I want to quote some stuff about autism and comment on it.

Autism is two to four times more common in boys than girls. The concordance rate is significantly greater in mono zygotic than dizygotic twins, indicating the importance of genetic factors.

This means: Well first of all, autism has been described as boys being boys or boys who are less like girls than most boys being described as having autism. Nope it ain't macho.

It means both of a pair of identical twins are more likely to have or not have autism than both of non-identical and not so genetically similar twins.

Individual cases of autism have been associated with the congenital rubella syndrome...

Despite widespread vaccination, rubella still occurs , primarily in those under 15 years of age. and recent studies show that10% to 20% of post pubertal persons lack antibody to rubella. protection in this group must be achieved before congenital rubella can be eliminated.

Rubella is believed to invade the upper respiratory tract, with subsequent viremia and dissemination of virus to different sites , including the placenta. The foetus is at highest risk for developmental abnormalities when infected during the first 16 weeks of gestation , particularly the first 8 to 10 weeks.

Essentially, there is a genetic predisposition to autism but the real risk is not from any form of vaccination but from the mother breathing in virus in the early stages of her pregnancy.

1. Don't get pregnant if you ain't had yer MMR.

2 Don't got near anybody wot's sneezing in the first three to four months of pregnancy - and these days you ladies 99% of the time know with hours if yer pregnant...

There is a character in Emmerdale who may develop autism - the one who's father had a stroke - but I don't follow the soaps closely enough to know what is happening there but what I had understood was that it was the risk of deafness that was to be played up..

Oh yes and just for those people who say: But vaccination must a a part of original sin, see colostrum