IT鈥橲 EASY to see why parents are wary of the MMR vaccine. Memories of what it
is like for a child to get measles, mumps or rubella are fading fast, along with
fears of possibly fatal complications. Vaccination may seem a pointless exercise
for your child to endure.
If a problem with a vaccine emerges, it鈥檚 hardly surprising that parents鈥�
main concern is whether the shot will harm their child. The possibility of
catching the disease itself seems remote.
There are good reasons to worry about vaccine safety. In the worst cases,
vaccines can actually cause the disease they are designed to prevent.
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Fortunately, this is extremely rare. But even the safest vaccines can
occasionally cause adverse reactions. Now parents are gripped by the fear that
the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccines might somehow trigger autism
(see 鈥淭riple trouble鈥�).
Autism is a particularly cruel disorder, in which children withdraw into
themselves, reject human contact and can become impossible to handle. It also
seems to be on the increase. The latest figures for the US suggest as many as 1
in 500 children may be autistic.
What鈥檚 not clear is whether the disease is really rising or doctors are
simply more likely to diagnose it. The criteria for diagnosing autism have
broadened since the 1980s. Books and films such as Rain Man have also
raised the profile of the condition, so parents and doctors are more likely to
recognise it.
Neither Britain nor the US have reliable nationwide figures on the incidence
of autism. The collection of data and the likelihood of diagnosis varies from
area to area. This makes it difficult to get to understand the apparent
rise.
That hasn鈥檛 stopped a handful of researchers blaming MMR. But the link
doesn鈥檛 really fit the data we have. The incidence of autism began to rise
before MMR was introduced. It has also carried on rising, even though the number
of children given the vaccine reached a plateau many years ago.
There may be plausible theories about how MMR might trigger autism
(see 鈥淟ooking for answers鈥�).
Some parents certainly blame it for their children鈥檚 condition. But not a
single study so far has turned up any evidence that MMR causes autism. For
parents, there鈥檚 no doubt that vaccination is the safest option
(see 鈥淚t鈥檚 your choice鈥�).
But health authorities have a big problem convincing the doubters. The
British government is spending 拢3 million for a campaign to persuade
parents the vaccine is safe. The BSE epidemic should have taught officials that
bland reassurances on the vaccine鈥檚 safety convince very few.
Vaccines do carry risks and the government must be seen to be investigating
them. A publicity campaign needs to be honest. Parents have a right to the
truth. Tell them the facts and let them decide for themselves. But given the
widespread doubts, a simple choice between MMR or no vaccination would be
dangerous for everyone. Parents who are suspicious of MMR should be offered
separate vaccines. At the moment, only the rich have this option.
