While looking at social media websites early this week, I have noticed the controversial pro/anti childhood vaccination issue really attracts a lot of attention. A celebrity in the media, Jenny McCarthy, was in the limelight about this topic for the past couple years because of her bold claims against childhood vaccinations. She claimed that vaccinations were supposedly responsible for her child’s autism. This idea sparked mass chaos within families with small children and most recently, within American groups supporting anti- drug and anti-vaccine living.

My question is, why is it a controversy in the first place? Scientific evidence has proven that vaccinations have been one of the most successful medical advancements in health history. Based on data from the National Immunization Program, immunizations have dramatically decreased the number of contractions and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases since 1996 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). In August of 2013, The Journal of Pediatrics did a study that concluded the increased exposure of the anti-body stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines was not related to the risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder ( (Journal of Pedatrics). The Center for Disease Control has several articles that also support these findings, and now have an entire section dedicated to immunization safety and autism. In conclusion, vaccines and immunizations have been scientifically proven to prevent disease and have no direct ties to causing the development of other diseases and disorders. Therefore, these medical advances should be implemented to keep our population healthy.