Gainesville, Florida – January 20, 2011 – The American College of Pediatricians (The College) is committed to the immunization of infants, children and adolescents according to the published reports and schedules of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
British physician Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 report claiming a link between autism and the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella prevented many children over the past decade from receiving necessary vaccinations which has resulted in unnecessary illness and in some cases death. With this latest revelation, parents can again be reassured that immunizations are safe.
College President, Dr. Tom Benton, a pediatrician in Gainesville, Florida, commented that “parents need accurate information to make informed decisions. While vaccinations can have side effects, they are quite minor, and autism is not one of them”.
Dr. Wakefield made an astounding claim without strong supporting evidence. Physicians and physician researchers are called to always promote what is in the best interest of the patient, and in this case they are children, the most vulnerable of patients. This can only occur when scientifically accurate and ethically interpreted information is made available.
The College reminds parents that their child’s pediatrician is the best source of information about what is best for each child. For more information of childhood immunizations, visit the Vaccine Education Center or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).