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Report finds no link between MMR vaccine and autism
Infection Control Monitor, June 15, 2004
Based on a thorough review of clinical and epidemiological studies, neither the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal nor the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is associated with autism, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM).
Furthermore, the report found that the hypotheses regarding how the MMR vaccine and thimerosal could trigger autism lack supporting evidence and are theoretical only. Further research to find the cause of autism should be focused on other lines of inquiry that are supported by current knowledge and evidence, the report said.
The study updates two earlier IOM reports, published in 2001, on possible links between autism and the MMR vaccine and thimerosal. At that time, the committee that wrote the report determined that the evidence did not show an association between the MMR vaccine and autism, but there was not enough evidence to determine whether thimerosal was associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Given mercury's toxic effect on the nervous system, the panel concluded that it was possible to hypothesize that thimerosal might trigger neurodevelopmental problems.
Thimerosal is an organic mercury compound that is still used as a preservative in some adult vaccines. As of mid-2000, vaccines recommended for universal use in infants and young children are available in forms that have no or only trace amounts of thimerosal.
<P>For more information, visit http://national-academies.org.
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