For years there has been a growing concern that the MMR vaccines given to babies at the age of approx 15 months may be a contributing factor to them being diagnosed with Autism at a later age.


Autism, a developmental disability, is characterized by problems in social interaction and communication and by the need for sameness or repetition in behavior. It is usually identified in toddlers and is diagnosed more frequently in boys than in girls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cause of autism remains a mystery, with most scientists believing that it may be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.


There is a growing number of children that have had the MMR vaccine and then, after developing normally until around the ages of 2, begin to show abnormal behaviours.


A number of studies published in the past few years point to a connection between autoimmune reactions and autism. In one study, published in the February 1998 issue of the Lancet, Andrew Wakefield, FRCS, of Royal Free Hospital in London, and colleagues found evidence of a possible connection between Autism and the measles virus found in the bowels of autistic children.


Wakefield and Shattock hypothesize that the combination of the three live viruses in the MMR could overload the immature immune systems of some toddlers who have some unknown genetic or immunological predisposition to this, leading to neurological and gastrointestinal problems.


Dr Len Horowitz is one man that is pushing for answers on this subject and some of his views and evidence collected is a very interesting and educational read.

http://www.drlenhorowitz.com/

So with some for and against this theory and myself as an individual who works alongside children with severe ASD ( all of which had the MMR vaccine) what are the views of our forum members....?