Another school year is now underway in classrooms all around our country, as our kids resume their studies of math, science, English, history, and hopefully much more. If you have children in a public school, you know that one of the many pieces of paper you had to submit in order to get them registered was an immunization form. School administrators want to know that the kids walking their hallways are not going to be harboring measles, rubella, chicken pox, or other diseases that medicine has largely eradicated. But, there are an increasing number of children who reach school age and whose parents have opted out of having them vaccinated. They are placed right in the middle of a debate that extends way beyond simply whether or not they should be allowed in a classroom.
Many parents worry about the publicized link between vaccines and autism, even though the scientific community has repeatedly come out against there being any evidence of a connection. Others don't like the idea of their infants being inoculated at such a young age and choose to develop their own vaccination schedule. The topic even has earned some attention among the current contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, as Rep. Michele Bachmann spoke out about her concerns that the HPV vaccine may cause mental retardation.
In my upcoming book, Pabby's Score, I look at the serious issue of autism and the stigma it receives in our country. I am hoping that my writing on this topic will inspire some conversations among readers about the causes behind this affliction and how best to help families who are dealing with this special need in their homes.
If you have some thoughts about the great debate over the vaccination-autism connection, or if you have experience with autism in your own circle of family and friends, I would love to hear your story. I know that I can learn a great deal from what you have to share.
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