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Largest Study: MMR Vaccine Does Not Cause Autism

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DENVER (CBS4) ― The vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella does not cause autism, according to the largest study ever done looking for a link between the two. The research, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, involved more than 57,000 children who received the MMR vaccine.

Since the MMR came into widespread use, the number of deaths and birth defects from measles, mumps or rubella has dropped by a large amount. Then in 1998, a single, small and now discredited study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield of Royal Free Hospital in London suggested the MMR vaccine might cause autism. The original research was published in the medical journal the "Lancet."

Wakefield said he believed 12 children who received the MMR vaccine developed an immune disease because of the vaccine. The Internet gave the study a life of its own, convincing more parents than ever the MMR was a dangerous vaccine. Rates of all three diseases skyrocketed.

It was then discovered Wakefield had received money from a group of parents of autistic children who were involved in a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of MMR. The money was received prior to publication of the study, creating a clear conflict of interest, and demonstrating questionable ethics on the part of Wakefield.

The Lancet retracted the study, but not before the story was widely known and was believed as fact in certain anti-vaccine circles. To this day, no study has shown a link between autism and MMR.

In the latest study, out of the 57,000 children who received MMR vaccines, 100 of them had autism. Blood tests and other studies showed absolutely no sign of an abnormal immune system, or infectious response to the vaccine in any of the children. Researchers also noted, as immunization rates drop, the rates of disabling or fatal diseases went up.

Dr. Dave Hnida said he thinks many people have forgotten, or simply don't know what life was like without immunizations. Before immunizations, children died from measles, were paralyzed from polio, were disabled from whooping cough and suffered birth defects from rubella.

Hnida said there is not one single scientific study proving vaccines are universally dangerous. He said children pay the price for what their parents choose to believe in the face of scientific fact.

In Colorado, the vaccine is not mandatory if you say you don't believe in it for personal reasons. Hnida said he believes that's a bad and dangerous exception to the law.

There are a lot of pediatricians who say vaccines should no longer be studied, and they recommend looking at other possibilities. Hnida said he believes the medical community needs to refocus our efforts on the causes of autism.

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