AACAP Applauds AMA's Support For Universal Vaccinations

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Autism
Article Date: 19 Jun 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) applauds the American Medical Association (AMA) for reaffirming its policy in support for universal vaccination.

Leadership at the AMA has agreed to continue its ongoing efforts to assist physicians and other health care professionals to effectively communicate to patients, parents, and policy makers that vaccines do not cause autism and that the decreasing immunization rates have resulted in a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths.

"Even though there is still need for the scientific understanding for the increased incidence of autism, there is not a causal relationship that is supported by science regarding vaccines and autism," said Louis Kraus, M.D., AACAP Alternate Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates and a member of the AMA's Council on Science and Public Health.

"The AMA has spoken clearly on this issue. There's no evidence that vaccines cause autism, and there is evidence that more kids are getting seriously ill from preventable diseases as a result of decreased rates of immunization," said David Fassler, M.D., AACAP Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates.

Despite public education initiatives, many parents remain concerned about the safety of vaccines. "It is important that the medical community reassure parents that vaccinating their children is the right thing to do," said Dr. Kraus.

Autism is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by patterns of delay and deviance in the development of social, communicative, and cognitive skills. The cause of autism remains unknown, although current theories indicate a problem with the structure or function of the central nervous system.

For more information on autism, visit the eAACAP Resource Center on Autism.

Source
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry