Discoveries Related to MMR Vaccine and Autism Link - Essay Example

MMR MMR vaccine is an important vaccination given to children during the age period of 12 to 15 months. This vaccine is very much recommended by doctors. The second vaccine is given during the age of 4 to 6 years. MMR vaccine protects individuals from Measles, Rubella, mumps etc (MMR – vaccine. 2009). Autism is a condition in children which makes them behave in an abnormal way. Kids who are affected by autism are different from other normal children. They may find it hard to talk and express with other people. They also find it difficult to communicate with other people. Their reaction to the surroundings will be quite unusual (Autism, 2009). Autism is one of the most mysterious diseases known to science. Very little is known about autism. Earlier psychiatrists blamed parents for the cause of autism. During the 1970’s fresh studies were conducted in USA which indicated about a genetic cause. A very promising discovery related to MMR vaccine and Autism link came in the year 1998. The discovery was made by a team of researchers under the leadership of gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield. The research was conducted at the Royal free hospital in London. They studied a group of 12 children who had the history of chronic intestinal disease. These children also suffered sudden loss of behavior skills. Autism was diagnosed in these children. These behavioral problems occurred after the children received the MMR vaccine (Parascandola, M. 2004.p1). It was believed that toxins would leak through an inflammatory bowel wall which in turn could cause Autism (Fitzpatrick, M. 2001.p19). The findings were published in the British medical journal with the usual claims about limitations. However further studies were conducted by Wakefield himself in this area which revealed that the children with the new syndrome had virus related to Measles in their guts than other normal children. This hypothesis revealed with evidences that the MMR vaccine can cause autism.  Even though the study conducted by Wakefield was scientific, evidences that linked autism with the vaccine was limited. The major limitations of Wakefield’s study were limited number of patients used for study and the chance for bias approach. Moreover scientists were also concerned about the attitude of parents of children who were studied. Study undertaken by Wakefield was depended on own assessment by the parents. This can be related to a phenomenon called ‘recall bias’ where the parents can be made to attribute the specific behaviors of their children to the MMR vaccine because of the fact that they are searching for an explanation for their children’s diseases.  Even though there was lack of proper evidences on the study conducted by Wakefield, there occurred a health crisis in UK. The health officials were worried that the parents would be reluctant to give MMR vaccine to their children because of the Autism threat. There was a fear that the lack of immunity would spread the other diseases alarmingly. Assurances given by the United Kingdom medical research council as well as report by review committee comprising or 30 experts in Virology, Psychiatry, Gastroenterology and Epidemiology restored confidence in the MMR vaccine. A study conducted in the year 2003 by the Center for disease control and prevention failed to find association between MMR vaccines and Autism. They studied vaccinations for more than 140000 children aged up to 9 years. The study focused on many types of disorders that were associated with autism. The final conclusion stated that there was no consistency in evidences that strongly associates autism with vaccines. However this conclusion was criticized severely by the families of Autistic children. The issue was taken up by some American congressman who demanded a review of the study conducted by the CDC on the effect of MMR vaccines. They pointed the discrepancy between the earlier studies conducted by CDC which highlighted some relations between vaccines and Autism and the latter report which completely ignored associations.  Due to the controversies surrounding the topic, CDC referred this issue to the Institute of Medicines Safety Review Committee. The committee undertook a series of presentations from experts in this area. The Institute released its report on May 2004 based on the findings of expert meetings conducted earlier. The report clearly indicated that there was no supportive and clear evidence that links vaccines with autism. The report frankly stated that MMR vaccines will not cause autism among children.  In the year February 2004, a report was released by Lancet which suggested severe misconduct in research conducted by Wakefield and colleagues in 1998. This was a big blow to the vaccine autism theory (Parascandola, M. 2004). More over another fact of disagreement between MMR and Autism link is that Autism was there during the 1940’s and MMR was used during 1960’s (Fitzpatrick, M. p8). The intake of the MMR vaccine in some part of the United Kingdom has raised fears as well as concerns regarding the safety of children. Intake of this vaccine has resulted in the outbreak of Measles in some part of UK particularly among primary school children. In order to avoid further complications some parents have opted for single antigen vaccines instead of the conventional MMR vaccines for their children (MMR vaccine: The continuing saga, 2001). Studies conducted by experts over the effectiveness of MMR vaccines have given positive results. This prompted the Department of health of UK to start a campaign for promoting the use