MMR IMMUNIZATION CONTROVERSY

MMR Immunization Controversy Discussion Board

(Kyle) Kurt Freund, RN, EMT-P
Ferris State University
Nursing 350

MMR Immunization Controversy

In an article published in the Lancet in 1998, the author Andrew Wakefield, John Walker,
et al, misrepresented research that made a correlation with the mumps, measles, and rubella
(MMR) vaccine and 12 developmentally disadvantaged youth acquiring autism within a short
period of time of inoculation, (Deer, 2010).
Brian Deer uncovered that "Wakefield had already identified such a syndrome before the
project that would reputedly discover it", (Deer, 2010). Unknown to the parents of the case
studies, "Wakefield was working on a lawsuit, for which he sought a bowel-brain "syndrome" as
its centerpiece", (Deer, 2010). After investigative measures and several reviews of the United
Kingdoms Medical Council it concluded that the research was inaccurate and greatly persuaded
by an anti-MMR agenda. On February 2, 2010 the British Medical Journal stated, It is now
clear that several elements of a 1998 paper it published by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his
colleagues are incorrect, (Eggerston, 2010). Some parents held this research as their evidence
for not immunizing their children. Many, including myself, were unaware that due to the
judgment of the UK General Councils Fitness to Practice Panel ethics committee the editors of
the Lancet fully retracted the article from their published record, (Lancet, 2010).
The papers misinterpretation of a correlation between MMR vaccination and autism for
over a decade has inaccurately misled the general public. One of the case study parents strongly
worded feelings are summed up as, "His misrepresentation of my son in his research paper is
inexcusable", (Deer, 2010).
A well-documented case control study published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease
Journal concluded, contrary to Wakefields research, that there is evidence against the
association of autism with either MMR or a single measles vaccine, (Budzyn, Kieltyka, &

Majewska, 2010). This studys, unlike Wakefields, statistical significance was defined as P <
0.05 while examining those that appeared to be associated with autism at (P < 0.2), (Budzyn,
Kieltyka, & Majewska, 2010). The accuracy of this higher level of evidence has given greater
respect credit to its accuracy in the medical community; however, the general publics opinion
continues to be concerned about an unsubstantiated link between MMR vaccine and autism
stemmed from the 1998 paper and the substantial media coverage which that work attracted,
(Brown et al., 2012).
In my current practice in adult critical care, MMR vaccines are not common practice,
however, influenza and pneumonia immunizations are given regularly. My educating efforts
towards my patients choices towards the safety and purpose of immunizations will be evidence
based. The strong evidence debunking coordination with MMR immunizations and autism along
with the retraction of Wakefields contradicting published research that unethically
misinterpreted data to sway public opinion has had a strong impression on how I will continue in
my nursing practice. In order to not be influenced by the publics often misled opinion, further
research into the safety and effectiveness of influenza and pneumonia vaccines are warranted.
This will be the foundation of my educational opportunities when patients are hesitant to
influenza and pneumonia immunization options.

References
Brown,K.F.,Long,S.J.,Ramsay,M.,Hudson,M.J.,Green,J.,Vincent,C.A.,Kroll,J.S.,
etal.(2012).U.K.parentsdecisionmakingaboutmeaslesmumpsrubella(MMR)
vaccine10yearsaftertheMMRautismcontroversy:aqualitativeanalysis.Vaccine,
30(10),18551864.doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.127(PMID:22230590)
Deer, B. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.bmj.com/highwire/section-pdf/8642/5/1
Eggertson,L.(2010).Lancetretracts12yearoldarticlelinkingautismtoMMRvaccines.
CMAJ:CanadianMedicalAssociationjournal=journaldelAssociationmedicale
canadienne,182(4),E199200.doi:10.1503/cmaj.1093179(PMID:20142376)
MrozekBudzyn,D.,Kietyka,A.,&Majewska,R.(2010).Lackofassociationbetween
measlesmumpsrubellavaccinationandautisminchildren:acasecontrolstudy.The
Pediatricinfectiousdiseasejournal,29(5),397400.
doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3181c40a8a(PMID:19952979)
RetractionIleallymphoidnodularhyperplasia,nonspecificcolitis,andpervasive
developmentaldisorderinchildren.(2010).Lancet,375(9713),445.
doi:10.1016/S01406736(10)601754(PMID:20137807)