MMR research

The overwhelming weight of evidence shows that MMR is the safest way to protect against measles, mumps and rubella, and the number of studies demonstrating this is growing.

A list of the key studies looking at MMR are listed below.

In November 2003 Dr Simon Murch - one of the authors of the 1998 paper (Wakefield A J et al) suggesting a possible link between MMR and autism - stated in a letter to the Lancet that there is now 'unequivocal' evidence that there is no link between MMR and autism.

Dr Murch stated that no vaccine has ever been studied in as much detail as MMR and that making a decision on whether to immunise with MMR should be easy for both doctors and parents.

Go to the MMR Research Timeline to view a full list of research into MMR.

Research suggesting link between MMR and autism

Wakefield A J et al (1998) Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet 351: 637-41.
http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol362/... (long url)
(Registration is required)

Key research showing no link between MMR and autism

Peltola H & Patja A, Leinikki P, Valle M, Davidkin I and Paunio M (1998) No evidence for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine associated inflammatory bowel disease or autism in a 14 year prospective study (Research letters) Lancet 351:1327-8
http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol362/... (long url)
(Registration is required)

Gillberg C & Heijbel H, (1998). MMR and autism [commentary]. Autism, The International Journal of Research and Practice; 2:423-424.
http://aut.sagepub.com
(Registration is required)

Taylor B et al (1999) Autism and measles, mumps and rubella vaccine: no epidemiological evidence for a causal association. The Lancet; 353: 2026-29.
http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol362/... (long url)
(Registration is required)

Kaye J et al (2001). Mumps, measles and rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general practitioners: A time trend analysis. British Medical Journal 322:460-3.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/... (long url)

Farrington P et al (2001). MMR and autism: Further evidence against a causal association Vaccine 19:3632-5 Volume 19, Issue 27, 14 June 2001, Pages 3632-3635
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/vaccine
(Registration required for full text)

Black C (2002) Relation of childhood gastrointestinal disorders to autism: nested case-control study using data from the UK General Practice Research Database. British Medical Journal 325:419-21.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/... (long url)

Taylor B et al (2002) Measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and bowel problems or development regression in children with autism: population study. British Medical Journal 324: 393-396. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/... (long url)

Donald A & Muthu V (2002) No evidence that MMR vaccine is associated with autism or bowel disease. Clinical Evidence, 7:331-40
http://www.clinicalevidence.com/
(Registration required for full text)

Madsen KM et al (2002). A population-based study of measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine 347: 1477-82.
http://content.nejm.org/content/vol347/... (long url)
(Registration required)

Szatmari P. et al. ( 2003 ). The cause of autism spectrum disorders. British Medical Journal 326: 173-4.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/... (long url)

Wilson K et al. (2003). Association of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 157: 628-34.

Fombonne E. (2003). Editorial. The prevalence of autism. Journal of American Medical Association 289 (1): 87-9. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/289/1/87

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