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No link between MMR and autism

15 February 2008

The BMA would strongly encourage all parents to get their children vaccinated

BMA spokesperson

Key facts
  • The MMR vaccine is a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella. Children usually receive a first dose at around the age of 13 months and another at age three to five years, before they start school.
  • Although children usually recover from measles, mumps or rubella, each illness can be unpleasant and have serious consequences.
  • Evidence suggests that almost everyone who has had a successful immunisation is protected against these diseases for life.
  • Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that fight against bacteria and viruses.
  • Latest statistics in England for 2006 to 2007 show the number of children being immunised against MMR has risen slightly to 85 percent, but is still below of the 95 percent level that is recommended by the World Health Organisation to prevent outbreaks of disease.

There is no link between the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism, according to a new study.

The report, carried out by Guy's Hospital, the Health Protection Agency and Manchester University, is the most comprehensive so far into the unproven link between the MMR vaccine and autism in children.

Researchers assessed whether children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) responded differently to the MMR vaccine than children without ASD.

A total of 235 children from the South Thames region of the UK took part in the study. All were aged 10 to 12 and had been vaccinated against MMR. Ninety-eight of the participants had ASD, 52 had special educational needs (but not ASD) and 85 (the control group) were developing typically for their age.

The researchers analysed blood samples from participants to check for raised levels of the measles virus or antibodies. They found no difference between children with ASD and children in the control group.

Writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Children, the researchers concluded that there isn't a link between the MMR vaccine and ASD.

"The study found no evidence linking MMR to autistic spectrum disorder and the paper adds to the overwhelming body of evidence from around the world supporting the use of MMR," explained one of the authors, Dr David Brown.

A spokesperson from the British Medical Association (BMA) told the Bupa health information team:

"MMR is one of the most researched vaccines in the world - it's also extremely safe and effective against potentially fatal diseases like measles.

"The BMA would strongly encourage all parents to get their children vaccinated and hopefully this message is now getting through."

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