§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the findings contained in the paper by Dr. Andrew Wakefield published recently inThe Lancet on MMR vaccinations [33103]
§ Ms JowellWe are aware of the study by a group of researchers at the Royal Free Hospital which was published recently inThe Lancet. An abstract of the work had already been reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, an independent expert group which advises the United Kingdom health departments, last year. It was the view of the Committee that the study provided no scientifically convincing evidence for links between the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, autism and inflammatory bowel disease. The more detailed report published in The Lancet has no implications for immunisation policy and practice and I would agree with the authors of the study that it
did not prove a causal association between MMR vaccine and the syndrome described".An independent assessment of the paper was also contained in the same edition of The Lancet in the form of a commentary. The commentary highlighted the complete lack of any reliable scientific evidence for a causal link and also the weight of already published evidence against a link. The commentary reminds readers that hundreds of millions of persons worldwide have received measles containing vaccine without developing either chronic bowel or behavioural problems. MMR remains the safest way to protect children against these diseases and should continue to be used as recommended.