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05/02/2008
No Link Between MMR Jab And Development Of Autism
A substantial new study into the effects of the MMR Vaccination has presented no evidence to link it to children developing autism.
In the biggest review conducted to date, scientists from Guy's Hospital in London, Manchester University and the Health Protection Agency, analysed the blood from 250 children and concluded that the vaccine could not be responsible.
The study was funded by the Department of Health and is published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. Initiated five years ago it comes a decade after a scare about the vaccination - which protects against mumps, measles and rubella – which led to a big drop in the number of children given the jab.
Dr Andrew Wakefield and colleagues originally asserted the theory that the measles virus in the MMR caused bowel disorder and subsequently autism. However, blood samples taken from all the children in today's study did not support that analysis.
Research specifically looked for traces of measles virus in the blood of 250 children who had been given the MMR vaccination, 98 of whom had an autistic spectrum disorder.
The scientists found no difference in levels of measles virus or antibodies between those who had been diagnosed with autism and those who had not and also showed no signs of bowel disorders developing either.
Professor David Salisbury,Director of Immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "It's natural for parents to worry about the health and wellbeing of their children and I hope this study will reassure them that there is no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism."
(GC)
In the biggest review conducted to date, scientists from Guy's Hospital in London, Manchester University and the Health Protection Agency, analysed the blood from 250 children and concluded that the vaccine could not be responsible.
The study was funded by the Department of Health and is published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. Initiated five years ago it comes a decade after a scare about the vaccination - which protects against mumps, measles and rubella – which led to a big drop in the number of children given the jab.
Dr Andrew Wakefield and colleagues originally asserted the theory that the measles virus in the MMR caused bowel disorder and subsequently autism. However, blood samples taken from all the children in today's study did not support that analysis.
Research specifically looked for traces of measles virus in the blood of 250 children who had been given the MMR vaccination, 98 of whom had an autistic spectrum disorder.
The scientists found no difference in levels of measles virus or antibodies between those who had been diagnosed with autism and those who had not and also showed no signs of bowel disorders developing either.
Professor David Salisbury,Director of Immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "It's natural for parents to worry about the health and wellbeing of their children and I hope this study will reassure them that there is no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism."
(GC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
