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Cover image of Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism
Cover image of Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism
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Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism

My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad

Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
foreword by Arthur L. Caplan

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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...

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

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Reviews

Recommended for popular science readers looking to refute the anti-vaccination debate as well as readers interested in children's public health.

Hotez's book stands tall not just because he has explained in great detail the humbling efforts of scientists like himself in developing vaccines and immunisation schedules and their intellectual mythbusting efforts after the Wakefield controversy. The reason why Hotez's book is special is that he has gone the extra mile to scientifically understand and tell the world in direct and simple words repeatedly that his daughter's autism has nothing to do with vaccines.

In the era of 'fake news,' we need to encourage Hotez's kind of scientific engagement. Scientists are not part of our national discourse on many issues, even on issues directly relating to their expertise. That needs to change. Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism is Hotez's shot across the bow, directly aimed at the non-scientific public. Hopefully, it's a shot that will be heard around the world.

Hotez isn't pulling any punches.

Peter Hotez has two words for his fellow scientists: Speak up. [Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism] seeks to clear some people's muddied perspectives on autism and vaccines while also sharing his journey with his daughter Rachel.

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Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
5.5
x
8.5
Pages
240
ISBN
9781421439808
Illustration Description
8 halftones, 4 line drawings
Table of Contents

Foreword, by Arthur L. Caplan
Preface
1. Family Interrupted
2. Saving Lives with Vaccines
3. A Mostly Noncompliant Little Girl
4. Derailment
5. Like Rome during the Roman Empire
6. The British

Foreword, by Arthur L. Caplan
Preface
1. Family Interrupted
2. Saving Lives with Vaccines
3. A Mostly Noncompliant Little Girl
4. Derailment
5. Like Rome during the Roman Empire
6. The British Invasion
7. Montrose
8. Vaccines Don't Cause Autism: The Scientific Evidence
9. What Does Cause Autism? The Scientific Evidence
10. Struck by Lightning
11. Our Family's Future
12. "Science Tikkun"
Epilogue: Talking Points
References
Index

Author Bios
Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
Featured Contributor

Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD

Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD (HOUSTON, TX), is a professor of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology and the founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, where he is also the codirector of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development. He is the author of Preventing the Next Pandemic: Vaccine Diplomacy in a Time of Anti-science and Vaccines...
Featured Contributor

Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D.

Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D., is a professor and director, Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine.
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