April is National Autism Awareness month and although the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children is increasing, risk factors for ASD are still not well understood. Despite numerous studies showing no association, many parents continue to believe that there is a link between ASD and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, prompting some parents to avoid vaccinating their children.
A new study examined whether or not the MMR vaccine was associated with an increased risk of ASD, especially in children whose older sibling already had an autism diagnosis.
Researchers reviewed the records of more than 95,000 children enrolled in a large commercial health plan, following them from birth to at least five years of age. These children all had an older sibling enrolled in the plan. Researchers were particularly interested in children whose older sibling had an ASD diagnosis since that puts the younger child at a higher risk for ASD.
The results found no evidence of an association between the MMR vaccine and ASD, regardless of whether the older sibling had ASD, confirming the safety of MMR vaccination.
