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| Book | Searching... Cabell County Public Library | 614.4 HOT | Adult | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Guyandotte Public Library | 614.4 HOT | Adult | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Putnam Main Public Library | 614.4 HOT | Adult | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Internationally renowned medical scientist, frequent media contributor, and autism dad Dr. Peter J. Hotez explains why vaccines do not cause autism.
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.
"When Peter Hotez--an erudite, highly trained scientist who is a true hero for his work in saving the world's poor and downtrodden--shares his knowledge and clinical insights along with his parental experience, when his beliefs in the value of what he does are put to the test of a life guiding his own child's challenges, then you must pay attention. You should. This book brings to an end the link between autism and vaccination."--from the foreword by Arthur L. Caplan, NYU School of Medicine
Author Notes
Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD is the Texas Children's Hospital Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics and codirector of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine, where he is also the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine. In 2015 he was selected as a US Science Envoy for the State Department and the White House. He is the author of Blue Marble Health: An Innovative Plan to Fight Diseases of the Poor amid Wealth and Preventing the Next Pandemic: Vaccine Diplomacy in a Time of Anti-science .
Reviews (2)
Choice Review
The title of this book indicates the two related aspects that form its subject matter: autism and vaccinations, both of personal concern to the author, a pediatrician whose research centers on tropical pediatrics and vaccine development and the parent of a daughter, Rachel, now some 25 years old, autistic since birth. Descriptions of his daughter's autistic behavior reveal their overwhelming effect on him and his family, primarily reflecting the love of their daughter despite the consequent drastic changes in their family's life. His descriptions will be most informative to readers less familiar with the effects of autistic behavior. This compelling background serves as the basis for Hotez's strong scientific interest in debunking the still-somewhat popular belief that vaccinations should be avoided because they can lead to autism. He cites scientific studies revealing that in areas where these beliefs are prevalent, there exists a significant increase in the number of deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases. One of the book's most interesting insights is that although the first report that vaccinations can lead to autism has been thoroughly debunked, a popular belief in the opposite persists. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Richard S. Kowalczyk, formerly, University of Michigan
Library Journal Review
Hotez's personal and professional life coincide to make him the ultimate defense against the anti-vaxx (antivaccine proponents who argue that vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they prevent) movement. As an MD, PhD specializing in tropical pediatrics and vaccine development, the author proves an excellent resource for questioning readers, although he points out that the anti-vaxx movement has painted him as a shill for pharmaceutical companies. Offering a primer on the basics of vaccines-how they work, why they are important-he helps readers prepare for a more public-health, statistics-based discussion of vaccines. The author's more compelling writing is personal and centers on his daughter Rachel, who has autism. Interweaving his own remembrances with wife Ann's recollections, he relates why people might conflate autism with certain vaccines, using Rachel as his primary example. While not a fluid writer, his clarity of thought and clear ethical determination make this a satisfying, quick read. VERDICT Recommended for popular science readers looking to refute the antivaccination debate as well as readers interested in children's public health.-Rachel M. Minkin, Michigan State Univ. Libs., East Lansing © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
| 0 Foreword |
| 0 Preface |
| 1 Family interrupted |
| 2 Saving lives |
| 3 A\Mostly Non-Compliant Little Girl |
| 4 Derailment |
| 5 Rome in the Roman Empire |
| 6 The\British Invasion |
| 7 Montrose |
| 8 Science I: Evidence that Vaccines Don't Cause Autism |
| 9 Science II: A Lack of Plausibility |
| 10 Struck by Lightning |
| 11 Future |
| 12 Science Tikkun |
| 13 Epilogue - Talking Points |
