Experts rule out link between MMR and autism

A US Institute of Medicine committee of experts has said it found no link between a childhood vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella and autism.

In a report the committee said it examined studies about the health effects of the MMR vaccine in young children and found that ‘‘the evidence favours rejection’’ of a link with autism.

The committee recommended that there be no changes in immunisation practices that now require children to be immunised during early childhood.

However, committee chairwoman Marie McCormick of the Harvard School of Public Health, said the committee ‘‘does not exclude the possibility that MMR vaccine could in rare cases contribute’’ to autism or related disorders in ‘‘a very small number of affected children’’.

She said the epidemiological data was not precise enough to assess such rare response to MMR ‘‘if it occurs at all’’.

"The level of concern among some parents about MMR safety is tremendous and must be addressed meaningfully,’’ she said.

The report, one of a series on the health effects of immunisation, was issued by the IOM’s Immunisation Safety Review Committee.

Members of the committee are all health care professionals selected to exclude any who have a financial or advisory connection with vaccine manufacturers.