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MMR vaccination: Is it a friend or foe?

by Dr Howard Lee
continued from page 1
Anything we take into our body can have side effects. Medicines, and in this case the MMR vaccine, are no exception, but vaccines are among the safest medicines. The commonest side effects are similar to a mild version of one of the viruses involved. In this case, the three-part vaccine with a mixture of Measles, Mumps, and German Measles (Rubella), can produce general loss of energy, slight fever, and possibly a rash. Swelling of the glands in the cheeks, as seen in mumps, may happen in about 1 in 100 cases. It has been suggested that other conditions may be linked to MMR vaccine. These include:

Asthma, but the current view by experts is that there is no strong evidence to support this.
A very rare disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome which affects the brain and nervous system causing sudden paralysis, thought to be linked to the measles element. There is strong evidence against this.
Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory disease of the bowels. Many factors have been linked to this illness. There is some research showing a possible link with measles vaccine. This has not been confirmed and therefore has been rejected.
Autism, a condition leading to a delayed speech and communication and intellectual impairment, usually diagnosed in the second year of life. Research has shown that Autism did not rise after the introduction of the MMR vaccine. However, because there have been some doubts raised with regard to a possible connection, the beliefs and concerns of parents must be conscientiously addressed. Serious research funding is being invested to identify possible links.



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