[University Affiliation]
Autism and vaccines
Doubts regarding the linkages between MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine and the occurrence of autism prevailed in the medical field since the claims made by Wakefield on the possible direct association between MMR vaccine and the occurrence of autism. Assessments on the relationship between autism and MMR vaccine in the light of researches are discussed in detail.
Assessing the incidence of autism and MMR vaccine
The Wakefield controversy triggered quite a lot of research inputs and it was found that majority of the researchers concluded that there is absolutely no relation between MMR vaccine and the incidence of autism (Mrozek-Budzyn, Kieltyka & Majewska, 2010; Fombonne, Zakarian, Bennett, Meng, L. & McLean-Heywood, 2006; etc). In agreement with the above findings, it was seen that the incidence of autism is quite independent of MMR vaccine as there appeared no statistical significance in the relation between occurrence of autism and administering of MMR vaccine (Uno, Uchiyama, Kurosawa, Aleksic & Ozaki, 2012). On the other hand, a few isolated studies (DeStefano, Bhasin, Thompson, Yeargin-Allsopp, & Boyle (2004); Hooker (2014), etc) claims that there is increased proofs of autism in children who were administered MMR vaccines before 24 months or 36 months of age have more chances of getting affected by autism. Hooker (2014) states that the three vaccines if administered separately might not cause autism, while the combination vaccines appear to be reason for the deleterious effects on very young children. Presence of the preservative called thimerosal in the MMR vaccine is suspected to be the reason for the probable association between autism and MMR (DeStefano et al, 2004).
Based on the analysis it can be concluded that there appear no valid proofs on the prevalence of autism and its direct relationship with MMR vaccine. Only a very few children with autism were found to have developed the ailment after administering the MMR vaccine, which could be considered as mere coincidence as there appear no clinical or scientific evidences. So it can be inferred that there appear no possible association between the incidence of autism and MMR vaccine.
References
Fombonne, E. Zakarian, R. Bennett, A. Meng, L. & McLean-Heywood, D (2006). Pervasive developmental disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: prevalence and links with immunizations. Pediatrics, 118: e 139–150.
Uno, Y. Uchiyama, T. Kurosawa, M. Aleksic, B. & Ozaki, N. (2012). The combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines and the total number of vaccines are not associated with development of autism spectrum disorder: The first case–control study in Asia. Vaccine,30: 4292–4298.
DeStefano, F. Bhasin, T. K. Thompson, W. W. Yeargin-Allsopp, M. & Boyle, C (2004). Age at first measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in children with autism and school-matched control subjects: a population-based study in metropolitan Atlanta. Pediatrics, 113: 259–266.
Hooker, B. S. (2014). Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination timing and autism among young African American boys: A reanalysis of CDC data. Hooker Translational Neurodegeneration, 3: 16.
