http://www.midirs.org/midirs/midweb.nsf/X13/6AB2156BA49BEAC880256B6000400704

 

Statement from the Committee on Safety of Medicines - New research shows no link between MMR and autism or bowel disease according to the Committee on Safety of Medicines -14/02/2002

The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) met yesterday (February 13 2002) to consider the most recent publications into the safety of the MMR vaccine. It concluded that current scientific evidence does not support a causal link between MMR vaccination and autism or bowel disease.

Chaired by Professor Alasdair Breckenridge, the independent scientific advisory body reviewed three recent UK based epidemiological studies looking at more than 500 children with autism. Key findings include:

· The percentage of autistic children with regression and bowel problems, and their combination, remains the same whether they receive MMR or not.

· The age at which parents first become concerned about children subsequently diagnosed with autism, is the same in those who receive MMR and those who do not.

The Committee advised that these studies provide further strong evidence against the theory of a causal link between MMR vaccination and autism or bowel disease. There was also no evidence of a link with the occurrence of regressive autism.

The Committee also considered recent research looking for evidence of measles virus in bowel specimens. The new research had, according to the Committee, potential weaknesses, particularly in relation to selection of controls. The Committee considered that the study required independent confirmation from other investigators. The Committee agreed with the editors of the journal in which it appeared that this research does not demonstrate a causal link with MMR vaccines.

Overall, the Committee concluded that the new data provide no justification to alter the consensus of national and international scientific organisations that the evidence does not support a causal association between immunisation with MMR and the development of autism or inflammatory bowel disease.

Professor Breckenridge said: " MMR is very effective at preventing serious and occasionally fatal diseases. Like all other effective medicines and vaccines, it has some associated adverse effects but these are far outweighed by its benefits.

"On reviewing the scientific research the CSM has concluded that the accumulating body of evidence in no way supports a causal link between MMR vaccination and autism or bowel disease".

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.