Throughout the past several years there has been a controversial debate over whether or not the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine has any connection with children that developed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Now there is an answer to the question that has been asked by hundreds (if not thousands) of people. The myth is busted and there are facts to prove it. The MMR Vaccine and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are not connected and here’s why.
The Theory
It all started in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield and about 11 other authors had an article published, which hinted there was a possible connection between the MMR vaccine and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Eventually the study was discredited, the Lancet retracted the article and “the General Medical Council ruled that he acted dishonestly and irresponsibly in doing his research” according to Science and Medicine. That did not stop people, especially parents, from giving the theory a second thought.
The Study
According to The Journal of American Medical Association, the MMR vaccine does not have any connection at all to children developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There was a study done that involved about 95,727 children that were “continuously enrolled in a health plan from birth […] and at least five years of age during the yeas 2001-2012”. All of the participants received “doses of the MMR vaccine (0,1,2)” from birth up until they were the age of five. The results speak for themselves. Out of the entire group of participants (95,727 children) with older siblings only 1.04% (994) were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Also, the study gathered information about their older siblings as well and about 2.01% (1929) of those had an older sibling with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The Simple Answer
To people like me (who’s brain shuts off when any type of medical terms are mentioned) this means that they monitored a pretty sizable number of children who went in and got their MMR Vaccination and out of that handful of children, only about 1% of them were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the rest did not (some of them even had older siblings that were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)).
The Support
Other websites and organizations such as The Pharmaceutical Journal, The Center of Disease Conrol (CDC), Science Daily, and Cleveland Clinic’s website accept the study. On the Cleveland Clinic’s website they state that there have been countless studies in the last fifteen years that have also shown no possible link between the MMR vaccine and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Dr. Frazier II, PhD., who is the director of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Health Center, states:
“There are treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), children cannot avoid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by avoiding things like vaccinations.”
Well known organizations like the CDC have stated:
“The MMR shot is very safe, and it is effective at preventing measles [and] scientists in the United States and other countries have carefully studied the MMR shot. None has found a link between Autism and the MMR shot”.
There are still many people that disagree with vaccinating their children, and they have the right to have that opinion, but at least now they know that the MMR Vaccine will not lead to their child developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This vaccination was made to help protect you from disease and it was developed to keep our communities from having a measles outbreak. Whether you believe in vaccinating your children or not, you can be certain that scientists went through great lengths to prove that the MMR Vaccine will not cause children to develop Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Featured photo credit: Little girl getting vaccination from pediatrician at office-Ronny Richert via flickr.com
