Vaccine and autism debate masks real problem

The bitter debate over whether vaccines cause autism is masking real problems with the modern inoculation schedule and encouraging a growing number of parents to refuse recommended vaccines for their children, argues a Michigan State University scholar. In his new book “Vaccine: The Debate in Modern America,” Mark Largent writes that extremists for and against vaccinations have clouded the issues for parents seeking to make the best possible decisions for their children’s health. On one hand, health officials ardently assert that there is no scientific evidence that vaccinations cause autism, Largent said, adding that vaccines are widely recognized as one of the most effective tools in the public health arsenal. On the other hand, Largent said some shots raise serious concerns among many parents, such as the vaccines against chickenpox and hepatitis B, which is typically given within the first days of life. Further, he said pediatricians and health officials have created an...