Since the first inoculation of the smallpox virus by Edward Jenner, science has made giant strides in the development of vaccines. Today, the CDC recommends at least 16 vaccines for children. Thanks to vaccines and collective immunization, we have eradicated polio and smallpox. There is no doubt that vaccines have helped human life grow and develop. However, there are growing concerns about the side effects of vaccines. There are groups of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. Clusters like this have led to disease outbreaks we haven't seen in decades. Although some doubt the effectiveness of vaccines, it is clear that vaccines are our only option to eradicate disease. The main question is why is there such unease around vaccination? The answer is former Dr. Andrew Wakefield. Mr Wakefield is a former British surgeon, known for his fraudulent 1998 research paper supporting the now-discredited claim that there is a link between administration of the MMR vaccine and autism. He wrote two articles, both of which were debunked. “Wakefield's hypothesis was that the MMR vaccine causes a series of events including intestinal inflammation, loss of intestinal barrier function, entry of encephalopathic proteins into the bloodstream, and the consequent development of autism. In support of his hypothesis, Dr. Wakefield described 12 children with neurodevelopmental delay (8 of whom had autism). All of these children had gastrointestinal disturbances and developed autism within a month of receiving MMR” (Immunization). After this first article, there was no real investigation into its findings until 2003, giving ample time for panic to spread. Eventually, in 2003, the British General Medical Council revoked Wakefield's advice...... middle of article ...... themselves, then there would be no high risk groups. Whooping cough could easily be eradicated if information was easily accessible to expectant parents. Works Cited • “Immunization”. Autism and Andrew Wakefield. American Academy of Pediatrics. Internet. May 13, 2014. • Omer, Saad B., Dr “Vaccine refusal, compulsory vaccination and risks of vaccine-preventable diseases — NEJM”. New England Journal of Medicine. Internet. May 13, 2014. • Sarah CP Williams, Babies Vulnerable When Mom Waits to Get Whooping Cough Vaccine, My Health News Daily, http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/newborns-vulnerable-pertussis-postpartum-vacciene-1979/, October 6 , 2011• Sydney Lupkin, Marin County's efforts against whooping cough are paying off, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/us/marin-countys-efforts-against- whooping-cough-pay-off.html, September 17, 2011