Databank. MMR and autism

Citation

(1999), "Databank. MMR and autism", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 99 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.1999.01799faf.004

Databank. MMR and autism

Databank

MMR and autism

Two new independent studies have not found a link between MMR vaccination and autism, Dr Jeremy Metters, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, announced recently. The experts believe that there was no new syndrome causing autism or Crohn's disease after MMR vaccination. An epidemiological study carried out by a team from the Royal Free Hospital and the Public Health Laboratory Service investigated the history of 498 known autistic children born in North Thames since 1979. This covered the period before and after the introduction of MMR vaccination in 1988. The study found no increase in autism since the introduction of MMR, no difference in age of diagnosis between MMR immunised and unimmunised children, no difference in the MMR immunisation rates between those children with autism and the general population and no link between the timing of MMR and the onset of autism. Autism is a developmental disorder that usually appears in the second year of life. It affects social development, communication, body movement and can lead to lack of involvement in social activities and delays in development. Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the intestine that may cause symptoms of diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss and passing blood in the stools. There is no scientific basis that justifies putting children at risk by failing to have them immunised. This will not protect them from autism or Crohn's disease but they will be put at risk from the very diseases MMR vaccination prevents.