Decades-old vaccines not the cause of disease: study

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations are unrelated to the cause of developmental diseases, according to new research.

The two have been linked for years, but a study done by the McGill University Health Centre has found that MMR vaccines are not the cause of diseases such as autism.

The McGill scientists also found thimerosal vaccines to be unrelated. Thimerosal is a mercury base that acts as a preservative for MMR vaccines.

Thimerosal was slowly phased-out after experts thought it was linked to autism. But the study found that chances for autism were actually higher after thimerosal was removed.

Due to this common misconception, parents have avoided giving their children MMR vaccinations. After MMR coverage decreased in the late 1990's, the number of children with autism doubled.

Autism is one of the most common childhood disorders, with one child in every 155 affected.

Now that scientists are fairly certain that MMR vaccinations aren't the culprit, experts must now figure out why autism is so common.

Photography: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, July 5 edition