"Has delaying shown to be any help in preventing side effects, specifically AUTISM?"
Not in a scientific study, no. They have not compared a group of children who were vaccinated according to schedule with those who were vaccinated on a delayed schedule. The biggest study done had very shaky data gathered ex post facto. It did show a correlation between being vaccinated and having any number of neurological problems (including ADD, PDDs, ASDs, etc.). However, there were huge problems with confounding factors and missing data in that study, which is why it is not taken seriously.
"I knwo there's not much data on delaying and the autism link,"
Here's
one woman's experience.
"So what is generally considered SAFE or less of a threat?"
Nothing is perfectly safe. Every vaccine has a very small chance of more serious side effects (generally linked to allergic reactions, about which parents could not be expected to know before vaccination, because the child is so young), and a larger chance of less serious reactions (soreness, fever, redness). At the same time, you must weigh these with the chances of your child getting a vaccine-preventable disease, such as pertussis. At present these diseases are not widespread, but you might consider calculating how it would be if in three years, everyone made the same calculation as you. Then what would your risks be? And you need to consider what the chances of that are, as well.
I would suggest that you look at the information provided by Pretty Pixels- especially the pink book. Then you may also look into the diseases that vaccines prevent, each vaccine's effectiveness, and the risks associated with getting the disease. How much pain and suffering is associated with measles, which lasts a week, versus the typical reaction to the measles vaccine?
Also, above all remember that even for those who would say that vaccines definitely cause autism, it is clear that genetic factors are involved. Are there autism, Asperger's syndrom, or other pervasive developmental disorders in your family? Does your family have a history of ADD, or vaccine reactions?
Your child is much less likely to have a reaction if nobody in your family has had a reaction. If vaccine reactions seem common in your family, then you might consider delaying and speaking with your doctor about selective vaccinations, with an emphasis on the genetic factors and your family history.
Good luck.
