No autism link to vaccines, says large new study

There is more evidence showing no link between the measles-mumps-rubella, MMR, vaccine and autism, even in children considered to be at a greater risk.

That's the message from a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers at the Lewin Group studied 95,000 children.

They found no association between the vaccine that prevents measles, mumps and rubella, and autism, regardless whether the child had an older sibling on the spectrum.

"This study confirms the safety of the MMR vaccine using recent objective data set," says Dr. Anjali Jain, the study leader.

"We hope that this reassures parents when they are making healthcare decisions for their children," she continues.

Doctors say parents who have a child on the autism spectrum are more reluctant to vaccinate other siblings, with vaccination rates 10% below families where there is no autism.

The researchers hope this new, large study will change that.