Knowra Andrew Wakefield Andrew Wakefield Andrew Wakefield is a British former physician whose 1998 paper linking the MMR vaccine to autism was retracted and whose medical registration was revoked. The episode helped fuel vaccine misinformation.
MMR vaccine and autism controversy : A public controversy over the unsupported claim that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine causes autism. Wakefield’s paper helped turn this false claim into a lasting public controversy.
The Lancet MMR paper : A 1998 case series by Wakefield and colleagues describing 12 children and proposing a link between MMR vaccination and developmental disorders. This small, uncontrolled report launched the claim most closely associated with Wakefield.
Case series : An observational study that describes a group of patients with a shared condition or exposure, without a comparison group. Wakefield’s report described 12 children but could not test whether MMR caused their conditions.
Vaccine hesitancy : Delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability. The controversy contributed to doubts and delayed vaccination among some families.
The Lancet retraction of the 1998 MMR paper : The 2010 withdrawal by The Lancet of a 1998 paper by Wakefield and colleagues. The journal retracted the paper after investigations found serious problems with its conduct and reporting.
Brian Deer : A British investigative journalist who reported on Wakefield’s research, financial interests, and research conduct. Deer’s investigations prompted scrutiny of undisclosed interests and the paper’s methods.
Confounding : A distortion of an observed association caused by a factor related to both exposure and outcome. Without an appropriate comparison, reported timing could not establish that vaccination caused developmental symptoms.
MMR vaccine : A combined vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Extensive evidence supports its safety and effectiveness, contrary to Wakefield’s claim.
General Medical Council fitness-to-practise hearing on Andrew Wakefield : A UK regulatory hearing that examined Wakefield’s conduct in researching children and reporting MMR findings. The hearing found serious professional misconduct and led to his removal from the medical register.
British Medical Journal investigation of the Wakefield case : A 2011 series by the BMJ examining allegations of fraud in Wakefield’s MMR research. It documented discrepancies between the children’s records and the published account.
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