British researchers announced that the results of their latest research failed to show any evidence that there was a link between the mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism.
In what is claimed to be the largest study, researchers looked for a link between the MMR vaccine and autism but were unable to find one. Proving or disproving the link has become important since British researcher Dr. Andrew Wakefield published a study in 1998 claiming that the vaccine caused brain damage that resulted in autism. That health scare resulted in outbreaks of measles, mumps and rubella.
Dr. Paul A. Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and chief of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, thinks the new study provides more conclusive evidence that there is no connection between autism and the MMR vaccine.
"The whole premise by Wakefield, that the measles component of [the] MMR vaccine caused a chronic intestinal inflammation that allowed harmful proteins to enter the bloodstream and ultimately the brain, causing autism, has not one shred of scientific evidence in its support," Offit said.
This study is the third of its kind including a large-scale US. Institute of Medicine review in 2004 that also was unable to link the vaccine and autism.
[Source:MedlinePlus]
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