Myth: Vaccines Cause Autism

The myth that vaccines, particularly the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, cause autism originated from a now-debunked study. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, many people still believe this false link.

The claim that vaccines cause autism was based on a fraudulent study published in 1998, which was later retracted, and the author lost his medical license. Numerous large-scale studies have since been conducted, all of which have found no evidence of any link between vaccines and autism. Vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy before they are approved for use. Vaccines protect against serious diseases, and the benefits far outweigh any risks. The autism-vaccine myth has caused significant harm by decreasing vaccination rates, leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases. It’s important to trust the scientific consensus and ensure children receive their vaccinations to protect them from these dangerous diseases.