HTT - MMR Edition

Yesterday, Miss Dub had two immunizations to mark her 18-month-old-ness. Yes, we do that in our house. I'm aware that some people believe immunizations can cause autism. And while my heart goes out to families with autistic children, I just don't think there's a link.

I've read the research - and nearly all of it shows that immunizations have no bearing on a child developing autism. Most of it suggests that autism is a genetic disorder. So the only correlation between shots and autism appears to be that children receive them at the same age autism is typically diagnosed ... no matter what Jenny McCarthy says.

My first pediatrician, who prescribed to an organic lifestyle, told me she refused to treat children whose parents refused vaccinations for them. Most times, she told me, they would present her with faulty Internet research or personal testimonials. "Do you mean to tell me your hour-long Internet search is more accurate than my 10 years of rigorous schooling and 10 years of medical practice?" she would ask them. Sadly, most of them said yes.

And a good friend, who is studying to be a neuropsychologist, recently shared with me research revealing children who supposedly "changed over night" after immunizations were actually displaying autism spectrum behaviors since birth; their parents just ignored them or didn't recognize the signs.

I do think today's children are often over-diagnosed and over-medicated, but I also think there's a reason our child mortality rate is lower since vaccinations were implemented. So even though it can cause Miss Dub to wail something awful, I'm happy to spare her mumps, measles and rubella, whatever the heck that even is.

But what about you?

Do you get your children immunized?

And if not, why?

Shoot.