Ask every pediatrician and they will tell you that vaccines do no harm. At least nothing but side effects, like every drug can. Ask Dr. Andrew Wakefield, and he will tell you otherwise. In 1998 Dr. Wakefield published a study which linked the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella to autism. That study influenced millions of parents to refuse the shot for their children, in spite of doctors’ recommendations.

Now, according to MSNBC, Dr. Wakefield was banned from practicing medicine in his own country, Britain.

Abandonment of the vaccine has led, according to the article, to a resurgence of the disease in Western countries where it had been mostly stamped out. Even US celebrities such as Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy have endorsed Dr. Wakefield’s approach.

Photo by alvi2047

We have already covered a possible consequence of measles here on A Disease A Day (called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis).

Now, as mentioned above, the UK have decided to deal with the problem, starting with Wakefield himself, as “Britain’s General Medical Council, which licenses and oversees doctors, found Wakefield guilty of serious professional misconduct and stripped him of the right to practice medicine in the U.K.”.

On our end, all we can do is try and convince you, if you’re a parent, to give the vaccine to your child. We hope that the following links will help:

• MSNBC’s article – “Britain bans doctor who linked autism to vaccine”
• Study dispels link between autism and measles vaccine – The Washington Post
• Anti-measles campaign saves seven million lives – The Independent

Having read that – are you convinced of the benefit of the vaccine? Or have you never had any doubt? Let us know in the comments below.

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