This year has seen whooping cough outbreaks in New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and elsewhere. Whooping cough is a serious disease that, in the past, killed many children and caused considerable suffering for many others. A program of immunization had just about eliminated whooping cough in the United States, but this year the disease is making a comeback: the number of reported cases has greatly exceeded those reported in recent years, a scary reminder of another era.
Health authorities cite as the cause of this increase the refusal of some parents to permit their child to be vaccinated. A false story is being spread that vaccinations can cause autism. There is no evidence to substantiate this claim, and extensive studies have refuted it, but the fear factor, the strong emotional component of the story, has led to its acceptance by many parents.
Well-meaning but misguided parents who refuse to allow vaccination put their children at serious risk, not only for whooping cough but for the other significant diseases controlled by immunizations. Moreover, a non-immunized child extends and increases the risks to other children (even vaccinated children are still at some risk, though a greatly reduced one, of whooping cough).
Media coverage of the whooping cough outbreak has been curious. Although parents' refusal to allow vaccination has been noted, I haven't seen any news item pointing out that this hazardous and mistaken refusal to vaccinate is being caused by the false assertion that vaccination can lead to autism.
Dr. Marvin J. Schissel is a dentist and an advisor to the American Council on Science and Health, the National Council Against Health Fraud, and the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. For more, see ACSH's brochure, parent's guide, and full report on vaccinations and the real risks and benefits.