Independent Committee Finds No Evidence Linking MMR to Autism, But Calls for Continued Scientific Vigilance
- Vaccine Affect
- Jul 21
- 1 min read
US expert group rejects link between MMR and autism
Ashraf, Haroon
The Lancet, Volume 357, Issue 9265, 1341
In April 2001, the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that current scientific evidence does not support a causal link between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While the IOM's independent committee could not entirely rule out a rare association due to limitations in epidemiological data, it found no credible evidence supporting a biological mechanism or consistent pattern across studies. The committee reviewed published and unpublished research, including Andrew Wakefield’s controversial 1998 study, which was criticised for its small sample size and potential bias. Despite rising autism diagnoses in places like California, the IOM determined that MMR is unlikely to explain these trends and recommended against changing vaccination policies. However, it acknowledged ongoing public concern and called for further investigation into potential causes of autism, including continued exploration of gastrointestinal links and immune responses.
Key Quotes from the Article:
“The Committee concluded that the vast majority of cases of autism cannot be caused by MMR vaccine.”
“The 15 independent scientific experts that comprised the IOM's Immunisation Safety Review Committee warned that they could not rule out that MMR may contribute to autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) because epidemiological evidence lacked the precision to assess rare occurrences of a response to MMR leading to ASD.”
Epidemiological evidence lacked the precision to assess rare occurrences of a response to MMR leading to ASD.
