The Great MMR-Autism Fraud

In the news this morning was breaking news that the link between autism and the MMR vaccine was found to not only be nonexistent but also fraudulent. The research behind this supposed link was fabricated to create fear that the vaccine was causing autism in young children that received it.


The real tragedy in this situation is that so many children are now at risk for getting measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases because parents feared that vaccines would put their child at risk for autism. This also puts countless other children at risk who haven't been fully vaccinated due to age or immune status, as well as creating many more reservoirs for the viruses and bacteria that cause these diseases that could create a potential outbreak.


It is interesting that this story should come out so timely, since vaccines have been on my mind for the past few months, and the past week in particular. I just purchased (and read in a matter of days) the new book Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All, by Paul Offit, M.D. (see here at Amazon). The book details the emergence of the anti-vaccine movement, including court cases, scientific studies, and individuals' experiences. I thought it was very informative, and proves how incorrect the “evidence” against vaccines really is. I had expected the book to be more on the scientific side, but it actually appeals to a wider audience since it is written in language easy to understand by someone with a basic knowledge of science. I thought the book was very logically organized and pointed out the facts well.


In reality, this is an issue that I am very passionate about. I truly believe that vaccines prevent serious diseases that have devastated previous generations in our country and throughout the world. I have recently read a lot of research on vaccines and the arguments against them—not because I questioned vaccines, but rather because I wanted to know what to say to people who would argue against having their children vaccinated.


The truth is, vaccines make biological sense. It is a complex problem—infectious diseases—that has come down to a simple solution—vaccines. No one will disagree that vaccines are not 100% effective. However, this is due to the very nature of vaccines and their interaction with the body's immune system. However, by having a large percentage of the population vaccinated against preventable diseases, we protect those most vulnerable—infants not yet vaccinated, children not fully vaccinated, and the immune compromised. As health care providers, it is our job to help provide reliable information about vaccines to patients and parents to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in our country and the world.