Disbelief Against the MMR Vaccine
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to find out the reason behind measles outbreaks in the European nation. Our hypothesis was, many people in European regions were not vaccinating their kids because they fear that there is a correlation between the MMR vaccine and ASD. To perceive the result, we used the 2016 global survey of vaccine confidence and we found out in Europe people have very low confidence in the MMR vaccine. Also, to find out if there is any correlation between the MMR vaccine and ASD, we used the 2015 research MMR Vaccine Status Among Children With Older Sibling With and Without Autism by Anjali Jain, MD: Jaclyn Marshall; et al. where they studied 95, 727 children who were born the same day, which included 15, 000 children unvaccinated vs. the rest being vaccinated and 2,000 kids already considered at risk for autism. The researcher studied them from birth to 5 years old. They analyzed the rate of the MMR vaccine and ASD. At the end of their studies, they found out of 95, 727 children in the cohort, 1929 (2.02%) had an older sibling with ASD, 994 (1.04%) children in the cohort had ASD diagnosed during follow-up. Among those who had an older sibling with ASD, 134 (6.9%) were diagnosed with ASD, compared with 860 (0.9%) diagnosed with ASD among those with siblings without ASD. The MMR vaccination rate (≥1 dose) for the children with unaffected siblings (siblings without ASD) was 84% (n = 78 549) at 2 years and 92% (n = 86 063) at age 5 years. In contrast, the MMR vaccination rates for children with older siblings with ASD were lower (73% at age 2 years [n = 1409] and 86% [n = 1660] at age 5 years). Our hypothesis was right that there was no correlation between the MMR vaccine and ASD rather there was only fear.
Introduction:
This is very hard to believe that many people in this 21st century do not vaccinate their kids. We say, we live in the modern era but is it true? how could people be still living in the past and believe in a myth? The myth started in 1998 when Andrew Wakefield a British doctor, whose hypothesis was that the MMR vaccine caused Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many people believed in him, instead of finding further information and questioning it. They believed in what Wakefield said, especially in the European region such as Ukraine, Italy, Greek, and French. These countries are very well known around the world and they are very modern countries, but it is very hard to believe, in 2018 these countries teen and adults were exposed to the measles and the reason was that these people were not vaccinated when they were supposed to be. Which led to the question, why are parents still refusing to vaccinate their children against MMR? Why is there this disbelief/misconception that MMR vaccines cause autism?
Background Information:
The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) are three different diseases that commonly occur in the infant. Measles virus, causes fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes; complication can include ear infection, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain damages. Mumps case fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen salivary glands; complications include swelling of the testicles or ovaries, deafness, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Rubella is a virus, which causes fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and red itchy eyes. It is only harmful to the unborn baby through mother if the mother was not vaccinating before. However, this disease can be easily prevented by the MMR vaccination. According to the Central Diseases Control “two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective against measles, 88% effective against mumps. One dose of MMR 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella” (Vaccines and Preventable Diseases. 2016). Although, these vaccines are very effective many people are not vaccinating their kids because they believe there is a correlation between the MMR vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
ASD is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Many believe these vaccinations lead to autism, which takes us back to 1998 when Andrew Wakefield and his 12 colleagues suggested that the MMR vaccine led to autism in early childhood development, which was proven to be wrong since they could not provide efficient data and evidence. However, still today that myth exists, especially in European countries. In a recent outbreak in Europe “between 1st February 2017 and 31 January 2018, 14, 732 cases of measles were reported to the European Surveillance System by 30 EU/EEA” (ECDC.2018). Most of these children were affected because they did not get the MMR vaccination due to Wakefield suggestion. Dr. Zsusana Jakab, from the Who, said: “Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us the unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not able to get vaccinated” (Matthew, Alex King.2018).
Before, the outbreak in Europe, one of the additional researches conducted in Europe by the US-based organization in 2015, they studied between 2008 and 2014, 79 babies with the aim of assessing behavioral and brain changes. At the end of the study, the result proved no behavioral changes and confirmed the absences between the MMR vaccine and autism (Vaccines Europe. 2015). They also claim that the European Region is still far from achieving the European Vaccine Action Plan target because of the fear that exists in people. Which led to our hypothesis that in the European nation most people are still fearing the MMR vaccination and there is no relationship between the MMR vaccine and Autism Spectrum disorder. We decided to extend the research because the kids’ number does not represent the whole population in the European nation. So, we decided to do research on more than 79 babies and we will analyze the rate of autism and the MMR vaccines in kids who were vaccinated and who were unvaccinated which is the same as the study Autism Occurrence by MMR Vaccine Status Among US Children With Older Siblings With and Without Autism by Anjali Jain, MD, Jaclyn Marshall, et al. which they did in America.
