Do Vaccines Cause That?

That's the title of a book I recently read and strongly recommend for those who have questions about vaccines. In "Do Vaccines Cause That?" the authors Martin G. Myers, MD and Diego Pineda, MS explain every facet of the vaccine debate. To be honest, I was skeptical about this book prior to reading it. Part of it was that I dreaded reading what I thought would be a whole bunch of science jargon, the other part was that I figured it was all old hat. I obviously have an interest in vaccines (specifically with regard to autism and the ongoing debate), and so the title greatly interested me. After reading this book, I'm happy to report my prior skepticism was unnecessary.

The authors have written this book in such a way that every reader can fully understand the material. They use realistic examples, cite many studies, and speak to their reader in a clear, concise manner. As a busy mother, reading this book late at night or in between errands during the day, this approach was greatly appreciated. I've always felt we made the right decisions with regard to our children's vaccines. And after reading "Do Vaccines Cause That?" I was fully affirmed in my beliefs. This book is very timely, even including the case of Hannah Poling.

For the most part, how the media reports (and often sensationalizes) the vaccine-autism issue is far from objective journalism. Too frequently, parents are basing their decisions off of emotional portrayals of a family's story, and from journalists, lawyers, or physicians profiting from the anti-vaccine movement. This book breaks down both sides, something that's been needed for a long time. To dispute cold, hard facts (science) simply because of how a journalist or celebrity portrays this debate is inexcusable.

Making the decision to not vaccinate your child should come from real scientific evidence, not from the innuendo and hype often found in magazine articles, message boards, or other agenda-driven sources (including journalists, politicians, and celebrities). Parents need to fully and completely understand the realities of vaccine-preventable diseases, the very real risks that exist today, and the dire consequences of not vaccinating your child. Recognize and comprehend the risks of such diseases, the risks of vaccines, and realize there is zero scientific evidence to link autism to vaccines (on the contrary, countless studies in various countries continue to outright disprove such a connection). Only then can a parent make an educated decision on whether or not to vaccinate their child.