I welcome the Lancet's decision to retract the 1998 article by Dr. Andrew Wakefield that described an association between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and autism.
Numerous well-designed and carefully conducted studies have explored this purported link. The results have been consistent and reassuring: Immunizations do not cause autism. Yet, parents, the media, and the general public remain concerned and confused. As a result, immunization rates continue to fall, leading to an increase in the incidence of serious childhood illnesses.
Last year, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law brought this issue to the American Medical Association.
After extensive deliberations, the AMA concurred that vaccines do not cause autism, concluded that decreasing immunization rates have resulted in a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths, and reaffirmed its support for universal vaccination. The AMA emphasized the importance of ongoing education and work with the media to enhance public confidence in the safety of vaccines.
Autism is a tragic disorder for children and families. Identifying the cause and developing effective intervention programs depend on credible research conducted with appropriate methodology. Children should not be placed at increased risk of preventable disease based on speculation, premature conclusions, and unproven hypotheses.