1:14pm
(UK)
MMR Jab: ‘Overwhelming
Evidence It Is Effective and Safe’
By Julie Wheldon, Health
Correspondent, PA News
There is
no convincing evidence that the
triple measles, mumps and
rubella vaccine causes autism or
bowel inflammation, a new review
said today.
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin,
which produces independent
reports for doctors and
pharmacists, looked at the
scientific evidence surrounding
the measles, mumps and rubella
(MMR) jab.
It said evidence pointed
overwhelmingly to MMR as the
most effective and safest way of
protecting children from
measles, mumps and rubella.
In 1998, a scientific paper by
Andrew Wakefield reported a
pattern of bowel inflammation in
12 children who had autism.
His paper said that in eight of
the cases the parents and
doctors felt the symptoms of
autism began soon after routine
MMR immunisation.
However the DTB, which is
published by the Consumers’
Association, said the evidence
from the research was very weak
and did not indicate that MMR
caused the autism or bowel
problems.
It also said that many other
large studies had found no
evidence of a link between MMR,
autism and intestinal problems.
It was extremely unlikely that
all these studies missed a link
and therefore much more likely
that no such link exists, the
DTB said.
The review warned that single
vaccines for measles, mumps and
rubella have never been tested
in pre-school-age children.
Because they take longer to
provide protection against the
diseases, single vaccines also
leave children and other
vulnerable people at risk from
the infections, it said.
Professor Joe Collier, editor of
DTB, said: “Evidence shows that
providing individual vaccines as
an alternative is not a sensible
strategy and would inevitably
lead to an increase in outbreaks
of measles, mumps and rubella.
“DTB advises that parents should
continue to vaccinate their
children with MMR and discuss
with their doctor any concerns
they may have.”
|
