Community Corner

Study Linking Childhood Immunizations to Autism "A Fraud"

Medical journal exposes researcher, but will parents continue to believe in this study?

Moms Talk Q&A is part of a new initiative to reach out to moms and families. Huntley Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support by sharing your ideas and advice on topics affecting today's families. If you have a question or issue that you'd like to see featured here, e-mail Editor Gloria Casas at gloria.casas@patch.com.

The link between childhood immunizations and autism has been debated for years, but the original study establishing that link was “an elaborate fraud,” according to recent reports.

Last month, BMJ Journal exposed Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 study as a “deliberate fabrication,” citing inconsistencies in his research. Those inconsistencies revolved around the medical history of the children in the study, including one case where a child had symptoms of autism before getting immunizations, according to www.webmd.com.

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A BMJ  Journal editor told www.webmd that parents may continue believing the study is credible and feel that there’s a conspiracy against Wakefield, but “the rest of the scientific establishment is pretty clear that there is no sign of a link,” according to the article.

Here's our question of the day: Have you chosen not to immunize your children out of concern that there is a link between the vaccines and autism and does this news change your feelings?

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