| |
 |
| |
MMR: "Most sensible
strategy" |
|
 |
 |
| MMR - NO AUTISM
LINK |
 |
There is no convincing evidence that the
triple measles, mumps and rubella vaccine causes autism or bowel
inflammation, says a new report.
It follows a review of all available studies by the Drugs and
Therapeutics Bulletin, which produces independent reports for
doctors and pharmacists.
The DTB warned that single vaccines had never been tested in
pre-school-age children and advises that the MMR jab is the most
sensible strategy for parents.
In 1998, a scientific paper by Andrew Wakefield reported a
pattern of bowel inflammation in 12 children who had autism.
Routine
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.
Vulnerable
The review warned that because single vaccines take longer to
provide protection against the diseases, they leave children and
other vulnerable people at risk from the infections.
But Jackie Fletcher, national co-ordinator of Jabs, which
supports parents of vaccine-damaged children, said: "I don't know
why people keep doing new reviews of old material.
"They spend time looking at old studies that were not designed to
look for this particular problem." |