Abstract

The current anti-vaccine movement had its beginnings in the 1970s. It arose, in part, from the concern that autism was becoming more common. The pertussis vaccine, which was being administered at the time, was relatively impure. Not uncommonly it induced a febrile illness that seemingly could occasionally progress to autism [1]. A more purified (sub-cellular) version of the vaccine was subsequently marketed in the early 1980s, yet the incidence of autism continued to rise. Immunologists had realized that to be effective as an immunogen, purified bacterial antigens such as in the revised pertussis vaccine, have to be injected in combination with components that would non-specifically stimulate the immune response. These components are referred to as adjuvants and include aluminum containing formulations called alum [2].