We chart the rise and fall of the MMR debate over a 20 year period.

1988 The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) triple vaccine is introduced in the UK, a year after Britain had a measles outbreak which killed 17 children.

The vaccine reduces the risk of devastating rubella damage to unborn babies, caused when pregnant women caught the disease from their own or friends’ children. Introducing the triple vaccine virtually eradicates measles and mumps in the UK.

1994 A group of researchers, led by Dr Andrew Wakefield of the Royal Free Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Group (RFH-IBDSG), suggest that the measles vaccine may be linked to Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory and incurable condition which affects the lower bowel. However, the methodology of the research is widely criticised, and a number of
further studies fail to show a link.

1998 Dr Wakefield and his team hit the headlines again with a new study that suggests a link between MMR and a form of autism associated with bowel disease. The research features 12 children, eight of whom it is claimed developed the condition very shortly after having their MMR vaccines, although the researchers do not themselves claim to have proved a link.

A meeting of over 30 experts convened by the Medical Research Council (MRC) concludes that the evidence does not support a causal link between MMR, autism and bowel disease.

1999 Following a rise in parental demand for single dose vaccines, sparked by the media coverage and a decline in vaccination take-up, the
government bans the only alternative to MMR. The Medicines Control Agency outlaws importation of the older, unlicensed single dose measles and mumps vaccine on ‘safety grounds’.

Parents support group JABS (Justice, Awareness and Basic Support) is formed to press for parents’ freedom to choose. The group currently has 1,800 children registered whose families believe they have been severely affected by childhood vaccines. About two-thirds of the families report a history of allergies, which leads JABS supporters to suspect that children with inherited sensitive immune systems may not cope as well with a vaccine virus.

1999-2000 Numerous studies worldwide fail to establish a link between MMR and autism, including one commissioned by the Department of Health to examine the concerns raised about MMR and autism. Researchers examined the medical records of 498 children with autistic spectrum disorders in the North Thames Health Authority region. While finding clear evidence that the prevalence of autism has increased since the introduction of MMR in 1988, they also noted that other countries, who don’t use MMR, have also experienced similar increases.

2000 The families of over 1,000 children who claim they were affected by the MMR vaccine have their cases taken up by Alexander Harris solicitors. To date, the firm now has details of over 3,000 children whose parents are convinced the vaccine has caused autism and bowel disorder in their previously normal, healthy children.

2001 Dr Wakefield publishes a new paper suggesting that early trials of MMR vaccines had pointed to bowel problems and that researchers had failed to pick them up. A systematic review of this finds serious errors in the Wakefield paper.

Dr Mansfield, who runs private practices in Lincolnshire and Worcester, offers single jabs to concerned parents who are worried about the triple vaccine, despite government warnings that the single vaccination is less effective.

Further studies, plus re-evaluations of the existing research, all conclude there is no causal link between MMR and autism, although several confirm the increasing occurrence of autism as a subject needing further research. Vaccination coverage levels continue to fall.

2003 The High Court rules that two girls should have the MMR vaccine against the wishes of their mothers. Mr Justice Sumner said that vaccination was in the best interests of the children and that the benefits outweigh any risks.

The ruling means the children must now be vaccinated against MMR, although
it remains unclear how this will be enforced. This also means that that parents who are divided over whether or not their children should be vaccinated against MMR using the three-in-one vaccine can now ask the courts to order the children to be vaccinated.

2004 A Medical research Council team looked at the vaccination
records of 1,294 children, in England and Wales, diagnosed with autism
or related conditions between 1987 and 2001.

These children were compared with 4,469 children of the same sex and age, registered with the same surgery but did not have autism.Overall, 78% of the children with autism had received MMR however 82% of the other children had also been given MMR.

The researchers concluded that the 4% difference was not significant and they argue that the sheer size of the study makes their findings very powerful.

2005 Japanese scientists say they have strong evidence that the MMR vaccination is not linked to a rise in autism after they found a rise in the incidence of autism after the withdrawal of measles, mumps and rubella in their country in 1993.

There were around 48 cases per 10,000 children born in 1998. The rate steadily rose to 117.2 per 10,000 for those born after 1996 – after MMR had been withdrawn.

2008 Since the initial MMR study by Dr Wakefiled, all further research has discredited the link and now this latest conducted by London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital, King’s College London, the University of Manchester and the Health Protection Agency has concluded that no trigger between the two exists.

The research looked at 240 children between the age of 10 and 12 and analysed blood samples for a response following the MMR injection that could trigger autism. If there were a link, then an increased number of measles antibodies were to be expected in autistic children.

Three groups were monitored, one with autism, one without and a group with special needs. There were no differences in the response between all three groups.

Dr David Brown of the research team commented, ‘The study found no evidence linking MMR to autistic spectrum disorder and the paper adds to the overwhelming body of evidence from around the world supporting the use of MMR.’