Summary: | Recently, there has been public interest in a theory that suggests the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, may be associated with autism. Several epidemiological studies investigating whether the MMR vaccine may be causally associated with autism have been undertaken. The British Committee on Safety of Medicines and an analysis on data from California and Finland have concluded that evidence does not support the hypothesis. Autism is a complex, life-long, developmental disorder that has no cure. Experts believe genes control early brain development and that two genes, identified as HOXA1 and HOXB1, may be the underlying factors in a large number of autism cases. There is no scientific evidence that supports the hypothesis that the MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. Both the CDC and the British Committee on Safety of Medicines found no association between the MMR vaccine and autism
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