Biology case study vaccination and MMR are they linked?

GCSE Science

Kathrine Keller

Case study: Does The MMR Vaccine cause autism?

Contents:

What is MMR?

The Vaccination

The Effects

Autism

The Autistic Spectrum

Are They Linked?

Arguments for and against.

Vaccination

Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material (the Vaccine) to produce immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by a pathogen. It is considered to be the most effective and cost effective method of preventing infectious diseases. The material administrated can either be live, but weakened forms of pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, killed or inactivated forms of these pathogens, or purified material such as proteins. Smallpox was the first disease people tried to prevent by purposely inoculating themselves with other types of infections; smallpox inoculating themselves with fluid taken from mild cases of smallpox

Vaccination is so named because the first vaccine was derived from a virus affecting cows\the relatively benign cowpox virus\which provides a degree of immunity to smallpox, a contagious and deadly disease.

Vaccination efforts have been met with some controversy since their inception, on ethical, political, medical safety, religious, and other grounds. Early success and compulsion brought widespread acceptance and mass vaccination campaigns were undertaken which are credited with greatly reducing the incidence of many diseases.

The MMR Vaccination

The MMR vaccine is a mixture of three live viruses, administered via injection for immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. It is generally administered to children around the age of one year, with a booster dose before starting school. It is widely used around the world; since introduction of its earliest versions in the 1970s, over 500 million doses have been used in over 60 countries. As with all vaccinations, long-term effects and efficacy are subject to continuing study.

What is MMR?

MMR is a vaccine which is a combination of:

Measles –

A highly contagious infection of the respiratory system.

The symptoms of measles are:

Fever at about 39ºC.
A cold.
Coughing, possibly with a barking cough.
HYPERLINK "http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/childrenshealth/sorethroat.htm" Sore throat - the lymph nodes in the throat may swell.
REDDISH EYES.
SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT.
GREYISH SPOTS, THE SIZE OF GRAINS OF SAND MAY APPEAR.
AFTER THREE TO FOUR DAYS THE TEMPERATURE MAY FALL, ALTHOUGH IT CAN RUN HIGH AGAIN WHEN THE RASH APPEARS.
THE RASH USUALLY BEGINS AROUND THE EARS AND SPREADS TO THE BODY AND THE LEGS WITHIN A DAY OR TWO.
THE TEMPERATURE, WHICH MAY RUN AS HIGH AS 40ºC, MAY STAY THAT HIGH FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEN IT DISAPPEARS TOGETHER WITH THE RASH.

MUMPS –

MUMPS IS A VERY CONTAGIOUS INFECTION OF ONE OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS. THESE GLANDS ARE LOCATED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FACE, BELOW THE EARS.

THE SYMPTOMS ARE:

INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE.
SWELLING OF THE GLANDS. (OFTEN THE SWELLING OCCURS UNEVENLY, ON ONE SIDE OF THE FACE BEFORE THE OTHER).
IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE TO GET MUMPS IN ONE OF THE GLANDS.
THE BODY TEMPERATURE MAY RISE TO 40OC.
FACE EVENTUALLY LOOKS VERY SWOLLEN.
EXPERIENCES PAIN WHEN OPENING THEIR MOUTH.
IN MILD CASES THE SWELLING MAY ONLY LAST THREE TO ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

MUMPS –

MUMPS IS A VERY CONTAGIOUS INFECTION OF ONE OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS. THESE GLANDS ARE LOCATED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FACE, BELOW THE EARS.

THE SYMPTOMS ARE:

INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE.
SWELLING OF THE GLANDS. (OFTEN THE SWELLING OCCURS UNEVENLY, ON ONE SIDE OF THE FACE BEFORE THE OTHER).
IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE TO GET MUMPS IN ONE OF THE GLANDS.
THE BODY TEMPERATURE MAY RISE TO 40OC.
FACE EVENTUALLY LOOKS VERY SWOLLEN.
EXPERIENCES PAIN WHEN OPENING THEIR MOUTH.
IN MILD CASES THE SWELLING MAY ONLY LAST THREE TO FOUR DAYS, BUT IT CAN GO ON FOR A WEEK OR MORE.

RUBELLA –

RUBELLA IS A MILD BUT VERY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE THAT IS PREVENTABLE WITH A VACCINE. OTHER NAMES FOR RUBELLA ARE GERMAN MEASLES. RUBELLA IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF ITS ABILITY TO HARM UNBORN BABIES. INFECTION OF A PREGNANT WOMAN CAN RESULT IN MISCARRIAGES

SWOLLEN GLANDS (MAY PERSIST FOR UP TO A WEEK)
FEVER
RASH (APPEARS ON THE FACE AND THEN SPREADS TO THE TRUNK AND LIMBS. IT APPEARS AS PINK DOTS UNDER THE SKIN.
FLAKING, DRY SKIN.

