New MUHC Study Finally Clears MMR Vaccine of Autism Link

Filed in archive Cases , Studies , Treatment on October 24, 2006

Conclusive evidence that the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine is not associated with the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has recently been provided by a new McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) study.

The said study, published in the scientific journal Pediatrics, revealed fundamental errors in previous molecular studies that falsely implicated the MMR vaccine as a risk factor for autism.

The study stemmed from a cross-disciplinary collaboration between Dr Brian Ward, Chief of Infectious Diseases at the MUHC, and Dr Eric Fombonne, Director of Pediatric Psychiatry at the Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC.

According to Dr. Eric Fombonne:

"The hypothesis linking the MMR vaccine to autism was initially supported by molecular studies that found the measles virus persisting in certain biological tissues of children with autism who had received the MMR vaccination."

According to Dr. Brian Ward:

"The reluctance of parents to inoculate their children due to widespread fear of the MMR vaccine generated by these early studies has resulted in measles outbreaks, likely contributing to the deaths of several infants in the United Kingdom.

We hope that our investigation of these earlier studies will finally clear the MMR vaccine of its link to autism and give parents confidence in their choice to accept vaccination their children against this potentially fatal disease."

After this, I think many pediatricians and parents will not hesitate anymore to inoculate children with the MMR vaccine.

Source: McGill University Health Centre News

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