Autism and vaccines: Will the debate rage on?

The study that linked autism and bowel disease to the mumps, rubella and measles vaccine has been retracted, the Associate Press reports in an article posted on cbc.ca.

Published in 1998 in British medical journal The Lancet, the study sparked a heated debate over the safety of vaccinating children. Following its publication, many British parents refused to vaccinate their children, which led to an influx of measles.

Even though the study’s findings have been refuted time and again, and lead researcher Andrew Wakefield was called dishonest and irresponsible by Britain’s General Medical Council, parents groups continue to speak out against vaccinations. Most famously, former MTV star Jenny McCarthy, whose son was diagnosed as autistic, has been quite vocal about her belief that vaccines may cause autism. In a 2009 interview with Times magazine, McCarthy is quoted as saying, ‘I do believe sadly it’s going to take some diseases coming back to realize that we need to change and develop vaccines that are safe.’

Now that The Lancet has officially retracted the controversial study and three of the researchers (including Wakefield) may have their medical licences revoked, I wonder if views on the vaccine-autism link will begin to change. What do you think? Has this news changed your mind about this controversial link? Have you or do you intend to vaccinate your kids?