MMR and Autism

Right, so, can we please knock this link between the MMR vaccine and autism on the head please?

As Black Triangle is far too polite to point out, it’s complete bollocks:

Our data, together with the epidemiologic evidence, demonstrate that
arguments against vaccinating children with MMR because of fear of ASD
are not defensible on scientific grounds. The risk of death and
disability from MV (measles virus) infection has been unequivocally
demonstrated. The hypothesized link between MMR and ASD is spurious and
undermines the success of measles control programs.

Now, as to what is causing it, well, maybe Simon Baron-Cohen is right?

3 responses

  1. Chris Mann Avatar
    Chris Mann

    Yeah, I’m afraid the thimerosal theory is going to stick around the moonbattery quarters for even longer than ‘chemtrails’.
    There are a lot of emotionally distraught and guilt ridden parents that want something more concrete than natural selection to pin their troubles on, and as someone who has lived with the condition for the last 18 years I can certainly sympathise with them. But every one of them that walks onto a stage at an autism conference is undermining vaccination efforts and destroying lives.

  2. I’m afraid Melanie Phillips and the Daily Mail would have to expire for this to happen.

  3. The rise of autism is much more
    likely to be a consequence of this:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/dads/olderdads.shtml
    evidenced by this:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5313874.stm
    Tim adds: Yeah, I didn’t buy that research when it came out. I think it’s linked again to Braon-Cohen’s ideas about assortative mating (I don’t doubt the effect they found, rather the cause of it).

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