12 Month Shots Causing Autism...

Updated on June 24, 2008
B.R. asks from Andrews AFB, MD
8 answers

I was just curious if anyone on here has spread out the 12 month shots and if so how? I am freaking out a lil because my son gets his this Fri or Mon and i've heard of 2 days or sometimes a week or so after their 12 month shots they stop 'talking' and can end up having autism from the shots. Is this true?!?! Please help!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.T.

answers from Washington DC on

Most of the uproar is over the MMR vaccine that is given at either 12 months or 15 months, depending on your provider's preference. My daughter got the MMR vaccine at 15 months.

First, I do not believe that MMR causes austism-like symptoms in otherwise healthy children. The original study that "linked" autism to MMR has been renounced by the original researchers. Further, it is worth noting that you very likely received MMR as a child with no side effects.

However, many parents choose to either delay the vaccine or to break the vaccine up into its component Measles, Mumps and Rubella, using separate vaccines and spacing them out further.

Dr. Sears has a new book out the Vaccine Book from which many people use the delayed or selective vaccination schedule. I picked it up at the library and read through it before the 1 year vaccinations. I chose to skip Hep A until 2 years.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I also suggest The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. He recommends spreading out the measles, mumps and rubella shots into 3 separate shots over a longer period of time, rather than a combination shot all on one day. My friend who has a now-11 year old with autism swears the change in him was directly related to the MMR vaccine. Even though the evidence about the link to autism is not 100%, who wants to take chances with their baby??!! If you can spread them out, why not do so? Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Forget the thimerisol-autism link. There is good evidence that vaccines like the MMR can trigger autism and other autoimmune diseases (e.g. type 1 diabetes, asthma, food allergies, even SIDS) becuase they can cause an exagerrated immune response that attacks the body and brain in unexpected ways. The problem is too many vaccines too soon. Yes, we had the MMR as kids, but we also had 80% fewer vaccines in our first two years of life. I spaced out my children's vaccines, opting out of Hepatitis B and Rotavirus vaccines, limiting the 2, 4 and 6 month shots to DTap, HIb & Prevnar, and later catching up on Polio series. In the second year, I accepted the MMR and Varicella vaccines beginning around 16-18 months, and on separate visits (you do not want 2 live virus vaccines at the same time). My doctor was fine with my alternative schedule, and I've been good at keeping shot-only appointments every 1.5-2 months to catch up.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

If it makes you feel any better, you may even be able to push the shots back until his 15 month visit (the MMR). I think you can break them up. I didn't break them up, I just waited...but my son's pediatrician mentioned to me that breaking them up would be NO problem though. Check with your insurance company to see if they'll support that. Most importantly, talk to your son's pediatrician. They should be willing to give you options/ease your fears. My son got his shot a month ago. He did spike a fever 10 days later, which I've heard is common. He's back to normal though. :-)

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Having worked on the Autism Team in Portland, OR I can tell you there is no sound research at this time that confirms this link. Our team was specifically to diagnose kids with autism or other problems. Most of the clinicians/researchers I worked with have done a lot of reading into this topic. While as a parent this can be such a scary thing to think about. There is question about if the shots make kids that are already neurologically at risk have more problems. If your child is developing normally then there shouldn't be a concern. Thermasol (mercury) was the one thing in the shots that was of greatest concern, but this was removed from the MMR shot years ago. People are still making the shots/autism connection because at the same time these shots are give are also at the key times language development begins a huge jump. This is also the time it becomes more apparent if a child has autism or learning delays because of this increase in language. I could go on more to explain this if you want to contact me we can chat more. I hope maybe this maybe eased your fears. I have vaccinated both my 2 & 4 year old because I don't believe there is a connection.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.G.

answers from New York on

There is a lot of misinformation about autism and vaccines...particularly online! The real issue with vaccines involves the fact that some babies get fevers and act very irritable after so many shots at once. My son is like this, so I spread out his shots. The only possible link between vaccines and autism is the mercury that was in the vaccines before 1996. It's not in them anymore! Only the flu vaccine still contains mercury. The 12 month vaccines are safe, though if your kiddo has had a rough time with vaccines in the past...definitely space the shots out!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Washington DC on

There was an article in Time magazine last month you should read about vaccines for children. It calmed any hesitations I had about immunizations. There is no known cause for Autism.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.T.

answers from Washington DC on

The July issue of Parents magazine has a great article about immunizations and the current hype about autism. Hope this helps.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches