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applied science unit 5 p2,p3,m2,d2
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Unit 5Perceptions of science
P2:
MMR
MMR stands for measles, mumps and rubella. The MMR vaccine is a three in one vaccine, which
protects people against three separate illnesses, measles, mumps and rubella. If the MMR vaccine is
not given to a child, it leaves them open to the three infectious diseases that could end up being
fatal. If someone catches measles, mumps or rubella it could leave them with serious problems like
meningitis, swelling of the brain and deafness. Measles, mumps and rubella are not just fatal to
children but also adults especially pregnant women. If infected it could cause complications affecting
the unborn baby and miscarriage. There are less outbreaks today because new-born babies are given
the vaccine making them immune to measles, mumps or rubella. As most people are given the
vaccine early it means most people are immune causing less outbreaks to occur. However, out
breaks can still happen and people not given to vaccine are more likely to get measles, mumps or
rubella as everyone else is immune to it. It is important children are kept up to date with the MMR
vaccine to make sure out breaks don’t happen. Before it was introduced in 1988, many people were
dying and since being released death rates dropped to a minimum.
Andrew Wakefield
In 1998, a now ex physician, Andrew Wakefield along with his colleagues published a case series
about the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine may cause ‘behavioural regression and pervasive
developmental disorder’ in children. The paper attracted a lot of publicity which caused less parents
to decide to give their children the vaccination in case of it caused autism. Many more articles were
published about the conclusion made linking autism to the MMR vaccination. Many questions were
asked and after more research into the MMR vaccination, “no causal link was established between
MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient”. Wakefield was funded by lawyers who had
been sent by parents in lawsuits against vaccines. Due to Wakefield’s paper, many parents across
the world did not vaccinate their children out of fear of the risk of autism. This resulted in measles,
mumps and rubella outbreaks. Andrew Wakefield was strongly against the MMR vaccine that was
the reason he started his research into the MMR vaccine. Although Wakefield’s research and data
were over ruled this did not stop the media and other new papers sharing his research to the public
causing many parents to question whether the important vaccine could in fact cause their child
autism. This led many parents to stop vaccinating their children in fear which lead to outbreaks of
measles, mumps and rubella.
What are people’s concerns about the MMR vaccine?
The main concern provided by the people is if the MMR vaccine is linked to autism. This concern was
brought up when, the ex-physician, Andrew Wakefield published his article, The Lancet, which stated
the MMR vaccine could cause ‘behavioural regression and pervasive development disorder’ in
children and bowel disease. This caused a public outcry causing parents to become worried and
extremely concerned. Due to this statement, parents became confused and untrusting of the MMR
vaccine, making parents question whether they should still give their child the vaccine. Many parents
decided to not give their child the vaccine as they thought it was the best idea to prevent their
children from getting autism. By choosing not to immunise their children this made them open to
catching measles, mumps and rubella. As many parents all decided not to give their child the vaccine
this meant the number of cases of measles, mumps and rubella increased which increased the
chances of the non-vaccinated children from getting one of the three- measles mumps or rubella.
, Unit 5
The parents do not understand the risks of not vaccinating their children, as they don’t fully
understand the vaccination. There are many benefits from the vaccination, one obvious one being
the prevention of measles, mumps and rubella. The information can be found easily by researching
it. However, many parents like to find scientific evidence when making big decisions about their
child’s health. Therefore, after hearing what Wakefield was saying, many parents trusted him as he
was a scientist even though other scientists who have produced their own studies have discredited
Wakefield’s findings and evidence concluding there is not a link between autism and the MMR
vaccine. This shows there was a bigger risk on not immunising their children by thinking they are
protecting them from autism when they could contract measles, mumps or rubella which could
result in meningitis, swelling of the brain and deafness.
Some parents do in fact understand the benefits of the MMR vaccine and decide to vaccinate their
children. The main reason parents would decide to vaccinate their children is because it is the best
way to protect them from measles, mumps and rubella. However, some parents also understand by
vaccinating their children they help protect other people because the more people immunized the
less out breaks of measles, mumps and rubella there is. They understand it is much safer to get the
vaccine than to get measles, mumps or rubella. Even though the MMR vaccine is safe, there are
possible side effects. These side effects include a rash, high temperature, loss of appetite and feeling
under the weather for around 2 to 3 days. The side effects of the MMR vaccine are worth
undergoing because getting measles, mumps or rubella would be much worse than the side effects.
The parents weigh out the risks and benefits of the vaccine and there are more benefits than risks.
How the media portrays the MMR vaccination
After the release of Andrew Wakefield’s paper, The Lancet, the media has taken the topic of
whether the MMR vaccine causes autism and written a number of articles. Some of these articles
have scientific evidence and others have not backed their findings. Due to the media’s involvement
with the topic, this had brought a lot of attention to the controversy, engaging more people and
parents to read them. After parents read these articles, they think they can trust, it creates fear and
causes them not to trust the MMR vaccine. The parents who no longer trust the vaccine will no
longer vaccinate their children that means less people are immune to measles, mumps and rubella.
This results in a higher chance of outbreak and a higher chance of the children not vaccinated in
contracting measles, mumps and rubella.
This is the headline of an article taken from the Daily Mail in June 2002:
‘New MMR link found to autism’ By BEEZY MARSH
The article, as mentioned before, was taken from the Daily Mail. The headline clearly shows the
article is against the MMR vaccine as it states in the title that it is linked to autism. In the article, the
writer, Beezy Marsh, refers to the findings of Andrew Wakefield. This shows the writer believes what
Wakefield has stated about the vaccination and the writer is now sharing this information to people
and parents, which will cause fear. In the article, the writer uses statistics. The use of statistics and
facts are used as a way to scare the parents and people as they are going to believe the numbers
being shown which persuades them into deciding not to give their child the vaccine. This shows how
the media portrays the MMR vaccine.
This headline is taken from a different article from the NHS website in March 2019:
‘No link between MMR and autism’ Analysis by Bazian
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