There is no link between vaccines and autism. There is no evidence that there is a link. In fact there is a lot of evidence that there is no link between the two.
Mr. Andrew Wakefield published a fraudulent study back in 1998. It was published in The Lancet; a prominent British medical journal, and it linked measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination with disorders of behavior including autism.
The publication was subsequently retracted after the judgement of the United Kingdom General Medical Council that the research results were unreliable, that there were conflicts of interest, and that the approval of the local ethics committee was proved to be false.
The publication triggered one of the main public health concerns on vaccine safety. Sadly, many parents’ anxiety levels have remained high, although the publication was retracted.
There are 163 peer-reviewed, high quality, articles, published in specialized journals, that document the lack of correlation between vaccines and autism. You can view them at https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/autism-and-vaccine-150-peer-reviewed-articles-no-link/ (Skeptical Raptor website).
Many parents say no to the timely administration of, or refuse the MMR vaccine altogether. Although measles, mumps, and rubella are rare today in the United States, outbreaks have occurred when the pathogens come from abroad.
Here are some ways in which unvaccinated persons can contribute to local outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases:
Unvaccinated persons who are in regular contact with international travelers.
When a high number of persons refuse vaccination, they can provide a reservoir of susceptibility, increasing the spread of disease to the larger community.
The incompleteness of herd immunity which is indirect protection of the unvaccinated population by the majority- vaccinated population.
I encourage parents with on-going concerns about the MMR vaccine and autism,
to access reputable sources of information as you consider what’s best for your child or children. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or if you would like to have a discussion.
Charlene Blache MD
Senior Pediatrician