Med-O-Meter

10

MedHead Message:

This highly controversial recommendation will be one of the most severely criticized recommendations that I will make. I understand and respect the criticism. However, years of data are robust. Vaccines in fact, do not cause autism. I’m sorry to disappoint those who are opposed to universal vaccinations. Unfortunately, symptoms of autism show up around the same time as some vaccine schedules are due, specifically MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and sometimes this gets confused with the vaccine actually causing the autism.

References:

Vaccine. 2014 Jun 17;32(29):3623-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.085. Epub 2014 May 9.Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies S D Med. 2013;Spec no:58-65.
A brief history of autism, the autism/vaccine hypothesis and a review of the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders Pediatrics. 2001 May;107(5):E84.
Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autistic spectrum disorder: report from the New Challenges in Childhood Immunizations Conference convened in Oak Brook, Illinois, June 12-13, 2000 JAMA. 2015 Apr 21;313(15):1534-40. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.3077.
Autism occurrence by MMR vaccine status among US children with older siblings with and without autism S D Med. 2016 Oct;69(10):465-467.
Vaccines and Autism: A Misconception that Persists