The growth of the anti-vaccination movement is a troubling trend
So much so, the World Health Organisation (WHO) lists hesitancy to vaccines as one of the top 10 threats to global health.
Fears around vaccinations are not grounded in any real evidence. Multiple studies and research papers have come to this conclusion, yet the growing anti-vaxxer movement still endangers public health.
In the latest news, yet another study of over 650,000 children proved what others have already discovered - that there is no link between vaccines and autism.
The study followed all children born in Denmark to Danish-born mothers from 1999 through to 2010.
Scientists concluded that:
Why do some people think vaccines are dangerous?
The anti-vaxxer movement took off in 1997, largely due to the work of Andrew Wakefield. Wakefield was working as a doctor in London when he authored a study, published in The Lancet journal.
This study claimed to have found a link between vaccines (the MMR jab in particular) and autism in children. Wakefield's study was rubbished, pulled apart by peers and
The Lancet subsequently retracted its publication.
Wakefield has since been struck off the medical register in the UK. He moved to the USA, where he is also barred from practising as a physician.
The findings from this latest study are absolutely clear that vaccines do not cause autism, but the battle is far from won. There is currently a worrying rise in measles cases in both Europe and the USA, and scientists believe anti-vaxxer movements have played a starring role.
According to researchers, this latest study adds further emphasis to previous findings in the way it answers the main fears surrounding vaccines. It is also extremely reliable, involving well over 650,000 people. The 1998 study, which kickstarted the scare, followed only 12.
