A class action suit against vaccine manufacturers has been filed on behalf of over 1000 British families with children who are suffering from serious mental and physical disabilities as a result of the MMR vaccine. Reuters Health, January 7, 2002.

Studies by pediatrician Dr. Edward Yazbak found that some mothers vaccinated with measles vaccine around the time of pregnancy can transmit the virus through breast milk, pre-sensitizing susceptible babies who then develop autism immediately after receiving the MMR vaccine. The mothers themselves developed serious side effects from the vaccines, including arthritis, thyroid and auto-immune problems. This subset of mothers also experienced a higher rate of still-births and miscarriages. This can be found in, Autism 2000, A Tragedy, by Dr. Edward Yazbak, TL Autism Research, Falmouth, Massachusetts. For a complete listing of Dr. Yazbak's autism studies and statistics click here.

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) --through the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices-- recommends that two doses of the MMR triple antigen vaccine be given to our children. The first MMR vaccine is given to infants between 12-18 months, the second at 4-6 years or at 11-12 years of age. State supported information tells parents the vaccine is safe and effective.

Atypical measles is a problem that arose soon after the measles vaccine was first introduced. This form of measles only occurs in children who have been previously vaccinated against measles. Atypical measles not only resists treatment, but often degenerates into pneumonia or meningitis.

Numerous medical reports published in prestigious medical journals have cited major complications resulting from the MMR vaccine, including retardation, chronic seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, hearing loss, chronic arthritis, encephalitis and aseptic meningitis. For a list of these reports, click here.

A comprehensive list of recent epidemics among measles- vaccinated populations has been organized by Dr. Edward Yazbak, TL Autism Research, Falmouth, Massachusettes in which it was determined that many children contract the measles despite vaccination as confirmed by numerous medical reports worldwide.

MMR-II is a live virus vaccine produced using cells originating from aborted human fetal tissue. It is manufactured by Merck and Co., Inc. MMR-II contains the neuro-toxin aluminum that has been linked to brain dysfunction. In 2001 the FDA shut down Merck's Pennsylvania plant for more than a month due to violations of sterility, testing and documentation. Much of this came out in the Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition newsletter from 1/14/02

Vijendra K. Singh, a scientist at the Utah State University, published a conclusive study in 2001 confirming that MMR-vaccinated children have abnormally high levels of measles virus antibodies, indicating that autism may be a neuro-immune response to the vaccine. Singh found auto-antibodies in 80% of autistic children while normal children had none. These auto-antibodies apparently attack the myelin proteins surrounding the sheath of nerve fibers, resulting in brain dysfunction. Singh found that 55% of autistic children developed this condition after receiving the MMR vaccine and 33% after receiving the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine.

A 12-year Finnish study showed that 7 of 9 previously vaccinated children contracted measles if they shared a bedroom with an infected sibling. The study concluded that genuine protection against measles may not be achievable with vaccination. That study was from "Explosive School-based Measles Outbreak Intense Exposure May Have Resulted in High Risk, Even Among Revaccinees," Mikko Paunio (Department of Public Health, Helsinki University, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology,1998.

Studies conducted by British scientist Dr. Andrew Wakefield show a significant correlation between autism and the MMR vaccine. Wakefield found that the MMR vaccine increases the permeability of the bowel, causing "leaky gut syndrome." Toxin-laden fecal matter is then allowed to escape the digestive tract and enter the bloodstream. Once in the blood, the toxins travel to the brain where they damage sensitive brain tissues leading to the development of autism. Dr. Wakefield also found that autistic children develop inflamed bowel nodules causing indigestion and liver damage from toxic overload. This can be found in testimony by Dr. Andrew Wakefield before the Government Reform Committee Hearing on Vaccines and Autism, April 6, 2000, Chairman: Representative Dan Burton. "Top UK Doctor Ties 170 cases of Autism to MMR Baby Vaccine," London Telegraph, 1-21-01. Wakefield's study that first brought about the idea that the MMR vaccine may be linked to Autism.

His findings have been corroborated by Irish molecular biologist John O'Leary , who found measles virus in the gut of 96% of vaccinated autistic children and in 75% of children with Crohn's Disease. This can be found in the testimony by John O'Leary, PhD, Coomb's Women's Hospital in Dublin, before the Government Reform Committee Hearing on Vaccines and Autism, April 6, 2000, Chairman: Representative Dan Burton.