MMR Vaccine Does Not Cause Autism Even in High-Risk Children

Despite having no scientific support, the notion that vaccination of children ups risk of autism spectrum disorders has been around for a while. A new study now may have shattered the notion.

The study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) debunks the notion with a large sample size of nearly 100,000 children. The study showed that children who received the Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccination are not at an increased risk of autism spectral disorders (ASD) compared to unvaccinated children.

Researchers also showed that the risk of ASD in children, who were deemed at higher risk of the condition as they had an older sibling diagnosed as autistic, did not develop the condition after vaccination. Around 1,929 children had older siblings with ASD. The risk of autism is known to be higher in children if older siblings are affected.

The debate around vaccination resurfaced after last year's measles outbreak in Disneyland, affecting 157 children. The episode revealed that many parents did not vaccinate children and autism fear was among the reasons.

"In this large sample of privately insured children with older siblings, receipt of the MMR vaccine was not associated with increased risk of ASD, regardless of whether older siblings had ASD. These findings indicate no harmful association between MMR vaccine receipt and ASD even among children already at higher risk for ASD," researchers wrote.