Dr. Gupta,

Is there any evidence that points to a specific vaccine as a potential culprit in the causation of autism or is it just the childhood vaccines across the board. All my children received all their vaccinations on time and are up to date with their boosters. I wondered when I did it though what kind of risk I was taking but I knew from family history that diseases like typhoid, smallpox, tetanus, and measles can be big killers. Which risk is greater ? The risk of autism from the vaccine or the risk of catching the disease the vaccine prevents?

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

The scientific community has not been quick to rule out the link of vaccines and autism. There have been numerous studies. However, there are numerous other areas that need to be looked at. The first area I would look at would be the increase in pollution including the medicines found in drinking water.

I am not a parent and I probably won't be ever, but all my friends and cousins who have children have had them vaccinated. I am one of the people who don't believe vaccines cause autism. I read a very good article in the Post (4/20/08) by Robert Goldberg. It was very interesting.

My feelings on the vaccines and autism might be found in the parents past. People have been vaccinated for years and if a study was done do you think autism would be found in large numbers? I don't think so, so maybe the rise is in what people did in their past, what they are passing down in the genetics.