Myths About the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

The first Measles vaccination was introduced in 1963, the improved upon in 1968. During the years of 1967 and 1968, a vaccination for Mumps and Rubella was also introduced. The three vaccines were combined in 1971, and called the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine (Immunization Action Coalition, “Measles: Questions and Answers”). One dosage of the MMR vaccination was proven to protect about 90-95% of children, then in 1989 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decided to change the dose from one to two, raising the percent of children protected to about 97% (National Network for Immunization Information (NNii), “Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)”). The CDC reported that 95% percent of children receiving their first dose of the MMR vaccine between the ages of 12 months and 15 months become immune to measles, mumps, and rubella after this initial dose. Those not becoming immune after the first does become immune after the second dose given between ages four years old and six years old (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Vaccines”). Thanks to these changes made measles, mumps, and rubella have become nearly eliminated in the United States. However, to ensure that these diseases do not spread from countries not vaccinating, it is important that we continue with our current program. While the MMR vaccination is the safest way to ensure that we do not have an outbreak, the vaccination has been a source of controversy over the years. At one time, the MMR vaccine was thought to be unsafe because not only does it overwhelm your immune system, but also the vaccine contained toxic additives, and was thought to be linked to Autism. Studies have since pro...

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...ory two took fourteen days and had sixteen experts five for the families and eleven for the government.

In 2010, after an eight-year court process in the US federal vaccine injury compensation court it was concluded that the MMR vaccination did not cause autism in the six test cases that were examine by the court. Both theory one and theory two were found to be implausible (Kirkland, 237-261).

Studies over the years along with the special vaccine injury tribunal have all agreed that there is no evidence that links autism and the MMR vaccination. Studies also prove that 95% of children who receive their first does of the MMR vaccine between ages 12 months and 15 months develop immunity to all three of the viruses. A second dose is given between four years old and six years old; this second dose gives immunity to almost all who did not respond to the first dose.