title: The "urban myth" of the association between neurological disorders and vaccinations.
abstract: In modern society, a potentially serious adverse event attributed to a vaccination is likely to be snapped up by the media, particularly newspapers and television, as it appeals to the emotions of the public. The widespread news of the alleged adverse events of vaccination has helped to create the "urban myth" that vaccines cause serious neurological disorders and has boosted antivaccination associations. This speculation is linked to the fact that the true causes of many neurological diseases are largely unknown. The relationship between vaccinations and the onset of serious neuropsychiatric diseases is certainly one of coincidence rather than causality. This claim results from controlled studies that have excluded the association between vaccines and severe neurological diseases, therefore it can be said, with little risk of error, that the association between modern vaccinations and serious neurological disorders is a true "urban myth".
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panatto
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amicizia
keywords: Neurological disorders; Vaccinations; Vaccine