Are Childhood Vaccines Safe?

A recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report upholds the scientific community’s position that the health benefits of childhood vaccines far outweigh the risk of serious side effects. The report specifically rejects a causal relationship between the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. Despite its assertion that these vaccines are extremely safe, the report is unlikely to alleviate the fears of certain parents and advocacy groups who believe that they are linked to developmental disorders such as autism.

The report analyzed 1,000 existing scientific studies. Researchers note certain limitations of the report, one being that it is nearly impossible to prove a negative (i.e. that vaccines never cause autism). In addition, because the report analyzed existing studies, it does not add new clinical data to the debate.

Those who raise concerns about childhood vaccines believe new research is needed to examine whether they have serious side effects in small subgroups of children that may not have been included in previous studies. A Boston National Public Radio online article presents five responses to the IOM report representing both sides of the issue.