Debunked Myths

This dangerous myth traces back to a single fraudulent 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield that was completely discredited. The study manipulated data, violated ethical standards, and was funded by lawyers suing vaccine manufacturers. The paper was fully retracted in 2010, and Wakefield lost his medical license.

Since then, dozens of large-scale studies involving millions of children worldwide have consistently found no connection between vaccines and autism. The timing of routine vaccinations coincidentally aligns with when autism signs often appear, creating false correlation. The myth persists due to understandable parental concern, celebrity endorsements, and social media amplification.

The consequences have been devastating: decreased vaccination rates have led to resurgences of preventable diseases like measles, causing real illness and deaths. This demonstrates how a single debunked claim can undermine public health for generations, proving that fighting misinformation is as crucial as fighting disease itself.