September 2026 Mount Vernon and Vienna Health Officer Newsletter
Did you mother or grandmother ever tell you that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? She was right, especially with regard to infectious disease and food-borne illnesses. Unfortunately, the federal government has been neglecting its public health duties in both respects, by promoting misinformation about vaccines and by making severe cuts in monitoring of outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. Because of this, in the past year, from measles to cyclosporiasis, Americans are experiencing unprecedented levels of preventable diseases. Fortunately, the Maine CDC is part of a network of state CDCs that are continuing to follow accurate scientific data to keep their citizens safe and healthy.
Here are the facts:
Vaccines save lives
Maine will continue to follow the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on childhood vaccine recommendations, despite President Trump’s executive order on childhood vaccinations. You can find the AAP recommendations at this link:
https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/AAP-Immunization-Schedule.pdf
Over the years, many myths about vaccines have spread online. Here is a look at some of the most popular: where they came from and why they are not true. Here is some useful information for parents from the American Association of Pediatricians on Common vaccine myths & the facts behind them.
Vaccines & autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
How did the myth start?
In the 1990s, a doctor in the UK published a study with just 12 children that claimed the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine caused autism. Soon after, scientists found the study was poorly done and based on false information. The journal retracted (removed) the study, and experts agreed its findings could not be trusted. This doctor has since lost his medical license.
Since then, many large studies around the world have shown that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Still, the study scared many parents and led to fewer children getting vaccinated.
Measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 after millions of children had received the vaccine. After fear spread from the false study, vaccination rates dropped and measles made a comeback. There are now frequent measles outbreaks in the U.S. again, and our country is about to lose elimination status for the disease.
Why is this myth still popular?
Some people think that inflammatory bowel disease is triggered by the MMR vaccine and causes autism. This idea comes from the original false paper that started the myth.
Many posts against vaccines on social media present this is a fact, even though it was proved false. Those posts ignore scientists found the paper was wrong, and the hundreds of studies showing the safety of the MMR vaccine.
Other people think the MMR vaccine causes autism because children get the vaccine around the same time they are screened for and diagnosed with ASD —between 18 and 30 months of age. They confuse cause and coincidence.
What are the facts behind it?
Just because two things happen at the same time or one after the other, it does not always mean one caused the other. Increasing evidence shows that, even though autism signs show up around the same time children get the MMR vaccine, autism started before they were born.
Researchers studied the possibility of a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism carefully and for many years. They concluded the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. They also found the vaccine against measles doesn't cause inflammatory bowel disease.
Vaccines & thimerosal or mercury
How did the myth start?
Thimerosal is a preservative added to certain vaccines. It stops germs from growing in vaccine containers. It contains a type of mercury, but not the kind that harms your health.
The myth started with confusion between two different types of mercury: methylmercury and ethylmercury. Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, a type of mercury that does not stay in the body. Thimerosal does not have methylmercury, the kind of mercury that stays in the body and makes you sick.
Online content against vaccines has made popular the idea that thimerosal in vaccines causes neurological damage in children.
Why is this myth still popular?
Many people know that mercury in some fish can be harmful, so when they hear about mercury getting inside the body through vaccines, they think it’s the same substance.
Social media posts against vaccines ignore the difference between the mercury that can make us sick and the mercury in vaccines, which can’t harm us.
Social media posts against vaccines often ignore this difference and use frightening images or stories to get an emotional response.
What are the facts behind it?
Mercury is in nature all around us—in the air, soil and water. There are two very different types of mercury: methylmercury and ethylmercury.
Thimerosal contains ethylmercury. The body quickly processes and eliminates this type of mercury. It does not build up in the body and, as a result, it does not make you sick.
Thimerosal used to be in a lot more vaccines, but since 2001 it’s only in some flu vaccines—less than 4% of them. Cases of pediatricians still using the flu vaccine with thimerosal are rare.
Parents can ask if the flu vaccine their child is going to receive has thimerosal. But keep in mind that most pediatricians use the vaccine without thimerosal already.
Hundreds of studies have proved that thimerosal has never caused neurological problems. Not before, when it was present in a lot more vaccines, and not now, when only one of them has it.
Getting multiple vaccines in a short time
How did the myth start?
Some parents worry that getting several vaccines at one visit is too much for a child’s body. This idea comes from thinking vaccines work like medicine, where taking too much at once can cause harm.
Why is this myth still popular?
Seeing your baby get several shots in one visit can feel overwhelming. Social media posts against vaccines often use this fear to claim vaccines overload a child’s immune system, even though evidence shows otherwise.
What are the facts behind it?
A child’s immune system is strong and constantly learning. Every day, it handles thousands of germs from food, air and play. The number of germs in vaccines is very small compared to what children face naturally. Getting more than one vaccine at a time does not weaken the immune system. It helps protect children sooner and with fewer doctor visits.
Vaccines & SIDS
How did the myth start?
Babies receive many of their first vaccines between 2 and 4 months of age. This is also the time when sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is most common. Because the timing overlaps, some people believe vaccines might cause SIDS.
Why is this myth still popular?
When something serious happens after a vaccine, it can be scary and confusing. Social media posts against vaccines often focus on timing alone and ignore scientific evidence.
What are the facts behind it?
SIDS is not fully understood yet, but something we know for sure thanks to scientific studies is that vaccines do not cause SIDS. In fact, vaccinated babies may be at a lower risk of SIDS.
To help prevent SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends safe sleep practices, such as placing babies on their backs and using a firm, clear sleep surface.
Remember
When reviewing facts about vaccines for your child, make sure you check the source. Have a high level of suspicion if you don't recognize and trust the original source of the content.
And you can always verify information by going to credible sources like HealthyChildren.org, AAP.org and, of course, your child's pediatrician.
Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/default.aspx
Update on Cyclosporiasis
As of August 7, 2026, Maine CDC) has identified 27 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026. Ten of those cases are among individuals who consumed produce in Maine directly associated with the multistate iceberg lettuce recall. As a result, Maine now meets the current national definition for inclusion in the multistate outbreak.
As I wrote last month, the best prevention is to wash fresh vegetables before eating. And buy local!