Autism ISN’T Linked To MMR Vaccine, Study Proves

Despite medical experts continuously reassuring parents about the safety of the MMR vaccination, many mums and dads are still hesitant to take their child for the routine injection.

There’s a belief that autism is linked to the vaccinations, but experts have proved that there’s no link between the two.

In a landmark study, a research team found no association between having the injection and developing autism – no matter how old the child was when he or she first had the injection or whether they had a high-risk of developing the spectrum disorder.

The study, led by Anjali Jain of the Lewin Group, Falls Church, Viriginia, looked at data from over 95,000 privately insured US children. Two per cent of the children had an older sibling with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) – and it’s these families who are less likely to have their younger child vaccinated, says Jain.

“Families with a child affected by ASD may be particularly concerned about reports linking MMR and ASD, despite the lack of evidence,” write the research team. “Surveys of parents who have children with ASD suggest that many believe the MMR vaccine was a contributing cause.”

The vaccination, which was introduced in 1988, fights against measles, mumps and rubella (hence its acronym MMR) – three incredibly infectious conditions that can have potentially fatal consequences.

It’s given as an injection in two doses; around a child’s first birthday and just before they start school. It is also available to babies from six months, if they’re exposed to the measles virus.

The lack of parents taking their child for the MMR vaccine has led to a number of widespread measles cases in recent years. There was a high profile outbreak that began at Disneyland in California last year, which ended up affecting so many unvaccinated children that schools were closed and quarantine measures had to be taken across 18 states.

The vaccination debate has a habit of causing a rift between parents, as there are many who are strongly pro vaccinations and others who are completely against them – mainly for fear of rumoured side effects.

Earlier this year, Kristen Bell weighed in on the vaccination debate stating strongly that she wouldn’t even let friends hold her baby son if they hadn’t had the whooping cough vaccine. “It’s very simple logic: I believe in trusting doctors, not know-it-alls,” the actress said.

Would this new research convince you to let your baby have the MMR vaccine? Let us know in the comment.

[Mum Whose Baby Was Exposed To Measles Is ‘Angry As Hell’ – And Blames Those Who Haven’t Been Vaccinated]

[Meningitis Vaccination Gets Go Ahead: All Babies Will Be Offered The New Vaccine]