TY  - BOOK
AU  - Hotez,Peter J.
TI  - Vaccines did not cause Rachel's autism: my journey as a vaccine scientist, pediatrician, and autism dad 
SN  - 9781421426600 (pbk. : alk. paper)
KW  - Books by parents
KW  - Controversies
KW  - Theories of autism
N1  - Includes bibliographical references and index; Family interrupted -- Saving lives -- A mostly non-compliant little girl -- Derailment -- Rome in the Roman Empire -- The British invasion -- Montrose -- Science I : evidence that vaccines don't cause autism -- Science II : a lack of plausibility -- Struck by lightning -- Future -- Science Tikkun -- Epilogue : talking points
N2  - In 1994, Peter J. Hotez's nineteen-month-old daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed with autism. Dr. Hotez, a pediatrician-scientist who develops vaccines for neglected tropical diseases affecting the world's poorest people, became troubled by the decades-long rise of the influential anti-vaccine community and its inescapable narrative around childhood vaccines and autism.

In Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism, Hotez draws on his experiences as a pediatrician, vaccine scientist, and father of an autistic child. Outlining the arguments on both sides of the debate, he examines the science that refutes the concerns of the anti-vaccine movement, debunks current conspiracy theories alleging a cover-up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and critiques the scientific community's failure to effectively communicate the facts about vaccines and autism to the general public, all while sharing his very personal story of raising a now-adult daughter with autism.

A uniquely authoritative account, this important book persuasively provides evidence for the genetic basis of autism and illustrates how the neurodevelopmental pathways of autism are under way before birth. Dr. Hotez reminds readers of the many victories of vaccines over disease while warning about the growing dangers of the anti-vaccine movement, especially in the United States and Europe. Now, with the anti-vaccine movement reenergized in our COVID-19 era, this book is especially timely. Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism is a must-read for parent groups, child advocates, teachers, health-care providers, government policymakers, health and science policy experts, and anyone caring for a family member or friend with autism
ER  -