MMR clinical studies (from Johns Hopkins Pub Health)

[luv2hike]

My babe is on a selective/delayed schedule. He's almost 1 year old and I'm researching MMR. I don't plan to vax for mumps or rubella any time soon, but still debating on measles. I had actually decided AGAINST the measles vax, but the studies here (from a private school, so perhaps more impartial than others?) are giving me second thought. There are studies (not sure how well designed...?) disproving the autism link.

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/cc-mmr.htm

Many of you have done much much much more research than I have. Any comments??

TIA!
Deborah

[carriebft]

My personal opinion here after reviewing the research: the MMR/autism link does not exist. I looked at the theory that there was a persistent measles infection in the gut after MMR that caused autism/austitic entercolitis (Andrew Wakefield theory). My findings was that it wasn't credible at all (PM me if you want more links on this as I have many saved up from when I was looking into this). This is a recent study that came out http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0904145218.htm (summary article) which also comes to the same conclusion.

This is probably a minority opinion on these boards so I assume you will get lots of posts for the other side.

[tanyalynn]

There are so many ways to support the body through illness that, more and more, I just don't think vaccination is worth it. I don't even think I know that much, I have a pretty small toolbox, but even with my son who gets sick more often than most kids, none of his illnesses have needed prescription meds or other conventional treatments.

[Sileree]

So you were against the measles vaccine only because of the link to autism?

[Ophelia]

Here are two critiques of the recent measles study:

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/09/is-38-children.html

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/09/uks-cry-shame-o.html

[carriebft]

Considering Wakefield's paper that started all this looked at 12 children, I find it comical that people are bemoaning more than double that being looked at here. Personally, I just assume it's tough to get a large number of people willing to give bowel tissue so that something that has already been debunked can be debunked all over again.

But if you also need some links debunking O'Leary's work, I have those as well.

[gretelmom]

Dr Sears says that people who have a strong history of Autoimmune illnesses shouldn't have the measles vax. Measles is one of the only vax's I actually consider important, personally, but we have a history of autoimmune illnesses so DS isn't vaxxed, though I'd like to meet with an immunologist about this (among other things I'd like to meet about). I"ll let you know what he says when I finally get time to do this meeting.

So the autoimmune link might be worth thinking about if you're considering the measles shot.

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

I'm not sold on the measles/autism link at all. Maybe there is some link for some children... .it seems to me more likely that it's caused by something else (MANY somethings else), and probably also that "autism" is a label being applied to a lot of different development issues.
My main concerns w/ the MMR and Varicella vaxes are 1) the risk of autoimmune disorders and 2) vaxing in childhood only so that immunity wears off and the disease is contracted in adulthood.