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Are vaccines a cause of autism or should parents ignore those researchers who claim some connection between measles, mumps and rubella shots and this chronic development disorder?
Consider that the 1998 study linking autism to a childhood vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella has been denounced as a fraud by 10 of its 13 authors and retracted by the medical journal Lancet. An analysis of the study alleges that facts bearing directly on the research were misrepresented.
According to an Associated Press report, conclusions reached in that study were based on altered information.
That may come as a surprise to many parents who decided not to run the risk of autism in their youngsters by foregoing the vaccinations. The result has been a decline in the rate of vaccinations against the childhood diseases capable of inflicting — says information on the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics — serious, long-term health issues.
A “fact” reported in the 1998 paper was that 12 children in the study were normal until being given vaccinations.
But an analysis of the hospital records and information from children’s parents, the AP reports, revealed that five of the children had previously documented developmental problems.
Autism is an increasing concern to parents. The number of autistic children appears to be on the rise. But the question is whether the seemingly sudden upward tick in autism is the result of childhood vaccinations, genetic factors or newfound awareness?
No one knows for certain, but many have theories.
The sad episode of the discredited study created a furor, but has contributed nothing toward identifying either a cause or a solution.
The doubts raised by such research only encourage confusion and skepticism.
Opinion
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Our view: Altering the facts
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