The Truth About the Mmr Vaccine

The Truth about the MMR Vaccine

Over the past years the topic of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine, known as the MMR vaccine, has stirred up much controversy. Many believe that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine is one of the causes of autism among children. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain ( Why do…). This impacts development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. The MMR vaccine does not cause autism; in fact, scientific studies have found no relationship between MMR vaccine and autism. Since 1998, a number of other studies have also been published that suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but none of these provide scientific proof of such a link (“Why do…). To date there is no definite, scientific proof that any vaccine or combination of vaccines can cause autism. Furthermore, the MMR vaccine protects the immune system against diseases by assisting the immune system in defending itself from succumbing to a disease. Vaccines have been found to have led up to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of measles, which in some cases can be fatal.

If the MMR vaccine causes autism, then why is there is no scientific evidence that proves that the MMR vaccine has any related link to autism. As Thomas Reardon, President of the American Medical Association (AMA) says, “To date there has been no convincing scientific evidence that links any vaccine to autism (Autism & Vaccines).” In 2004, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is no association between autism and MMR vaccine (Autism Spectrum…). In 2004 UK researchers did a study on 498 children who were born between 1979-1998 who had been diagnosed with autism. What they found was that the percent of children who were autistic and had not received the vaccine was the same as the children who had received the vaccine. In addition, they found that symptoms of autism did not occur within two-six months of receiving the vaccine (Measles…).

The MMR vaccine protects children against dangerous, even deadly, diseases. There was a ninety nine percent decrease of measles in the country. (Baker) It also has a long reputation for being one of the safest vaccines.(Baker) The MMR vaccine is a three in one vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, all of which are potentially serious diseases of childhood. The MMR is one of the recommended childhood immunizations. Generally, proof of MMR vaccination is required for school entry. Like medications, the MMR vaccine and all other vaccines have to pass safety testing required by the government before they are used. The MMR vaccine injects the body with diseases to build immunity against the causes of autism.

Why do many think the MMR vaccine causes autism? Parents report that their children were “normal” until they received the MMR vaccine. For instances one parent would sound to say, “I’m certain MMR has something to do with my daughter’s autism. There was no sign of a problem before she had the injection. A few months later she just stopped talking. The doctor says it would have started then anyway, but I’m not convinced.”(Brown-34) In 1988, a research team from the Royal Free Hospital in London, England wrote about a group of small children. (Brown-34) Their claim was that theses children appeared to show signs of autism a few days after receiving the MMR vaccine. They said it there was no proven link between the two, but more research in needed. These reports gave parents a different view of the vaccine. They started to think that the vaccine does cause autism after the repots they were told about and read. Also, because the symptoms of autism begin to occur around the same time as the child’s MMR vaccination, parents often see the vaccine as the cause of the autism.

The rise of autism has become a controversial issue due to some thinking that it causes autism. The MMR vaccine protects against measles and other dangerous deadly diseases.