.com/article/CDC](http://KellyBroganMD.com/article/CDC) > > You have every right to question the efficacy, purity and safety of monopolist Big Pharma potions made in third world, toxic waste dump, sweat shops. That one has to be a parody, right? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/50 "2015-09-17T13:18:10Z")
Trump is apparently firmly in the vaccines-cause-autism camp, and Carson and Paul, who are doctors and should know better, didn’t smack him down for it last night: [http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/opinions/graham-cnn-debate/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/opinions/graham-cnn-debate/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/51 "2015-09-17T21:01:30Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Trump is apparently firmly in the vaccines-cause-autism camp, and Carson and Paul, who are doctors and should know better, didn’t smack him down for it last night: [http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/opinions/graham-cnn-debate/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/opinions/graham-cnn-debate/index.html) I saw the headline on the news. I didn’t click it - I was deathly afraid that the loons trying to out-reactionary each other had actually revived this ultimate in anti-intellectualism. It’s one thing to dislike the educated. It is another to condemn your child to an easily preventable disease because you have an incredibly deep-seated fear of science. For those who thought Reagan’s revival of the Iowa class battleships (yes, it really happened) was the height of stupid - you ain’t seen nuttin’ yet… The GOP - boldly going where no sane person would go… But - hey! W almost admitted that the Global Warming just might, maybe have something to do with some human activity. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/52 "2015-09-17T21:13:04Z")
Global warming is caused by dinosaur farts. America needs the battleship to kill the farting dinosaurs. Regan nailed it in one. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/53 "2015-09-18T14:43:10Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I saw the headline on the news. > > I didn’t click it - I was deathly afraid that the loons trying to out-reactionary each other had actually revived this ultimate in anti-intellectualism. > It’s one thing to dislike the educated. It is another to condemn your child to an easily preventable disease because you have an incredibly deep-seated fear of science. > > For those who thought Reagan’s revival of the Iowa class battleships (yes, it really happened) was the height of stupid - you ain’t seen nuttin’ yet… > > The GOP - boldly going where no sane person would go… > > But - hey! W almost admitted that the Global Warming just might, maybe have something to do with some human activity. Reagan did not sponsor the bill to re-activate the battleships-it was a Democrat senator from NJ. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/54 "2015-09-18T23:03:22Z")
OK, vaccines do not cause autism . . . but they cause severe “teh dumb” resulting in people believing that they cause autism. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/55 "2015-09-19T00:08:17Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Reagan did not sponsor the bill to re-activate the battleships-it was a Democrat senator from NJ. There is no such thing as a Democrat senator. They’re Democratic senators. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/56 "2015-09-19T00:45:28Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > **Kolga** and I are going to attempt another book proposal on this subject over the summer. So you admit that the two of you have a financial interest in promoting the claims of Big Pharma? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/57 "2015-09-19T01:49:21Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > So you admit that the two of you have a financial interest in promoting the claims of Big Pharma? :dubious: Actually, if she wanted to sell more books, wouldn’t it be better in their interest to sow seeds of doubt and uncertainty? Get people skeered, and they might pick up a book to learn more… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/58 "2015-09-19T03:44:48Z")
_Life Hacker_ just posted [this great piece](http://vitals.lifehacker.com/spacing-out-vaccines-isn-t-good-for-kids-1731638289) about vaccines, specifically why it’s not a good idea to “space them out”. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/59 "2015-09-19T03:46:13Z")
That’s what the title and cover blurbs are for, while leaving the insides intact. Unfortunately, vax friends are too earnest and forthright to have a single marketing bone in their bodies and would never consider fighting fire with fire. They need a photo of a _ **white** _ kid with measles or smallpox. Hard to find now, but give it a year. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191/60 "2015-09-30T07:47:36Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > 🙂 > … > The good news? Certain disease ( **polio** , rubella, measles) are very close to joining smallpox on the ash heap of history. There’s also wonderful developments including more vaccines in the future and vaccines that can be delivered without needles. > > The bad? There’s a vocal, loud and organized anti-vax movement. I think there always will be. We’ll just have to rely on vigilance, education and herd immunity. The World Health Organization has declared [Nigeria to be free of polio](http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/who-removes-nigeria-list-countries-polio-n433986). That eliminates polio transmission from the African continent and leaves only Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only countries where polio is transmitted. So close. Getting cooperation of tribal leaders in the last remaining areas will be a challenge. As will fighting the misconceptions and plain false beliefs that still allow this terrible disease to maintain a tenuous foothold. [WHO Removes Nigeria from Polio-Endemic List](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/nigeria-polio/en/) > [@](#): > > Note to editors: > > The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF, and supported by key partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 1988, the incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99 percent. At the time, more than 350,000 children were paralysed every year, in more than 125 endemic countries. Today, two countries remain which have never stopped endemic transmission of polio: Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2015, 41 cases of wild poliovirus have been reported worldwide (32 in Pakistan, 9 in Afghanistan). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/692191.md?page=4)