CAUSAL RELATIOSHIP BETWEEN AUTISM & MMR VACCINE
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses about the causal relationship between Autism and the MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella) vaccine. We hypothesized that there is some relationship between the two. We observed some cases very closely with proper investigations and diagnostic tests. Total of 5876 children were selected from different parts of the United States, among these children, some were already vaccinated and some were about to get vaccinated within the time span of few days. All of these children were subjected to different physical tests, behavioral tests and diagnostic procedures. The children, who were apparently normal at the time of conduction of the test, were again followed up after a period of three years in order to validate the findings of the test again. After this rigorous study, we came to the conclusion that actually the hypothesis was false, and there is apparently no relationship between the MMR vaccine and occurrence of autism.
HYPOTHESIS
For the research of this current paper, we will consider that there is some relationship between autism and MMR vaccine. We will try to validate our hypothesis; we will state that MMR vaccine has a role to play in the occurrence of autism in young children.
METHOD
A large group of 5876 children were selected for the purpose of this study from the pediatric departments of different hospitals in different parts of the United States.. All of them ranged in the age group of 12 to 14 months. These children were divided into two groups. One of the group already received MMR vaccine and the other was about to receive the same in a month or two. All these children underwent the screening tests for autism. They were subjected to behavioral assessment, medical history recording, physical examinations for the purpose of checking normal developmental features and certain lab diagnostic tests like EEG, chromosomal analysis and MRI in order to determine any structural abnormality. All these children who were found to be normal at the time of the test were again followed up after a time span of three years in order to reconfirm any changes in the obtained results.
RESULTS
Out of the 5876 children, 3452 children already received their vaccines before the test period. The other 2424 were yet to receive the same. All these children were assessed on some set parameters. Out of the vaccinated children, 20 showed delayed signs of growth, rests were perfectly normal. Among the non vaccinated ones, 9 showed some signs were delayed development. But none of the children showed any other sign of autism. The delay in the growth was not attributable to autism in any of the children. On following up after 3 years, it was found that the children who were normal at the time of test, were normal even after the mentioned time span.
DISCUSSION
As a matter of fact, it cannot be denied that some association was indeed found years back between the MMR vaccine and the disease, autism. However, recurrent studies falsified the belief completely. In the year 1998, a British researcher, namely Dr. Andrew Wakefield published the study of his research in the renowned, ‘The Lancet’. He claimed that MMR vaccine has a causal role in the disease autism. He observed that 12 children who received the vaccine showed some neurodevelopmental delays, among these, 8 were found to be autistic. He found the presence of measles virus in their gastro intestinal systems. But his observation was forfeited and the contrary was proved to be the truth. He is still facing professional misconduct charges due to this false claim. The authors retracted their names from the paper, disowning the claim. ‘The Lancet’ has also discredited the paper (Vaccinateyourbaby.org, 2015). Since then, repeated studies were undertaken and almost all of them justified that there is actually no relation between the MMR vaccine and autism. Post the claim by Dr. Andrww Wakefield that the vaccine is a cause of autism, there was a huge fall in the coverage of the vaccine. This increased the chances of the children getting infected with Mumps, Measles and Rubella. In another publication in ‘The Lancet’ in 2004, it was proved after a case controlled study, that there is no link between the two (Smeeth et al., 2004). In another experimental study, children were subjected to measles virus and their antibody responses were observed. The results obtained, were similar for both the control group and the cases. The experiment also stated that there is no relationship between the dosage and the appearance of the autistic symptoms. Even the children who were suffering from autism, showed no difference in their responses towards the measles virus (Baird et al., 2008).
Another interesting study of much importance was carried out, it was based on the study of the literature reviews. The aim was to examine if there exists any association between the MMR vaccine and autism. Out of 12 such articles, no article supported any form of association between the two. The whole idea of the link is hence supposed to be theoretical without any real or practical grounds. Hence the administration of the vaccine is considered to be 100 percent safe and effective and hence must be continued to be given (Wilson, Mills, Ross, McGowan & Jadad, 2003).
Neither this study, nor any other study supports the link between the two. There is no direct evidence of any connection between the vaccine and autism. No literature has ever stood for the claim. The claim which was put forward by Dr. Andrew Wakefield is dismissed outright in the lack of any further evidence in this regard. Many researchers and scientists worked in order to check the validity of the claim, but without any result. Thus it can be said that using the vaccine to prevent children against diseases like Mumps, Measles and Rubella is completely justified and safe. It should be continued to be given to the children without any fear of the unknown. The effectiveness of the vaccine cannot be challenged, as there is no evidence to prove the contrary.
References
Baird, G., Pickles, A., Simonoff, E., Charman, T., Sullivan, P., & Chandler, S. et al. (2008). Measles vaccination and antibody response in autism spectrum disorders. Archives Of Disease In Childhood, 93(10), 832-837. doi:10.1136/adc.2007.122937
Smeeth, L., Cook, C., Fombonne, E., Heavey, L., Rodrigues, L., Smith, P., & Hall, A. (2004). MMR vaccination and pervasive developmental disorders: a case-control study. The Lancet, 364(9438), 963-969. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(04)17020-7
Vaccinateyourbaby.org,. (2015). :: Vaccinate Your Baby : Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine and Autism Studies ::. Retrieved 21 June 2015, from http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/safe/autism/mmr.cfm
Wilson, K., Mills, E., Ross, C., McGowan, J., & Jadad, A. (2003). Association of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine. Archives Of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 157(7), 628. doi:10.1001/archpedi.157.7.628
