Overview
The Lancet has officially retracted a 1998 article by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and colleagues that claimed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, citing ethical breaches and flawed methodology. The study's influence led to decreased vaccination rates and subsequent outbreaks, despite no credible evidence supporting its conclusions.
Background of the Retracted Study
- The 1998 paper investigated 12 children with developmental regression and claimed an association between the MMR vaccine and autism.
- Parents of eight children linked autism onset to the vaccine, fuelling public concern.
- The General Medical Council found the children were specifically selected and research was funded by lawyers involved in lawsuits against vaccine makers.
- Wakefield was found to have acted unethically and subjected children to invasive procedures.
Public Health Impact
- The study generated media attention and led to public fear about the safety of the MMR vaccine.
- Vaccination rates dropped, resulting in measles outbreaks in the UK, Canada, and the US.
- Geneticist Jeanette Holden and pediatrician Suzanne Lewis note dramatic negative health consequences due to reduced immunization.
Criticism and Editorial Response
- Experts criticized the study for its small sample size and lack of scientific rigor.
- Both the Autism Spectrum Disorders CanadianAmerican Research Consortium and other researchers questioned why the paper was published.
- The Lancet previously investigated in 2004 but did not retract the paper then due to a lack of evidence of deliberate deception and public interest.
Ongoing Misinformation and Community Response
- Despite the retraction, some parents and advocacy groups continue defending Wakefield and believe in a vaccine-autism link.
- The persistence of these views is attributed to a strong desire for answers about autism's causes, despite lack of supporting evidence.
Decisions
- The Lancet retracts the 1998 article linking MMR vaccine to autism.
Recommendations / Advice
- Large scientific studies have not replicated the MMR-autism link.
- Autism is believed to have genetic causes and unknown environmental factors, but vaccines are not supported as a cause.
Key Dates / Deadlines
- February 2, 2010: The Lancet issues the formal retraction.
- January 2010: UK's General Medical Council finds ethical violations by Wakefield.