I'm really disgusted by the lack of compassion in all the anti-vaccination threads [View all]

[fried eggs]

The last straw was that thread about a cat diagnosed with autism. Really? I've sat back silently observing one post after another mock and degrade parents who are trying to deal with their child's moderate to severe autism diagnosis. In their minds, their kids were fine until they had a certain vaccine. These people are not "kooks" as often described here. They're normal people who were blindsided by a developmental disorder with an unknown cause and no cure. Their lives are forever turned upside down.

Right now the autism rate is 1 in 68 kids, but in places like NJ and Oregon, the rate is much much higher. In NJ, 1 in 28 boys will be diagnosed with autism. 1 in 28! If a child gets measles, that child will get the best care in the world. If a child has autism, the parents are on their own, doomed to long waiting lists and crappy care.

Do any of you who are weighing in on all of this know someone personally who has a child with moderate to severe autism?* Do you know how devastating it is, in every aspect imaginable? Are you of child bearing age? I'm just not seeing any type of compassion that I would expect on a progressive site.

Just know that the anti-vaccination trend will continue as long as the autism rate continues to skyrocket.

*Edited to add: If you don't know anyone dealing with it now, you will very soon.