14 DAY TRIAL // Even if previous molecular studies have associated Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine with a heightened risk of developing autism and related disorders (ASDs), a recent study showed that there is no link between the particular vaccine and the condition. The study was conducted by researchers at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), a collaboration between Dr Brian Ward, Chief of Infectious Diseases at the MUHC and Dr Eric Fombonne, Director of Pediatric Psychiatry at the Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC.
Dr. Eric Fombonne explained that trials have shown measles vaccine not to be linked to the development of autism, because measles virus does not persist in the tissues of infants with autism to trigger severer symptoms of the disorder. "The hypothesis linking the MMR vaccine to autism was initially supported by molecular studies that found the measles virus persisting in certain biological tissues of children with autism who had received the MMR vaccination," the scientists said.
In addition, Dr. Brian Ward cautioned that parents of autistic children should let their offspring receive the measles vaccine because it is not linked to the disorders and this action may prevent ulterior measles outbreaks. "The reluctance of parents to inoculate their children due to widespread fear of the MMR vaccine generated by these early studies has resulted in measles outbreaks, likely contributing to the deaths of several infants in the United Kingdom."
The team involved in the current study concluded: "We hope that our investigation of these earlier studies will finally clear the MMR vaccine of its link to autism and give parents confidence in their choice to accept vaccination their children against this potentially fatal disease."