Dr. Andrew Wakefield, known for his controversial research linking childhood vaccines to autism, has been banned from practicing medicine in Great Britain. Wakefield and colleagues published a study in 1998 in the medical journal Lancet alleging a link between autism and the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella).

Wakefield’s research has been a central figure in the anti-vaccine lobby and has garnered much support from parents suspicious of vaccines. Vaccination rates in Britain have never recovered since his research was published in 1998. Measles outbreaks in Great Britain and in the US are now on the rise.

Ten of Wakefield’s colleagues later renounced the study’s conclusions and it was retracted by the Lancet in February. A number of other studies have been conducted since Wakefield’s research in 1998 and none have found a connection between autism and any vaccine.

AbilityPath parents commented on this late breaking news, here is what they had to say:

Gabrielle Jones: The decision to vaccinate or not is a heavy one as a new parent. Although, I chose to vaccinate my daughter, parents who might remain worried should definitely talk to their pediatrician... we opted to vaccinate according to the CDC schedule.

Barbara Rodio: I do not believe the theory of vaccinations linking to autism…even with the removal of thiomersal from vaccines, the rate of autism keeps increasing. [However, I still] requested thiomersal free vaccines for my younger children and also split up all their shots.

Sanderson Streett: I think Jenny McCarthy said it best back in February when she stated: "It is our most sincere belief that Dr. Wakefield and parents of children with autism around the world are being subjected to a remarkable media campaign engineered by vaccine manufacturers…Dr. Wakefield is being vilified through a well-orchestrated smear campaign."

Click here to see what more AbilityPath parents are saying…

The ruling doesn't affect Wakefield's right to practice medicine in the United States. Wakefield moved to the U.S. in 2004 and set up an autism research center in Austin, Texas.

Sources:

Associated Press, “Britain bans doctor who linked autism to vaccine.” May 24, 2010

U.S. News & World Report, “Doctor Behind Autism-Vaccine Scare Can't Practice in U.K.” May 24, 2010