IT IS FIRST GIVEN BY INJECTION, TO CHILDREN AT AROUND 13 MONTHS, WITH A SECOND DOES GIVEN AS A PRESCHOOL BOOSTER AT AROUND THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

THE MMR VACCINE CAN ALSO BE GIVEN TO YOUNGER CHILDREN, INCLUDING BABIES FROM FIVE MONTHS, WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH A MEASLES INFECTION. THIS CAN PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING ILL THEMSELVES AND HELPS CONTROL THE OUTBREAK. PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ARE NOT IMMUNE TO RUBELLA CAN ALSO RECEIVE THE MMR VACCINE.

THE EFFECTS,

CHILDREN WHO RECOVERED FORM MEASLES MUMPS OR RUBELLA CAN RECEIVE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING THE MMR VACCINE:

MEASLES CAN CAUSE PNEUMONIA, FITS, ENCEPHALITIS (INFECTION OF THE BRAIN,) AND A BRAIN ABNORMALITY THAT CAN LEAD TO METAL DETERIORATION, COMA AND EVENTUALLY DEATH.

Autism

AUTISM IS A DISABILITY THAT AFFECTS THE WAY THE PERSON COMMUNICATES AND RELATES WITH OTHERS. CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH SOCIAL INTERACTION EVERYDAY, MOST PEOPLE WITH AUTISM HAVE A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF FRIENDS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE’S EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIONS, MOST PEOPLE WITH AUTISM HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING THE WORLD AROUND THEM, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE FORM OF AUTISM THE PERSON HAS GOT. THERE IS A CONDITION CALLED ASPERGER SYNDROME WHICH IS A FORM OF AUTISM USED TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE WHO USUALLY HAVE A HIGHER FORM OF AUTISM. ALTHOUGH IT WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED IN 1943, AUTISM IS STILL AND RELATIVELY UNKNOWN DISABILITY. AUTISM IS ESTIMATED TO EFFECT 500, 000 FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE UK.

Autistic Spectrum.

The autism spectrum disorders can often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years, and in some cases the earliest as 18 months. Some studies suggest that many children eventually may be able to see more accurately by the age of 1 year or even younger. The appearance of any of the warning signs of ASD is reason to have a child evaluated by someone specialized in these disorders.

PARENTS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO NOTICE UNUSUAL BEHAVIORS IN THEIR CHILD. IN SOME CASES, THE BABY SEEMED “DIFFERENT” FROM BIRTH, UNRESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE OR FOCUSING INTENTLY ON ONE ITEM FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE FIRST SIGNS OF AN ASD CAN ALSO APPEAR IN CHILDREN WHO SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING NORMALLY. WHEN AN ENGAGING, BABBLING TODDLER SUDDENLY BECOMES SILENT, WITHDRAWN, SELF-ABUSIVE, OR INDIFFERENT THAT’S IS THE MOST COMMON SIGNS OF AUTISM AT A YOUNG AGE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT PARENTS ARE USUALLY CORRECT ABOUT NOTICING DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THE NATURE OR DEGREE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, RANGE FROM A SEVERE FORM, CALLED AUTISTIC DISORDER, TO A MILDER FORM, ASPERGER SYNDROME. IF A CHILD HAS SYMPTOMS OF EITHER OF THESE DISORDERS, BUT DOES NOT MEET THE SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR EITHER, THE DIAGNOSIS IS CALLED PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (PDD-NOS). OTHER RARE, VERY SEVERE DISORDERS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS ARE RETT SYNDROME AND CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER. THIS BROCHURE WILL FOCUS ON CLASSIC AUTISM, PDD-NOS, AND ASPERGER SYNDROME, WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF RETT SYNDROME AND CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE

Rising rates of autism in California (long curve) and in U.K. (short curve). Start of MMR vaccination shown by arrows (CA, 1978; U.K., 1988).

OTHER DRUGS CLAIMED TO CAUSE AUTISM

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) conducted a thorough review on the issue of a link between thimerosal (a mercury based preservative that is no longer used in vaccinations) and autism. The final report from IOM, Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism, released in May 2004, stated that the committee did not find a link.

UNTIL 1999, VACCINES GIVEN TO INFANTS TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST DIPHTHERIA, TETANUS, PERTUSSIS, HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B (HIB), AND HEPATITIS B CONTAINED THIMEROSAL AS A PRESERVATIVE. TODAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME FLU VACCINES, NONE OF THE VACCINES USED IN THE U.S. TO PROTECT PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AGAINST 12 INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONTAIN THIMEROSAL AS A PRESERVATIVE. THE MMR VACCINE DOES NOT AND NEVER DID CONTAIN THIMEROSAL. VARICELLA (CHICKENPOX), INACTIVATED POLIO (IPV), AND PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINES HAVE ALSO NEVER CONTAINED THIMEROSAL.

