Smokescreen around vaccines

DR FENTON HOWELL attempted to refute a link between the MMR vaccine and autism by pointing to a new study from the Karonliska Institute in Stockholm, which claims that babies developed autism as a consequence of their mothers smoking during pregnancy (Irish Examiner Letters, July 27).

This study must be considered worthless unless Dr Howell can tell us who authorised the study; how many babies were born autistic; how many babies developed autism after birth; how many of the autistic children had been vaccinated and what vaccine was used.

It would also be necessary for Dr Howell to inform us what element in smoking is known to cause the brain damage leading to autism as neither nicotine nor fluorides possess this potency.