Agency Weighs In On MMR/Autism Debate With Disclaimer.(Brief Article)

2001 MAY 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), a non-profit organization in the U.S. representing families with vaccine injured children has endorsed some of the conclusions of the report released April 23, 2001, by the newly created Institute of Medicine (IOM) Immunization Review Committee on the hypothesized link between mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism.

But the nation's largest and oldest vaccine safety and informed consent advocacy group is questioning whether misinterpretation and misuse of the committee's conclusions will compromise public health agency commitment to funding vaccine safety research.

The Institute of Medicine Committee concluded that "the evidence favors rejection of the causal relationship at the population level between MMR vaccine and autistic spectrum disorders" but also stated that "the proposed biological models linking MMR vaccination to autism spectrum disorders, although far from established, are nevertheless not disproved." The committee also called for further scientific research on the occurrence of autism in children following MMR vaccination.

"The Committee clearly acknowledged the biologic plausibility that MMR vaccine could be a co-factor in causing autism in some children. But the message this report may send out, in practical terms, is that there is absolutely no association between vaccination and autism and that the case is closed. It can be used by those in industry, government, and medical organizations with a vested interest in protecting the status quo," said ...