Back to School Assignment: Vaccines

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - After a big tax free weekend, the kids might have new shoes, a back pack and much more to start the school year, but they could get sent home on the first day if they are not up to date on their immunizations.

So, what about parents who worry a possible link between vaccines and autism?

Dr. Richard Lampe is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He says, "It's been debunked, absolutely unequivocally false claim. And it's taken several years, several decades to disprove it. The man who did the article, Wakefield, has been discredited, no longer practices."

Dr. Andrew Wakefield is the British medical researcher who is considered the father of the anti-vaccine movement. Wakefield released a study in 1998 suggesting vaccines may trigger Autism. As Dr. Lampe suggested, his findings have since been disproved.  In fact, the British Medical Council cited Wakefield on 3 dozen charges, including 4 counts of dishonesty and 12 counts involving the abuse of developmentally challenged children.

Dr. Lampe adds this about today's childhood immunizations, "I think you'll have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than you do at getting a side-affect."

It's no coincidence that August is National Immunization Awareness Month.

That is a really strong reminder to parents that kids need to be up to date on their immunizations before the first day of school unless a parent or legal guardian presents a signed affidavit to the school explaining a religious or medical exemption.

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