From the Guidelines
There is no evidence that the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine causes autism in any children, including Black children. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective for all racial and ethnic groups, and is recommended for all children according to the standard vaccination schedule, with the first dose typically given at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years.
Key Points
- The concern about a link between vaccines and autism originated from a small study published in 1998 that has since been thoroughly discredited and retracted due to serious methodological flaws and ethical violations 1.
- Numerous large, well-designed studies involving millions of children from diverse backgrounds have consistently found no connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.
- Vaccination is crucial for protecting children against potentially serious diseases like measles, which can cause severe complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.
- Delaying or refusing vaccines based on unfounded concerns puts children at unnecessary risk of these preventable diseases.
- All parents should follow recommended vaccination schedules to protect their children's health, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Recommendations
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that either MMR and varicella vaccines separately or the MMRV be used for the first dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines administered at 12 through 47 months of age 1.
- For the first dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines administered at ages 48 months and older, and for dose 2 at any age (15 months to 12 years), use of MMRV generally is preferred over separate injections of MMR and varicella vaccines.
- Providers who are considering administering MMRV vaccine should discuss the benefits and risks of both vaccination options with the parents or caregivers 1.
Safety
- The risk for febrile seizures during the 5–12 days postvaccination is likely to be present among children aged ≤47 months because that is the biologic window of vulnerability for febrile seizures in children (approximately 97% of febrile seizures occur in children aged <4 years) 1.
- Febrile seizures do not predispose to epilepsy or neurodevelopmental delays later in life and are not associated with long-term health impairment 1.
From the Research
MMR Vaccine and Autism in Black Children
- There is no specific evidence in the provided studies that directly addresses the relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism in black children.
- However, several studies have investigated the potential link between the MMR vaccine and autism in general, and their findings can be applied to all children, including black children.
- A study published in 2002 2 found that there was no link between the MMR vaccine and autism or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Another study published in 2020 3 found that there was no evidence of an association between MMR immunization and autistic spectrum disorders.
- A study published in 2003 4 also found no epidemiologic evidence suggesting an association between MMR vaccination and autism.
- A study published in 2012 5 found that exposure to the MMR vaccine was unlikely to be associated with autism.
- A nationwide cohort study published in 2019 6 found that MMR vaccination does not increase the risk for autism, does not trigger autism in susceptible children, and is not associated with clustering of autism cases after vaccination.
Key Findings
- The MMR vaccine is effective in preventing measles, mumps, and rubella, with a high level of effectiveness after one or two doses 3, 5.
- The vaccine has been associated with some adverse effects, such as febrile seizures and aseptic meningitis, but these are rare and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks 3, 5.
- There is no evidence to suggest that the MMR vaccine is associated with an increased risk of autism or other serious health problems 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.