MMR autism link 10 doctors retract

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 03 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Ten doctors who were involved in writing the study which started the autism MMR jab link scare now say there was not enough evidence in the study. They say that it is not possible to conclude that there could be a link between the MMR jab and autism risk.

The Lancet published the study in 1988. It was never proved, though, that there was a link between the MMR jab and autism.

The study and its findings alarmed many parents and vaccination rates fell. The doctors issued a public retraction.

They say they underestimated the public alarm and the effects it would cause.

They will write (you can soon read it in the Lancet) 'We wish to make it clear that in this paper no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient. However, the possibility of such a link was raised and consequent events have had major implications for public health. In view of this, we consider now is the appropriate time that we should together formally retract the interpretation placed upon these findings in the paper.'

The editor of The Lancet said a month ago that he would not have published the findings five years ago if he had known about a lead researcher's fatal conflict of interest.

A lead researcher, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, was at the same time doing a separate study on behalf of some parents who were planning to sue because they said their children had been damaged by the vaccine. In fact, some children were involved in both studies, the supposedly 'neutral' study and the one on behalf of the parents who thought their children had been damaged.

Dr. Wakefield was accused of peddling 'poor science' by Professor Sir Liam Donaldson.

Two doctors so far have not issued a retraction, Dr. Wakefield is one of them.

MMR uptake has fallen dangerously in the UK since the findings of the report were published. This could increase the chances of measles epidemics occurring.

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