By Brian Carnell

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

At the end of 2001 the British Medical Research Council released a report about autism noting that so far there is no evidence linking the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism.

The report argues that the best available evidence points to a combination of genetic and environmental factors as the likely culprit in causing autism. As far as the vaccine is concerned, the report concludes,

In relation to the combined MMR vaccine, we conclude from our review that the current epidemiological evidence does not support the proposed link of MMR to ASD's. Our findings are consistent with the previous MRC reviews and with the findings of other expert groups that have reviewed this question.

Of course those convinced that the MMR vaccine does contribute to autism will hardly be persuaded by reviews of the research on MMR and autism. What counts for them is the sheer coincidence of it all. Jackie Fletcher, who is a coordinator for an anti-MMR group called Jabs, Awareness and Basic Support, tells The BBC,

They need to look at the right children in their research. We have a huge body of children here in the UK with autism, who have had the MMR vaccine, and we want to find out what's coincidence and what's a problem. They're trying to sweep these children away without trying to find out why.

No, they're not. This has already been studied, but people like Fletcher do not like the results so they simply appeal to the fact that there is a correlation between the MMR vaccine and children with autism, failing to note that so far there is absolutely no evidence of any causal connection between the two.

Source:

MMR and autism 'not linked'. The BBC, December 13, 2001.

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