MMR - Autism link retracted

[patgund]

(posted because it may be of interest to friends)

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994743

Controversial MMR and autism study retracted
13:08 04 March 04
NewScientist.com news service

Ten of the original 13 authors of a controversial 1998 medical report which implied a link between autism and the combined MMR vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella, have retracted the paper's interpretations.

Comments

[selenite.livejournal.com]

I was reading about that and was completely boggled to find out they only studied TWELVE children. We're trying to figure out what changes autism from a 1 in 2000 incidence to 1 in 250 and they're looking at a sample of 12?

Ok let me get this straight......

[jadeinsoca.livejournal.com]

A bunch of people in the UK decided to not vaccinate their children because of a study that had more doctors than it did patients? On top of that, the study just say a possibility of a link?

Re: Ok let me get this straight......

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Not just in the UK either. There's quite a few people in the US that have decided not to vaccinate their children because of concerns about a possible link between autism and the mercury-based preservative that was used up until recently in vaccines.

Re: Ok let me get this straight......

[silkensteel.livejournal.com]

And Mariel experienced a couple of weeks of distinct behavioral regression after her last MMR booster. I still have my doubts about a definite, global link - but the change was striking enough (and I couldn't find any other causative link, as other shots didn't have this effect) that I have to wonder what may be going on.