|
Friday, February 27, 1998 Published at 03:13 GMT UK Child vaccine linked to autism Research says some children's behaviour changed after vaccine given
A study by doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London has suggested that a common childhood vaccine may be linked with autism and cause an intestinal disorder.
He believes that the combination of the three virus strains may overload the
body's immune system and cause the bowel disorder to develop.
Vaccines 'should be given separately'
Other members of the team have questioned the connection, but Dr Wakefield claims
that until further research is done to determine whether there is a link between
the disease and the MMR vaccine, the jab should be given in three separate doses
spaced by at least one year.
Dr Wakefield, a reader in experimental gastroenterology, said: "This is a genuinely new syndrome and urgent further research is needed to determine whether MMR may give rise to this complication in a small number of people.
"For the vast majority of children the MMR vaccine is fine, but I believe
there are sufficient anxieties for a case to be made to administer the three
vacations separately.
Trials 'insufficient'
His colleague Professor Roy Pounder, who admitted the study was controversial, added: "In hindsight it may be a better solution to give the vaccinations separately, although administratively it is a wonderful idea.
"When the vaccinations were given individually there was no problem."
Research to determine the link between the syndrome and the MMR vaccine is
currently under way. The team will meet the chief medical officer, who has already called for an independent review, at the end of March to discuss the vaccination.
Parents told to be wary of findings
The Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association urged parents to treat the research with extreme caution.
The Association's Professional Officer, Sue Botes, said: "These studies must
be looked at in a wide context.
"The research is partly based on studies of a small sample of sick children suffering from specific diseases which may or may not be linked to the vaccines.
"We should concentrate on the benefits of the eradication of life-threatening diseases."
|