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A major new study has revealed no link between autism and a childhood vaccine used by millions.

But researchers fear myths spread by anti-vaxxers over decades means the “conspiracy” will be impossible to defeat.

A supposed link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has caused angst for years and has fuelled claims by anti-vaxxers the vaccine – which is widely used in Australia and throughout the world – was unsafe.

This has led to a slower uptake in the vaccine than doctors would like and has contributed to the explosion of the anti-vaxxer movement.

A major Danish study published today shows the MMR vaccine does not increase the risk of autism, trigger autism in susceptible children and isn’t linked with clustering of autism cases following vaccination.

MMR vaccine requires two doses and protects against the three diseases. Its use has led to a dramatic fall in rates of measles in Western countries.

The nationwide study, by researchers from Copenhagen’s Statens Serum Institute, looked at all Danish children born between 1999 and 2010; more than half a million in total.

US and Australian experts has been quick to embrace the findings – and they all worry that even this study won’t be enough to finally smash the myth that MMR can cause autism.

“In an ideal world, vaccine safety research would be conducted only to evaluate scientifically grounded hypotheses, not in response to the conspiracy du jour. In reality, hypotheses propagated by vaccine sceptics can affect public confidence in vaccines.,” wrote Dr Saad Omer and Dr Inci Yildirim of the Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta.

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  • One researcher reckons that Autism is often Genetic. Some medical problems skip generations before another person comes along and suffers with it. I know of a lady who has Aspergers. Her son has it and so does his 2 daughters. One of the girls it is severe. Strange part is they are usually very intelligent and get bored easily in school. I know of one girl who was assessed at the end of year 6 and went straight to year 8.

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  • The more evidence the better to convince people who are unsure.

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  • I find it reassuring to know that vaccines are relatively safe.

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  • It’s been proven before but some people just want to believe what they want to believe.

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  • This is just one vaccine.
    More trustworthy researches have to be done.


    • All vaccines are safe. A tiny minority have some kind of reaction, but no vaccine causes autism. The first person to claim this…..all his theories were disproved. You’re crazy if you don’t vaccinate your kids. Unless there’s a valid medical reason for not being able to, it’s insane not to

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  • There never was a link and this caused so much distress for many vulnerable parents.


    • Sadly some people do still believe the research that was exposed as wrong.

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  • I bet the anti Vaxxers still wont believe it

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  • With the millions of immunisations given vs the tiny amount of possible autism it would be fair to say this is a much needed study.

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  • Hopefully with more accurate information like this the rate of anti vaccination will go down but it worry’s me what kind of affect this recent trend of anti vaccination will have.

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  • Immunisation is so important and for all the anivacs they are insane. If your child has a reaction to the immunisation it will be with in the first 15min that’s why they ask you to stay at the drawing practice to ensure there is no reaction. Further more to that children need to be well before having an immunisation, if they have a virus or are sick in some way then yes your child can have a reaction. But that would be you own fault for not advising the dr or nurse prior to the procedure

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  • Better to repeat it again and again indeed. Even if I am sure there are still people that don’t believe in these studies.

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  • Well that’s news that most of us have already known for years – shame such big money has to be spent repeatedly just to prove to the anti-vaxers that it doesn’t cause Autism

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  • The anti-vaxxers will just claim it was paid for by “big pharma” and all of the other bullshit they claim.

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  • You’ll have a hard time convincing the anti vaxxers, they’ll just say it’s a study done by a big company that’s being paid by the big drug companies. Good to see a fight back for vaccines though

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