Thank you so much for sharing your perspective—it’s such a valuable reminder of how different cultural experiences shape the way we approach things like vaccines. I really appreciate how thoughtfully you're engaging with this topic, especially by asking real questions instead of just accepting easy answers.
Your point about growing up in a system where vaccines were routine—and how that didn’t seem to lead to a noticeable rise in autism—is so interesting. It echoes something many researchers have explored: if there were a true causal link, we’d expect to see similar trends globally, especially in countries with near-universal vaccine programs like those in many former Soviet nations. But across dozens of studies, that pattern just doesn’t appear.
If you’re curious to dive deeper (and I totally understand wanting to see the research for yourself), here are a few trusted sources that explore this thoroughly:
Taylor, L. E., Swerdfeger, A. L., & Eslick, G. D. (2014).
Vaccines are not associated with autism: An evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies.
Global data from countries with near-universal vaccine programs (including former Soviet states) show no correlation between vaccines and autism rates.
Belief in a vaccine-autism link persists despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
I love that you're thinking critically and asking good questions. That’s how real understanding happens. If anything in the research sparks more thoughts or questions, I’d genuinely love to hear them. These are hard conversations sometimes, but they’re so important—and I’m really grateful for your openness.
I find this topic really fascinating. Coming from a former Soviet country, vaccines were just something you got at school — the nurse would call you in, give you a few shots, and that was it. No one asked questions or wondered whether you agreed. That’s why I’ve asked people who believe there’s a connection between vaccines and autism: if that’s true, does autism only appear when people know exactly what they’re getting? Because honestly, I don’t see higher rates of autism in those old Soviet countries — and trust me, we all got every shot out there.
Thank you for your honesty, for your investigative mind and spirit to see the truth and help others see it. I have spent my life in life science and healthcare technology. I hate to see us degrade or delete or ignore good sound science in the belief that vaccines area bad and not do our own due diligence and read credible sources. Good for you!
Thank you so much, Christine. That really means a lot coming from someone with your background and experience in life science and healthcare technology. I completely agree—it's disheartening to see sound science being overlooked or dismissed, especially when it comes to something as important as vaccines.
You're absolutely right that we owe it to ourselves—and each other—to do the work, seek out credible sources, and really understand the evidence. I'm so grateful to know others who are committed to truth and critical thinking, and I truly appreciate your kind words and encouragement. It keeps me motivated to keep speaking up.
Thanks again for your thoughtful message—it genuinely means a lot.
Ahh, thank you!! That seriously means so much coming from you. I've been trying to strike that balance between clarity and depth, so hearing that it came across as both concise and grounded in solid thinking is such a boost.
You know me—I’m always rooting for science and sense-making to coexist in the same sentence. Thanks for seeing that and taking the time to say it. You made my day!
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective—it’s such a valuable reminder of how different cultural experiences shape the way we approach things like vaccines. I really appreciate how thoughtfully you're engaging with this topic, especially by asking real questions instead of just accepting easy answers.
Your point about growing up in a system where vaccines were routine—and how that didn’t seem to lead to a noticeable rise in autism—is so interesting. It echoes something many researchers have explored: if there were a true causal link, we’d expect to see similar trends globally, especially in countries with near-universal vaccine programs like those in many former Soviet nations. But across dozens of studies, that pattern just doesn’t appear.
If you’re curious to dive deeper (and I totally understand wanting to see the research for yourself), here are a few trusted sources that explore this thoroughly:
Taylor, L. E., Swerdfeger, A. L., & Eslick, G. D. (2014).
Vaccines are not associated with autism: An evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies.
Vaccine, 32(29), 3623–3629.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24814559/
Meta-analysis of over 1.2 million children found no association between vaccines (including MMR) and autism.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Vaccine safety overview and surveillance systems.
https://www.who.int/teams/regulation-prequalification/regulation-and-safety/pharmacovigilance/vaccine-safety
Global data from countries with near-universal vaccine programs (including former Soviet states) show no correlation between vaccines and autism rates.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html
The CDC has conducted and reviewed numerous studies, all showing no causal link between vaccines and autism.
Hansen, S. N., Schendel, D. E., & Parner, E. T. (2015).
Explaining the increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders.
JAMA Pediatrics, 169(1), 56–62.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1939356
Increased autism rates are better explained by improved diagnosis, broader criteria, and public awareness—not vaccines.
Goin-Kochel, R. P., Mire, S. S., & Dempsey, A. G. (2006).
Parental concerns about vaccines and autism.
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 27(2), S134–S142.
https://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Fulltext/2006/04001/Parental_Reports_on_Vaccines_and_Autism__A.14.aspx
Belief in a vaccine-autism link persists despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
I love that you're thinking critically and asking good questions. That’s how real understanding happens. If anything in the research sparks more thoughts or questions, I’d genuinely love to hear them. These are hard conversations sometimes, but they’re so important—and I’m really grateful for your openness.
I find this topic really fascinating. Coming from a former Soviet country, vaccines were just something you got at school — the nurse would call you in, give you a few shots, and that was it. No one asked questions or wondered whether you agreed. That’s why I’ve asked people who believe there’s a connection between vaccines and autism: if that’s true, does autism only appear when people know exactly what they’re getting? Because honestly, I don’t see higher rates of autism in those old Soviet countries — and trust me, we all got every shot out there.
Thank you for your honesty, for your investigative mind and spirit to see the truth and help others see it. I have spent my life in life science and healthcare technology. I hate to see us degrade or delete or ignore good sound science in the belief that vaccines area bad and not do our own due diligence and read credible sources. Good for you!
Thank you so much, Christine. That really means a lot coming from someone with your background and experience in life science and healthcare technology. I completely agree—it's disheartening to see sound science being overlooked or dismissed, especially when it comes to something as important as vaccines.
You're absolutely right that we owe it to ourselves—and each other—to do the work, seek out credible sources, and really understand the evidence. I'm so grateful to know others who are committed to truth and critical thinking, and I truly appreciate your kind words and encouragement. It keeps me motivated to keep speaking up.
Thanks again for your thoughtful message—it genuinely means a lot.
Concise and well written
A strong argument for clear scientific based thinking
Ahh, thank you!! That seriously means so much coming from you. I've been trying to strike that balance between clarity and depth, so hearing that it came across as both concise and grounded in solid thinking is such a boost.
You know me—I’m always rooting for science and sense-making to coexist in the same sentence. Thanks for seeing that and taking the time to say it. You made my day!