WASHINGTON — New research further debunks any link between measles vaccine and autism.
Years of research with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, known as MMR, have concluded it doesn’t cause autism. Still, some parents’ fears persist, in part because of one 1998 British study that linked the vaccine with a subgroup of autistic children who also have serious gastrointestinal problems.
Researchers rigorously retested that finding with the most modern genetic technology. There is no evidence that MMR plays any role, the international team — including researchers who first raised the issue — reported Wednesday in PLoS One, the online journal of the Public Library of Science.
“We are confident there is no link between MMR and autism,” said lead researcher Dr. W. Ian Lipkin of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
