Dr David Elliman, Consultant in Community Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Dr Helen Bedford, Senior Lecturer In Children's Health, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCL Institute of Child Health said:
"On Monday 16th July 2007, the General Medical Council started a hearing against Dr Andrew Wakefield, Professors Simon Murch and John Walker-Smith. The grounds for the hearing were centred around the ethical conduct of their research and some alleged financial irregularities (
http://www.gmc-uk.org/news/4129.asp). It is important to emphasize that the hearing has not examined evidence as to whether there is a link between autism and bowel problems and MMR vaccine. The outcome of the hearing will have no bearing on this.
"A review of the evidence, published in 2007*, concluded that there was evidence of no association between MMR vaccine and autism or bowel problems (Elliman D., Bedford H. 2007). This review included many papers describing studies conducted in different countries using different research methods. Since then, further research has been published, coming to the same conclusion.
"It is important to realise that this remains unchanged and that MMR is, by far and away, the best way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella."
Parents can find out what they need to know about the diseases and the MMR catch-up programme at:
http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/MMR
Contact information:
GOSH-ICH Press Office: 020 7239 3125
Email:
Coxs@gosh.nhs.ukFor genuine and urgent out of hours call speak to switchboard on 020 7405 9200
