In continuation to my earlier post, now there is more proof that measles vaccine does not cause autism. And I reiterate that the benefits of MMR vaccination far outweighs any risks.
Researchers at Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sought to allay some of their fears today, releasing study results they said showed “no connection” between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism in kids.
The researchers were dealing with a hypothesis out there that, as they explained it in a call with reporters, goes something like this: The measles virus from the vaccine could reproduce in the intestinal tract, leading to inflammation and bowel permeability. That leaky bowel could permit the release of chemicals that would make their way to the nervous system, causing trouble.
The researchers compared bowel tissues from two groups of kids, one with gastrointestinal problems and autism, and the other with gastrointestinal problems alone. But they didn’t find any differences between the two groups that suggested the vaccine could be to blame.
References: Wall Street Journal Health Blog, Public Library of Science
