TV Drama Reignites Autism-Vaccine Controversy

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a group of 60,000 pediatricians, is very concerned about a new ABC drama, saying its first episode could potentially alarm millions of parents by perpetuating scientifically disproved myths about links between vaccines and autism — with consequences that could be dire. The organization is demanding that the network cancel the premier of "Eli Stone," saying the episode would spread false information that could lead to a "tragic decline in immunization rates."

The dispute surrounds a storyline in the opening episode of the show (set to air January 31, 2008) in which a lawsuit alleges that a child's autism was caused by a vaccine. The jury then awards the mother millions of dollars, "leaving audiences with the destructive idea that vaccines do cause autism," says the AAP.

It's a highly controversial scene, considering doctors and researchers have spent years trying to reassure parents that immunizations help prevent children from getting serious, even deadly diseases and that there is, in fact, no scientific evidence that vaccines cause autism.

"A television show that perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism is the height of reckless irresponsibility," says the AAP's president. According to media reports, ABC will run the episode, but now plans to include a disclaimer emphasizing the fictional nature of the show and directing viewers to a government website about autism. Regardless, says the AAP, parents often trust and are easily influenced by what they see on TV, whether the message is based on fact or fiction.

Setting the Record Straight

From Internet sites to content on the tube, medical information — and misinformation — abounds. And, depending on where you look or whom you ask, the answers about what does and doesn't cause a condition may be vastly different.

So, here are some of the facts, based on the most current medical research and evidence, about immunizations and about autism:

Why are immunizations so important?

Before vaccines, many children died from diseases that vaccines now prevent, such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. Since the start of widespread vaccinations in the United States, the number of cases of formerly common childhood illnesses have declined dramatically. Immunizations have protected millions of kids from potentially deadly diseases and saved millions of lives.

In fact, certain diseases crop up so rarely now that parents sometimes ask if vaccines are even necessary anymore. But most diseases that can be prevented by vaccines still exist in the world, even in the United States, so vaccinations still play a crucial role in keeping kids healthy. Immunizing kids also helps protect the health of others, especially people who are not immunized.

Some people are concerned that kids' immune systems could be overwhelmed by receiving more than one vaccination at a time. But the human immune system is remarkably robust — many studies have shown that simultaneous immunization with multiple vaccines is safe for the normal childhood immune system. The AAP recommends simultaneous immunizations when appropriate, saying they are as effective in combination as they are individually, with no greater risk for side effects.