13 Dec 2006, 1:08 pm
Okay, this isn't a survey about thimerosal or any of the above. It's strictly about immunizations and reactions. It's a short survey and isn't relegated to just auties or parents of auties answering about their children. Even if you're just a family member without an ASD, please answer about yourself, too. I'm wanting to see if there is a familial pattern.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=58863030067
And if you have any suggestions for this survey, you're welcome to make them on this thread. I won't be able to update the survey once people have begun answering, but there's always an option for future versions or additional surveys. 
A little background info on me. I am an Aspie, found out later in life (22 yo), apparently had a mild reaction to the Pertussis vaccine (whooping cough) way back when, my mother refused the second round. I had developed a rash, change in personality, and not long after started getting ear infections due to a milk allergy; however, ASDs definitely seem to have a firm foothold on both sides of my family and I suspect if my reaction had any effect, it was minimal. As for my mother, who is a bit eccentric but not autistic, also seems to show an abnormal vaccination history. She had the small pox vaccine but never developed a scar (they almost didn't let her in school without it despite the documentation) and whenever she gets a flu shot, she inevitably gets the flu, yet rarely gets the flu any other time in her life. So, that's just a little of the things going on in my family which have peaked my curiosity about ASDs/family members and immune-sensitivity some may have to vaccinations.
I'm not a thimerosal proponent (to each his own) so I hope this won't turn into some heated argument. I'm just gathering information, and provided people answer honestly, there's no harm in knowing.
13 Dec 2006, 1:18 pm
Forgot to add, there's a 100 person limit to this survey. The information won't be used for anything other than online edification, and once all the spots have filled up, I'll repost the results here.
13 Dec 2006, 5:09 pm
14 Dec 2006, 11:03 am
The data is being collected so it seems to be working with the link I provided. Another person made a similar comment and was wondering the same. But everything seems to be going well. So I'm gonna have to assume taking you back to homepage at the completion isn't a problem.
So far 27 people have filled it out.
10 Jan 2007, 5:44 pm
There was a HUGE study here in Denmark which couldn't prove any association between measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and autism. It was so large, it is hard for me to believe there is an association. (But I am having a problem facing getting my youngest son vaccinized 
)
I do think a lot of autistic people have immune problems, though, but which comes first, the chicken.... I imagine it can be quite stressful being autistic, and that would weaken your immune system.
Autism is 90% genetic, but enviromental factors play a role, too.
