The purpose of this proposal is to find out the reason behind measles outbreaks in Europe. To get the result, we had to conduct surveys and additional research in Europe publicly to let people know the difference between MMR vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder difference. Many people are not vaccinating their kids because they fear that the MMR vaccines cause Autism.
Background Information:
The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) are three different diseases that commonly occur in infants. Measles a viral infection mumps an infectious disease that affects the salivary glands, and rubella a contagious infection are deadly if the necessary precautions are not immediate. MMR are very serious viruses among children and they are very preventable by MMR vaccination. Children who receive MMR shots will be protected during childhood. The Central Diseases Control recommends getting two doses of MMR vaccinations to children at the following ages “12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years, and seven to 18 years, if two doses were not previously given” (Vaccines and Preventable Diseases. 2018). It is very safe and “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). Even though MMR vaccinations are very effective, people in different parts of the world are still scared to get vaccinated because of the correlation to autism. Autism 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). Also, 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). Most of these children were affected because they did not get the MMR vaccination due to Wakefield suggestion.
Before, the outbreak in Europe, one of the additional researches conducted in Europe by 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 MMR vaccine and autism (Vaccines Europe.2015). Why are parents still refusing to vaccinate their children against MMR? Why is there this disbelief/misconception that MMR vaccines cause autism?
Method:
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.
This is a research that was written by Vaccines Europe, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) further investigation of previously claimed between the MMR and autism in children, funded by US-based organization involved in the anti-vaccination movement. In this research, they studied behavioral and brain changes of 79 babies’ standard course of childhood vaccines from 2008 to 2014. The result of this research was the MMR vaccines have no effect on child behavioral and brain changes, which shows there is no link between MMR and autism. However, in Europe people still, do not vaccinate their children because of the 1998 myths. Also, the European Region is still far from achieving the European Vaccine Action Plan target. Although, they did not specifically give details of their research on how they did it because it was an abstract of their research and final research is not fully disclosed to the public.
Autism Speaks. 2015. No MMR-Autism Link in Large Study of Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Kids.
This is a research that was written by Autism Speaks. They did this research in America. They studied over 95,000 children included 15,000 unvaccinated 2 to 5 years old and nearly 2,000 kids already considered at high risks for autism. At the end of their research they found out the MMR vaccine does not increase the rate of Autism Spectrum disorder, instead of kids who got vaccinated it lower the rate of autism. However, autism was at its peak for kids whose older sibling were affected by autism.
This research was studied in America in American children, not in European.
BBC News Health. 2018. Who warning as European measles rate jumps from a record low.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43125242
This is a BBC news health article, where they informed us about the measles cases that increase since 2017 in Europe. It says fifteen European region countries followed by in Romania, Italy, and Ukraine measles rate increased. More than 20,000 people affected and 35 deaths, part of the measles outbreak was because people in Europe are not vaccinated their children when they were born and most of this case were people who were not vaccinated.
Alex Matthews-King.2018. Measles epidemic in Europe hits a record high, World Health
Organization warns. Published by Independent News Health.
This article was written by Alex Matthews-King who has been The Independent health correspondent since 2017 and write across the NHS, medical science and health policy spectrum.
In this article, he tells us about the rate of measles epidemics increases to more than 41,000 cases in the first half of 2018, with 23,000 in Ukraine alone that was reported to the World Health Organization.
Outcome:
To answer our questions, and for further investigation, we decided to conduct a survey in European countries with the help of European CDC in countries where there is a higher risk of MMR, to know their feeling about MMR vaccines and why they are still refusing to vaccinate their babies. Furthermore, we should conduct another research on children behavioral and brain changes at least 3 years, but more than 79 children because 2015 research sample of children were not enough to represent the whole population. The sample size should be children who are newborn and should get MMR vaccinated as it was mention by the CDC article. After that every 2 months, for infants 0-2 years old will be checked by the physical doctor and 3 years old will be checked by the physical doctor twice a year. This is because according to National Autism Association children from symptoms of autism shows around “9 months, 18 months and 24 0r 30 months” (Signs of Autism). We will record children health checkup data to see if there are any symptoms autism which shows between children who got MMR vaccines. The outcome of this research will be there is no relationship between the MMR vaccines and ASD. Also, European countries government need to reach the news to people in a way they can understand and believe in scientific studies; and misconceptions should come to a halt.
Sources:
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.
Autism Speaks. 2015. No MMR-Autism Link in Large Study of Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Kids. https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/no-mmr-autism-link-large-study-vaccinated-vs-unvaccinated-kids
Alex MAtthews-King.2018. Measles epidemic in Europe hits record high, World Health Organisation warns. Published by Independent News Health.
BBC News Health. 2018. Who warning as European measles rate jumps from record low. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43125242
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.
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