Is there a link between the MMR vaccine and autism and Crohns disease?
Autism is a condition found in some children, which amongst other things, affects their ability to interact in a normal way with other people, and also often includes a degree of learning difficulty. Crohn’s disease is a condition of the bowel that causes inflammation of the bowel wall, leading to thickening of the bowel. This can sometimes result in a number of abdominal problems. Some studies (notably one published in the Lancet medical journal in 1998 and one from the Royal Free Hospital) suggested that there may be a connection between these illnesses and the MMR vaccine. These studies led to controversy and concern amongst parents and doctors about whether the vaccine should be given. Since then a lot of research has been done into the MMR vaccine. Most notably, another study in the Lancet medical journal in 1999 showed no proven link between the MMR vaccine and autism, which was supported by another paper in the British Medical Journal in 2001. Also, a working party of independen
