IRELAND: Public health groups in Ireland have welcomed the findings of a major British study which concluded there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. However, those who have campaigned to raise awareness about a possible link are unconvinced, writes Conor Lally
The study, details of which were published yesterday in the medical journal the Lancet, found there was no evidence to support a link between the controversial MMR triple injection and the development of autism. There has been a drop in the number of children being vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella in the UK and Ireland because of fears of such a link.
Controversy was first sparked after a small-scale study published in the Lancet and led by Dr Andrew Wakefield suggested a link with autism and bowel problems in 1998. Subsequent large-scale studies failed to find evidence of a link and Dr Wakefield's research was later discredited. However, Independent MEP for Munster Ms Kathy Sinnott, whose son is autistic, said the MMR vaccine could still not be ruled out as one of several causes of autism on susceptible children.
"Parent after parent are experiencing the same thing. They have a normal child who becomes autistic. Sometimes gradually, sometimes abruptly. I am not against any vaccination, including MMR. What I called for was to screen children and to find the susceptible children before the vaccination. The fight to have this done must continue."
A research team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analysed the records of children across England and Wales to discover if those with autism, or other pervasive development disorders, were more likely to have received MMR.
They compared the vaccination histories of 1,294 children diagnosed with these disorders between 1987 and 2001 with a control group of 4,469 children of the same sex and similar age, who were registered with the same medical practices, and who had not been diagnosed as autistic.
The authors were unable to find evidence to support an association between MMR vaccination and autism or other pervasive development disorders.
The National Disease Surveillance Centre and the Irish Medical Organisation said the latest research may finally allay parents' fears and result in an increased uptake of the vaccine.
Dr Robert Cunney, of the NDSC, said: "We have now had a series of studies internationally on different populations and using different methodology and some of them have been very wide studies and very rigorous. They all point to the same thing, that there is no link. That's very compelling evidence". - (Additional reporting by PA)