Study finds no link between autism and measles vaccine

A new study published Monday found no link between autism and the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. 

Researchers in Denmark studied 657,461 Danish children born between 1999 and 2010, and found the vaccine didn’t increase the risk for autism or trigger autism in susceptible children, according to the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 

{mosads}Researchers at the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen followed children once a year from 1999 through August 2013.

Public health officials blame the ongoing measles outbreaks in several U.S. states to vaccine skepticism and misinformation spread online. 

Part of the misinformation revolves around a 1998 study that linked autism and vaccines. But the study was retracted after an investigation found the author falsified facts. 

There are 206 cases of the measles in the U.S. as of Feb. 28, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with outbreaks in six states. The outbreaks have mostly impacted unvaccinated children. 

The CDC says the MMR vaccine is “very safe” and effective.