The link between Vaccination

and Autism

Name: Sushma Tandukar

Student Number: 220193829
Unit Code: HLTH101
Unit Coordinator: DR Glenda Parmenter
Introduction

• Vaccination is simple, safe and effective.

• Prevents by limiting the spread of disease.

• Given case deals with Paul and Emily.

• Discusses the link between vaccination and autism.

 The link between Vaccination and Autism
• Rate of Autism is increasing in developing countries (The History of Vaccines, 2019).

• Autism is caused by various factors where role vaccination has got close investigation
(The History of vaccination, 2019).

• First explained by Wakefield and his co-authers in 1998 (Wakefield et al., 1998).

• Did research among twelve children (Wakefield et al., 1998).

• Suggested that measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination develop autism as
well bowel disease (Wakefield et al., 1998).

• The result brought fear among parents and physicians (Richards, 2011).
Research by others on Wakefield and co-authors report

• Despite its irrelevant conclusion, spreads widely and decreases the rate of
MMR vaccination (Sathyanarayana & Andrade, 2011).
• Many researches conducted but no one found the link between vaccination
and autism as well as bowel disease ( The History of Vaccines, 2019).
• One of the researcher named Richard found that the data collected by the
Wakefield was fake (Richard, 2011).
• Similarly, Brain deer found out that the Wakefield altered the patient’s history
in order to support his research (Deer, 2011).
• Deer also clarified all the fault report which Wavefield has reported (Deer,
2011).
• Patients were found to be recruited by anti-MMR campaigners and the
study was funded and commissioned (Deer, 2011).

• Researcher in United states did retrospective cohort study on children

who had their siblings with autism and concluded no any association
between autism and vaccination (Jain et al., 2015).
Effect of Wavefield’s report

• Lots of time and money was spend doing research on the Wavefield and his co-
author’s false hypothesis (Jain et al., 2015).

• The false report brought fear of autism among parents leading the children
without vaccination (Poland, 2011).

• Has aware the scientists to maintain the highest standard during data collection,
analysis, reporting, designing and interpretation of the findings (Jain et al., 2015).
Result from other researcher on Wavefield’s
report
• Explained no any connection between Vaccines and autism as well as
other neurodevelopmental disorder (The History of Vaccine, 2019).

• Suggested many causes of autism but explained that vaccination is not

one of them (The History of Vaccines, 2019).
Conclusion

• Wavefield and his co-authors report led to huge controversy.

• Many researcher proved the Wavefield’s report wrong as it doesnot

provide evidence.

• Found that the result was planned and does not provide true information.

• Hence, vaccination is not relate to autism but protects the individual

from various preventable diseases.
 References
• The History of Vaccines. (2019). The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Retrieved from
https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/do-vaccines-cause-autism
HOV<2019
• Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., Linnell, J., Casson, D.M.,
Malik, M.,… & Walker, J.A. (1998). Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia,
non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The
Lancet, 351(9103), 637-41. Retrieved from https://
search-proquest-com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/199060156/fulltext/61581
2FD9CA84CFCPQ/1?accountid=17227
• Richards, C. A. (2011). Wakefield study linking MMR vaccine, autism
uncovered as fraud. Infectious Diseases in Children, 24(2), 1-3. Retrieved
from
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/900114152?accounti
• Deer Brian. (2011). How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed. BMJ.
342 :c5347 Retrieved from
https://www-bmj-com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/content/342/bmj.c5347
• Sathyanarayana Rao, T., & Andrade, C. (2011). The MMR vaccine and autism:
Sensation, refutation, retraction, and fraud. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(2), 95-
96. Retrieved from https://
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Fsid%3Aprimo
• Jain, A., Marshall, J., Buikema, A., Bancroft, T., Kelly, J., Newschaffer, C. (2015). No
link between MMR vaccine and autism. Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine,
27(3), 118+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/apps/doc/A430497144/PPNU?u=dixson
&sid=PPNU&xid=1b150e9f
• Poland, G. A. (2011). MMR vaccine and autism: Vaccine nihilism and postmodern
science. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86(9), 869-71. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/886577811?accountid=17227