Donald Trump links vaccines to autism in debate comments

Trump’s position that “I am totally in favor of vaccines, but I want smaller doses over a longer period of time“.

And the potential fallout from that exchange has infectious-disease experts anxious .

Childhood Immunizations: Debate moderator Jake Tapper of CNN pointed out that candidate and real estate magnate Donald Trump had “publicly and repeatedly linked childhood vaccines to autism” and asked candidate Ben Carson, MD, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, whether Trump should stop making that assertion.

In a press conference held today by the CDC about the flu, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, a pediatrician and executive director of digital health at Seattle Children’s Hospital, agreed there is no evidence that delaying vaccines is safer or more effective than the standard schedule set by the CDC.

“We have extremely well-documented proof that there is no autism associated with vaccinations, but it is true that we’re giving way too many in way too short a time and a lot of pediatricians recognize that”, Carson said. “I think she has a lovely face, and she’s a handsome woman“.

“I’m all for vaccines, but I’m also for freedom”, the Kentucky senator said.

Vox’s Dylan Matthews, who says he’s on the autism spectrum, argues that the Republican debate fosters bigotry against people with autism. “It’s not surprising there would be some pushback”.

Health organizations were quick to respond and try to correct the record, after statements made Wednesday night during the second Republican primary debate regarding vaccines and autism.

Comment: This remark states explicitly that spreading out vaccination is safer, and implicitly states that there is a higher risk of “too many vaccines at once”. However, the study was later found to be fraudulent. Trump reiterated his opinion that vaccines cause autism, a belief that has been thoroughly debunked by repeated studies.

“I’m all for vaccines”, Rand Paul, also a doctor. But Donald did say that some vaccines are “very important” but that “discretion” should be used by families. So I don’t know what’s in the vaccine cabinet that could be skipped.

He added, “Altering the schedule can lead to infections with vaccine-preventable diseases early in life when they may be particularly severe”.

Dr. Ben Carson said there is no link between autism and vaccines.

That’s when he set his well-sprayed hair on fire by reciting some truly risky myths about vaccines on national television. While he didn’t preach against all vaccinations this time, he pushed for spacing out vaccines longer, despite the lack of evidence for doing so.

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science that extending the current schedule leaves children susceptible to diseases, and that fear by some that the current schedule overwhelms an infant’s immune system isn’t accurate. When you enter the birth canal and the world you are not. Even in well-kept homes, these exposures continue as they crawl through rooms, handle objects, and stick their hands in their mouths. Bachmann’s assertion prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue a response saying that the HPV vaccine had an excellent safety record and “there is absolutely no scientific validity” to the candidate’s statement.

Still, Wednesday night felt like a botched opportunity to educate viewers about the importance of vaccines. “My kids had all of their vaccines, and even if the science doesn’t say bunching them up is a problem, I ought to have the right to spread out my vaccines out a little bit at the very least”.

“Why do we vaccinate so young?” He can read about it if he wants to. “The longer you stretch out the schedule, the more likely they will be infected”.

“The GOP candidates have such dislike for federal regulation and the way the establishment pushes things, they are saying, ‘Let parents make some choices, ‘” he said. We should pick a leader who understands how 17.4% of the USA economy works.