Study that Linked Autism to Vaccines Retracted by Medical Journal

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A study published in the late '90s by the British medical journal, the Lancet, was possibly the starting point for much controversy surrounding the Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. Still today, the debate rages on and concerned parents avoid or delay giving their children the vaccine in order to avoid possibly exposing their child to any risk of autism. Now, however, the Lancet has retracted the study as flawed after an independent council investigated and reported on several of the researchers involved. According to the Wall Street Journal, "The General Medical Council's report on three of the researchers, including Dr. Wakefield, found evidence that some of their actions were conducted for experimental purposes, not clinical care, and without ethics approval. The report also found that Dr. Wakefield drew blood for research purposes from children at his son's birthday party, paying each child £5 (about $8)." Toddlers on track with the recommended schedule of immunizations can have the MMR between 12-15 months of age with a second dose around 4 years of age. Are you following this schedule with your child or has the scare of autism exposure altered your plans? And now, does this retraction change your mind or do you still feel there's a link? Learn more about vaccines, autism and the study's retraction:

Study that Linked Autism to Vaccines Retracted by Medical Journal originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 15:29:53.

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