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The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7250 p709
24 May 2003

Related websites
International Pediatrics (www.int-pediatrics.org)

"Flawed" study reignites MMR safety row

The debate over the safety of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (MMR) vaccine has been reignited following the publication of a study questioning the vaccine's safety. But the Department of Health has dismissed the study as flawed.

American researchers analysed the incidence of serious neurological symptoms with MMR using data on suspected adverse reactions from a US database and estimates of vaccination numbers. Development of cerebellar ataxia, autism, mental retardation and permanent brain damage within 30 days of immunisation was recorded. The results show that MMR vaccination is associated with an increase in serious neurological disorders compared with diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccination. The relative risk of each disorder occuring was: cerebellar ataxia 8.2, autism 5.2, mental retardation 1.7 and brain damage 2.3.

The researchers suggest that a killed, instead of live, MMR vaccine might reduce the number and severity of adverse reactions (International Pediatrics 2003;18:108).

The Department of Health criticised the study saying that the Committee on Safety of Medicines believes that this type of analysis has serious methodological flaws and therefore cannot be used to determine and compare the incidence of adverse reactions associated with different vaccinations.

MMR and the media A report from researchers at Cardiff University, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, has concluded that the public has been “duped” by the media over MMR. They found that over half the British public believed that experts were split over MMR’s safety because both sides of the debate received equal media coverage, despite most experts rejecting the MMR and autism link.