HLTH101 Assessment 2: Analyzing MMR Vaccine's Role in Autism (HLTH101)

This report addresses the controversial topic of the MMR vaccine and its potential link to autism, prompted by a family's concerns. It begins by examining the original research by Wakefield, which suggested a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, leading to widespread fear and vaccine hesitancy. The report then presents rebuttal research, including studies that refuted Wakefield's findings and demonstrated the lack of a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism. These studies, conducted in various countries, employed large sample sizes and rigorous methodologies to analyze epidemiological data. The report also discusses the retraction of Wakefield's paper due to fraudulent data, further solidifying the scientific consensus that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Ultimately, the report concludes that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and that the belief linking it to autism is unfounded, emphasizing the importance of vaccination for preventing measles, mumps, and rubella.