Final answer:
There is no credible evidence to suggest that thimerosal-containing vaccines or measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccines cause autism. Successful vaccination programs have led to the rarity of diseases like measles and mumps. The scientific consensus is that vaccinating children is critical for preventing outbreaks of these potentially deadly diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Academy of Medicine has determined that there is no substantiated evidence of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines or measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) and autism. The idea that MMR vaccine may cause autism or other autism-related disorders has been a topic of intense debate and investigation. However, extensive epidemiological studies have been conducted to evaluate this claim, and they have consistently shown that there is no link between these vaccines and autism.
Diseases such as measles, mumps, and polio have become rare because of the widespread practice of vaccinating children against these diseases. Vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system to build a defense against specific pathogens, thereby preventing the diseases they can cause. Despite their rarity today, continuous vaccination is necessary because the pathogens that cause these diseases still exist and could lead to outbreaks if population immunity decreases.
Some parents remain concerned due to reports of an increase in developmental disorders like autism, correlating with the timing of vaccinations. However, the scientific community, with solid evidence, maintains that vaccines do not cause autism. The benefits of vaccination in preventing dangerous diseases far outweigh the potential risks, which have been largely discredited by extensive research.