Method:
For this study, we used the 2016 global survey to find out the reason why people are not vaccinating their kids, especially in European regions. Also, to extend our research that there is no correlation between the MMR vaccines and ASD. We decided to follow the 2015 research Autism Occurrence by MMR Vaccine Status Among US Children With Older Siblings With and Without Autism by Anjali Jain, MD, Jaclyn Marshall, et al. We will follow the same procedure, but the location would be different since they did this research in America. However, for our research, we will do it in European regions. The study was conducted using administrative claims database associated with a large US health plan (the Optum Research Database) (Anjali Jain, MD et al. 2015). In this research, they studied 95, 727 children which included 15, 000 children were unvaccinated vs. rest were vaccinated and 2000 kids already consider at risk for autism. The database of kids represents diverse US population 16% West, 20% Midwest, 36% South, and 27% Northwest and same age and sex were distributed equally (Anjali Jain, MD et al. 2015). The children were born the same day who had medical and pharmacy coverage and were continuously enrolled in the health plan from birth to at least 5 years old. Also, they ensure, these children had an older sibling from age 6 months old to 17 years old. The vaccinated children received 1 dose of MMR at age 2, 3, 4, and 5 years and 2 doses at age 5 years vs those who were unvaccinated at those ages. The researcher analyzed the health record and checked the rate of autism and the MMR vaccination of these children at age 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. After analyzing the data, researchers had to separate some data in the presence of seizures, and vaccines related allergies because they are possible contradictions to vaccines and are potentially associated with ASD. For the database, they use statistical analysis, which includes relative risk (RR), ASD, and kids who were vaccinated the MMR etc.
Result/Data Analysis:
For the survey, we found out the 2016 global survey of vaccine confidence led by researchers found out that “at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found Europe to be the region that was least of confident in vaccine safety” (The Associated Press. 2018). Also, in the study, Autism Occurrence by MMR Vaccine Status Among US Children With Older Siblings With and Without Autism by Anjali Jain, MD, Jaclyn Marshall, et al. out of 95, 727 children in the cohort, 1929 (2.02%) had an older sibling with ASD. 994 (1.04%) children in the cohort had ASD diagnosed during follow-up. Among those who had an older sibling with ASD, 134 (6.9%) were diagnosed with ASD, compared with 860 (0.9%) diagnosed with ASD among those with siblings without ASD. The MMR vaccination rate (≥1 dose) for the children with unaffected siblings (siblings without ASD) was 84% (n = 78 549) at 2 years and 92% (n = 86 063) at age 5 years. In contrast, the MMR vaccination rates for children with older siblings with ASD were lower (73% at age 2 years [n = 1409] and 86% [n = 1660] at age 5 years). (Anjali Jain, MD. 2015)
Table 1: In this table, it indicates major parts where our focus with a number of kids who have an older sibling with ASD and who are not based on their sex geographic region, kids with seizures and allergies.
| Older sibling without ASD
n=93798 |
Older sibling with ASD
n=1929 |
|
| Sex | ||
| Male | 47917 | 975 |
| Female | 45881 | 954 |
| Geographic region | ||
| Northeast | 10281 | 279 |
| Midwest | 27497 | 588 |
| South | 39698 | 771 |
| West | 16291 | 290 |
| Other | 31 | 1 |
| Presence of seizures | 2272 | 73 |
| Presence of vaccination-associated allergies | 394 | 9 |
Table 2: This table indicates a number of kids who were vaccinated and who were not vaccinated and the ratio of the ASD in each group.
Discussion/Conclusion:
Our result/data analysis supports our hypothesis that in European regions many people are not vaccinating their kids because people are not trusting the MMR vaccine, which shows in 2016 Global survey of vaccine confidence level. They are fearing that after vaccinating their kids, their kids will suffer ASD. Andrew Wakefield myth still exists in European societies and many are having a hard time to believe that there is no correlation between the MMR vaccines and ASD. However, in 2015 research Autism Occurrence by MMR Vaccine Status Among US Children With Older Siblings With and Without Autism research studies show that consists of studies in other population, they observed no association between the MMR vaccination and increased ASD risk among children. Also, they found no evidence that receipt of either 1 or 2 doses of MMR vaccination association with an increased risk of ASD among children who had the older sibling with ASD. Children who had a sibling with ASD, they had higher changes of ASD than children who did not have a sibling with ASD. Toxic or viral insults to the fetus that causes autism, as well as certain central nervous system disorders associated with autism (Children’s Hospital of Phildelphia.2018). ASD occurs during the development of the nervous system early in the womb (Children’s Hospital of Phildelphia.2018). However, ASD symptoms show as on children around the time when kids get the MMR vaccines (12 months to higher). Therefore, there is no correlation between the MMR vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is people who decided to believe in the myth rather than science. Also, it is science fault that they could not gain people’s trust by not informing them in a way the public could understand. We need to educate and inform people more about the MMR vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition, we should not assume that just because a country is modern does not mean they are well educated about their health well beingness.
References
Vaccines Europe. 2015. Additional Research Confirms the absence of a Link between the
Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) Vaccine and Autism. An industry of healthy lives.
The Associated Press. 2018. Science says: Why Europe still has many measles outbreaks.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/measles-europe-1.4559432
Anjali Jain, MD: Jaclyn Marshall; et al. 2015. Autism Occurrence by MMR Vaccine Status Among Children with Older Sibling With and Without Autism. The Journal of the American Medical Association.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2275444
Alex Matthews-King.2018. Measles epidemic in Europe hits record high, World Health Organisation warns. Published by Independent News Health.
Central Diseases Control and Prevention.2018. Vaccines and Preventable Diseases.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/index.html
European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control.2018. Measles outbreaks still ongoing in 2018 and fatalities reported from four countries.
https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/measles-outbreaks-still-ongoing-2018-and-fatalities-reported-four-countries
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 2018. Vaccines and Autism.
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