Recall bias, MMR, and autism

SHORT REPORT

Recall bias, MMR, and autism

N Andrews¹, E Miller², B Taylor³, R Lingam³, A Simmons³, J Stowe² and P Waight²

¹ Statistics Unit, Public Health Laboratory Service, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
² Immunisation Division, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Public Health Laboratory Service
³ Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK

Correspondence to:
Dr E Miller, Immunisation Division, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Public Health Laboratory Service, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK;
emiller@phls.org.uk

ABSTRACT
Parents of autistic children with regressive symptoms who were diagnosed after the publicity alleging a link with measles,mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine tended to recall the onsetas shortly after MMR more often than parents of similar childrenwho were diagnosed prior to the publicity. This is consistentwith the recall bias expected under such circumstances.

Keywords: MMR vaccine; autism; recall bias

Abbreviations: MMR, measles, mumps, and rubella; RI, relative incidence

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