of MMR vaccines. Earlier studies have linked a relation between MMR and Autism which created ripples in the minds of parents. As a result most of the parents were avoiding vaccinations. This resulted in the increase of infectious diseases in UK. The Department of health started the new campaign in order to avoid the adverse situation. More funds as well as information materials were made available for the promotion of MMR vaccine. They urged every parent to get their child vaccinated. Increase in MMR vaccinations were done as a case of utmost urgency (National MMR vaccine catch up campaign launched, 2008). There was also wide news coverage surrounding the controversy concerned with Autism and MMR. On October 3, 1999, CNN aired a programme featuring parents of a 3 year old child named Liam Reynolds who was thought to be autistic after receiving the MMR vaccine. They claimed that the child became autistic after 2 weeks from receiving the vaccine. Expert views were also added to the programme. The presenter of the programme insisted that the cause of Autism was indeed the vaccine. However the department of pediatrics immediately dismissed the claims stating that there were no enough evidences that supported the allegation. The only news that linked MMR vaccine with Autism was published by the British medical journal Lancet in 1998. However an editorial published on the same issue itself discussed doubts regarding the validity of the study (Misconceptions about immunization, 2002).In April, 2000, media reports highlighted an unpublished study conducted by an independent group which concluded that there is a definite link between Autism and MMR. However the department of health dismissed this report stating that it was based on unscientific as well as unverifiable means (Edwards, C, 2001). Scientific tests have proved once again that there is no relation between MMR vaccine and autism. Therefore it is recommended to give MMR vaccine instead of having separate vaccines. But if the parent insists for separate vaccinations, it is ideal to administer separate components of MMR rather than administering separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines (Ask the experts, 2009). Vaccination is a process which is used against contagious diseases for benefiting the individuals as well as to contribute to the eradication of such diseases among the population. While allowing their child to get vaccinated, the parents are protecting their child as well as helping protect others through contribution to the herd community. It is of utmost importance to vaccinate children on the grounds of social responsibility. Social scientists who promote vaccinations should attend carefully to lay understandings of herd community. Policy makers also should give more importance to vaccination for bringing up a healthy population (Avoiding harm to others, 2008). On the other hand compulsory vaccination policies initiated by governments have led to decrease in occurrence of preventable diseases. Mandatory vaccination can be made successful if there is ready supply of vaccines. If governments are ready to ensure uninterrupted supply as well as enforce laws regarding vaccinations. It will be beneficial for the whole society. Moreover public benefits should overweigh individual freedom in this regard (Opel, D. J, Diekema, D.S. &Markuse, E.K. 2008.p2-4). The controversies that are associated with MMR vaccine and Autism are not a hypothesis that science has failed to deliver. Science is considered as a method of reaching certainty with a record of success. It is not made from a particular theory but is a collection of methods or processes. Science always brings us very close to the ultimate truth; this is evident in the case of relation between MMR vaccine and Autism (Parascandola, M. 2004). References: Autism, (2009), (online), Available:http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/autism.html [27 Nov 2009] Avoiding harm to others, (2008), (online), Available:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VBF-4T6G5BW4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1110569725&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=6b3114ffc58340ea00cd366d5548e4eb [27 Nov 2009] Ask the experts, (2009), (online), Available:http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_mmr.asp [27 Nov 2009] Edwards, C, (2001), Is the MMR vaccine safe?, (online), Available:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071313/ [27 Nov 2009] Fitzpatrick, M. (2004). MMR and Autism: What parents need to know? Abingdon: Routledge. P8. Fitzpatrick, M. (2001). The tyranny of health: Doctors and regulation of lifestyle. London: Routledge.P19. MMR vaccine: The continuing saga, (2001), (online), Available:http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/322/7280/183 [27 Nov 2009] Misconceptions about immunization, (2002), (online),Available:http://www.quackwatch.com/03HealthPromotion/immu/autism.html [27 Nov 2009] MMR – vaccine. (2009). (online), Avaialble:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002026.htm [27 Nov 2009] National MMR vaccine catch up campaign launched, (2008), (online), Available:http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_086861 [27 Nov 2009] Opel, D. J, Diekema, D.S. &Markuse, E.K. (2008). A critique of criteria for evaluating vaccines,(online).Available:http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/122/2/e504 [27 Nov 2009] P2-4 Parascandola, M. (2004). Scientists, families and courts clash over the elusive causes of autism, (online), Available:http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=1236 [27 Nov 2009] P1 Read More