Is the MMR vaccine associated with autism?
No. The original study that attempted to link MMR and autism, done by Wakefield and colleagues and published in Lancet in 1998, was highly flawed due to a small sample size and erroneous data. In February of 2004, the Lancet published a retraction of the study after it found out that Dr. Wakefield had not disclosed his relationship with consumer groups seeking to sue vaccine manufacturers–at the time no links had been reported between MMR and autism. Large population based studies done here and in several European countries have found no association between the MMR vaccine and autism. The exact cause of autism is not known, but current research implicates both genetics and prenatal events. The reasons why the rate of autism are still being investigated, but increasing awareness of the disorder and a broader definition of the disorder are significant reasons why. Read our office handout on the MMR/autism controversy for more information.
Related Questions
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