MEMORANDUM

TO:

DR. DIANE CARTER

FROM:

CALEB COTTON

SUBJECT:

PORTFOLIO PROPOSAL

DATE:

I propose to focus my portfolio efforts on vaccinations for children and how

current trends to attempt to link vaccines and autism are dangerous and
could potentially put the general public at risk.
Listening to people with a large audience espouse ideas that have almost no
footing in reality has made me want to research more about the link (or lack
thereof) between vaccinations and autism. The research that gave the idea
of a link between vaccines and autism was shown to be an utter fraud
(Gerber et al.). Unfortunately, when the research results were finally shown
to have been manipulated with falsified data, the damage had already been
done. Andrew Wakefield, the original vaccine-autism link researcher, was
stripped of his medical license and discredited after admitting his research
was a fraud (cnn.com)
Despite claims to the contrary, many studies have shown that there is no link
between the administration of vaccines and autism (cdc.gov). The main
three hypotheses of how vaccines could cause autism have all been
disproven several times over (Black, 2002). As of March, 2014, over 107
different studies have shown absolutely no link between vaccines and
autism.
Unfortunately, there are many people that still believe that there is a link
between vaccines and autism and have convinced others of the connection
(Calandrillo, 2004). Some celebrities and figureheads have taken a strong
stance against vaccinations and have swayed the opinion of many parents
(Calandrillo, 2004). In todays internet age, spreading ideas is easy. All it
takes is one person with some pseudo-scientific research to convince
people of the writers stance and sway their decisions.
Vaccines serve to prevent diseases. Some of these diseases can be fatal if
contracted by infants or young children. In the US, poliomyelitis (polio) has

been eradicated thanks to vaccines. In the 1940s to the 1950s, nearly 35,000
people per year contracted the polio virus (cdc.gov). Today, there has not
been a case in the US in over 30 years (cdc.gov). People that grew up with a
vaccinated populous do not have the experience with the devastation of
these diseases and do not fully appreciate the pain and suffering prevented
through a proper vaccination program.
Measles, another preventable disease, is one of the leading causes of death
among children (who.int). In 2014, there were over 114,900 deaths caused
by measles worldwide (who.int). An estimated 14.1 million lives have been
saved by the measles vaccine between 2000 and 2014 (who.int).
Access to accurate information is key when deciding something as important
as vaccinating children. The decision on whether or not to vaccinate should
not be based on the popularity of the celebrity from whom people get their
information. The decision should be based on sound science and facts.

REFERENCES:
Black, C., Kaye, JA. Relation of childhood gastrointestinal disorders to
autism: nested case-control study using data from the UK General Practice
Research Database. British Medical Journal. 2002;
325(7361):419-21.
Calandrilllo, SP. Vanishing vaccinations: why are so many Americans opting
out of vaccinating their children? University of Michigan J Law Reform.
2004. Winter; 37(2):353-440.
Cohen, Elizabeth, and Miriam Falco. "Retracted Autism Study an 'elaborate
Fraud,' British Journal Finds." CNN. Cable News Network, 2011. Web. 14
Feb. 2016.
Gerber, JS, Paul A. Offit. Vaccines and Autism: A Tale of Shifting Hypotheses.
Oxford University Press. 2009. 48(4):456-461.
"Measles." World Health Organization. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.
"Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism." Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. Web. 12 Feb.
2016.