Ten of the original 13 authors of a controversial report suggesting a link between autism and the combined MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella have retracted the paper鈥檚 interpretations.
The retraction appears in the 6 March issue of The Lancet, which published the original paper. 鈥淲e wish to make it clear that in this paper no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient,鈥� write the 10 authors. Andrew Wakefield, lead author on the original paper, refused to join the retraction. One other author refused, while a third could not be reached.
The 1998 paper, based on parental and medical reports of just a dozen children, suggested a 鈥減ossible relation鈥� between autism, bowel disease and MMR. Wakefield argued at a press conference at the time that there was a case for giving children separate injections for measles, mumps and rubella instead of a single shot for all three.
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Parents鈥� confidence in the triple vaccine collapsed soon after, and MMR vaccination rates in the UK have dropped from over 90 per cent to under 80 per cent. Brent Taylor, head of child health at University College London, says the UK will see outbreaks of measles and mumps as a result, as well as the return of congenital defects due to pregnant mothers contracting German measles.
The retraction of the paper 鈥渋s to be strongly welcomed鈥�, Taylor says, adding that in his view there is no evidence at all that the MMR vaccine causes autism. 鈥淭his disputed paper is the only evidence in the mainstream medical press that it might,鈥� he told New 杏吧原创.