3 ms·

You cannot prove an impossibility, so demonstrating no correlation between Autism and Thimerosal is not going to happen. The possibility, however, is so minisc

You cannot prove an impossibility, so demonstrating no correlation between Autism and Thimerosal is not going to happen. The possibility, however, is so miniscule as to be drastically outweighed by the benefits of vaccination. It is also a completely irrational fear stoked by celebrities with axes to grind and discredited medical "professionals." Acetaminophen can cause liver failure but people give that to their children all the time and can easily give an overdose that will be fatal to children yet not at all harmful to an adult. If a parent buys a house built prior to 1978, the lead paint in the rooms can cause brain damage and hearing problems in children, but people buy those houses all the time. People even fail to install safety seats properly (or at all). These are all dangers proven to kill or harm children far more often and far more dramatically than the hypothetically miniscule risk of getting Autism from a vaccine. My child's pediatrician flatly refuses to have vaccine deniers as patients. Summaries of studies rebutting Jenny McCarthy are posted in exam rooms and the full studies are available as free handouts to anyone who asks. If a parent declines vaccines that are on the standard "minimum required vaccinations for public school enrollment" list, the parent is invited to seek another doctor. And, for me and my kid, I'm thrilled that she has that stance.

ChrisAntaki 13y ago
> The possibility, however, is so miniscule as to be drastically outweighed by the benefits of vaccination Good point - there's a societal gain to vaccination. > If a parent declines vaccines that are on the standard "minimum required vaccinations for public school enrollment" list, the parent is invited to seek another doctor. And, for me and my kid, I'm thrilled that she has that stance. It sounds like you've looked at the evidence, and made a rational decision. I plan to vaccinate my children too, on a healthy schedule. :) There's still a lot of value in discussing the beliefs of those who don't. They are people, with free will, and yelling at them / labeling them doesn't solve a whole lot. Though you / other HN commenters might have a different view on this.
- darkarmani 13y ago
  > There's still a lot of value in discussing the beliefs of those who don't. They are people, with free will, and yelling at them / labeling them doesn't solve a whole lot. Though you / other HN commenters might have a different view on this. Maybe most people are tired of having this conversation because the people that choose to believe that vaccines are harmful, don't want to educate themselves or care to be swayed by any amount of science. At this point it is more beneficial to label them and move on with our lives, because interacting with "reality disbelievers" is a fruitless exercise. Either way, reality always wins in the end.

ChrisAntaki 13y ago

> The possibility, however, is so miniscule as to be drastically outweighed by the benefits of vaccination Good point - there's a societal gain to vaccination. > If a parent declines vaccines that are on the standard "minimum required vaccinations for public school enrollment" list, the parent is invited to seek another doctor. And, for me and my kid, I'm thrilled that she has that stance. It sounds like you've looked at the evidence, and made a rational decision. I plan to vaccinate my children too, on a healthy schedule. :) There's still a lot of value in discussing the beliefs of those who don't. They are people, with free will, and yelling at them / labeling them doesn't solve a whole lot. Though you / other HN commenters might have a different view on this.

darkarmani 13y ago
> There's still a lot of value in discussing the beliefs of those who don't. They are people, with free will, and yelling at them / labeling them doesn't solve a whole lot. Though you / other HN commenters might have a different view on this. Maybe most people are tired of having this conversation because the people that choose to believe that vaccines are harmful, don't want to educate themselves or care to be swayed by any amount of science. At this point it is more beneficial to label them and move on with our lives, because interacting with "reality disbelievers" is a fruitless exercise. Either way, reality always wins in the end.