A U.S. study looking at environmental factors including exposure to mercury, lead and other heavy metals is ongoing.

ARE THEY LINKED?

THE SPECULATION BETWEEN THE MMR VACCINE AND AUTISM BEING LINKED STARTED IN 1998 WHEN A PAPER WAS PUBLISHED IN A MEDICAL JOURNAL ABOUT 12 AUTISTIC CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH THE RESEARCH STATED THAT THEY DID NOT PROVE THAT THERE WAS A LINK BETWEEN AUTISM AND THE MMR VACCINE, BUT THE PUBLICITY OF THE JOURNAL GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS A LINKED BETWEEN THEM. AUTISM HAS BEEN INCREASING LONG BEFORE THE MMR VACCINE WAS COMBINED.

“THERE IS NO CURRENT EVIDENCE OF A LINK BETWEEN MMR VACCINATION AND AUTISM, CONCLUDES ANOTHER REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS.

However, the Medical Research Council's (MRC) report says that it cannot rule out the theory that the combined vaccination could trigger illness.

THE REPORT SUGGESTS AUTISM IS THE RESULT OF A RANGE OF CAUSES, WITH THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE TO DATE IS FOR GENES BEING MOSTLY TO BLAME.”

This evidence is showing me that The MMR vaccine is not linked to autism and it is the genes of the parents which cause the child to be autistic.

“A STUDY BY DOCTORS AT THE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL IN LONDON HAS SUGGESTED THAT A COMMON CHILDHOOD VACCINE MAY BE LINKED WITH AUTISM AND CAUSE AN INTESTINAL DISORDER.”

“THE NUMBER OF TWO-YEAR-OLDS GIVEN THE VACCINE WAS 84% IN 2005-6, UP FROM 81% THE YEAR BEFORE, THE GOVERNMENT'S INFORMATION CENTRE SAID.”

CONCLUSION.

I CONCLUDE USING THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND ABOUT AUTISM AND THE MMR VACCINE THAT THEY ARE NOT LINKED, IN MY OPINION THE ONLY REASON THE PUBLIC THOUGH THAT MMR AND AUTISM WHERE LINKED IS BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION MADE PUBLIC IN 1998, BUT MANY OF THE PUBLIC MINDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ABOUT AUTISM BEING LINKED AS THE NUMBER OF TWO-YEAR-OLDS HAS GONE UP OVER THE PAST YEAR FROM 2005 – 2006. GENERALLY THE EVIDENCE GIVEN AT THIS TIME AUTISM AND THE MMR VACCINE ARE NOT LINKED, EVIDENCE SHOW AND MANY OPINIONS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAY THAT AUTISM AND THE VACCINE CANNOT BE LINKED THIS IS ALSO SHOWN IN THE GRAPH ABOVE.

THOUGH MY EVIDENCE I HAVE COLLECT FOR MY ARGUMENT COULD STILL NOT BE RELIABLE THE ONLY WAY TO BE ABLE TO GET RELIABLE EVIDENCE, I WOULD HAVE TO SEARCH A WIDER RANGE OF EVIDENCE AND OPINIONS TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE RESULTS POINT TO IT BEING LINKED TO AUTISM OR NOT. BUT MY RESEARCH SHOWS THE SAME POINT FOR EACH ARGUMENT.

1. HTTP://WWW.DOCTORTODAY.CO.UK/SERVICES.HTM?GCLID=CLNKG5OGSY0CFSHDEAODVEI-RW

2. HTTP://IMAGES.GOOGLE.CO.UK/IMGRES?IMGURL=HTTP://WWW.HOPEPROJECT.IE/_SITE/HOPEPROJECT/ASSETS/GRAPH1.GIF&IMGREFURL=HTTP://WWW.HOPEPROJECT.IE/

3. HTTP://HCD2.BUPA.CO.UK/FACT_SHEETS/HTML/MMR.HTML

4. HTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/1/HI/HEALTH/1705991.STM

5. HTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/1/HI/UK/60510.STM

6. HTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/1/HI/HEALTH/5388260.STM

HTTP://WWW.NIMH.NIH.GOV/HEALTH/PUBLICATIONS/AUTISM/COMPLETE-PUBLICATION.SHTML
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/VACCINATIONS
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/MMR_VACCINE

Teacher Reviews

Here's what a teacher thought of this essay

Jon Borrell

8th of Jan 2013

**** A very good summary of autism and MMR in this essay but the question of whether the MMR vaccine causes autism was not central to the essay. A brief introduction to both autism and MMR would have been fine and then start looking and analysing the evidence for a link between the two. It did not address the very serious danger that due to people deciding not to have the MMR jab it led to a massive increase in the cases of childhood deaths from measles. Also half the writing being in capital letters makes reading very difficult.

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