Forsaken Generation on with Andy Wakefield

I am so Nervouscited for this interview. Monday on Forsaken Generation you can Call 319-527-6208 to ask Andy a Question.

Andrew Wakefield is an academic gastroenterologist. He received his medical degree from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London in 1981. He qualified as Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1985 and trained as a gastrointestinal surgeon with a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease. Wakefield has published over 140 original scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters.

In 1995, as an academic physician working in a London teaching hospital, he was contacted by the parent of an autistic child with stomach issues. He soon learned from several other parents with autistic behaviors, that their children’s regressive behavior immediately followed an MMR vaccine. He started investigating a possible role between gastrointestinal issues, the MMR vaccine, and neurological injury in children. In pursuit of this possible link, Dr. Wakefield participated in a study of twelve children with both stomach and developmental issues. The ensuing report, written with twelve other authors would catapult Wakefield into becoming one of the most controversial figures in the history of Medicine.

Wakefield was called upon to answer a question as to what parents should do in light of concerns about MMR vaccine safety. He responded that in his mind there was enough doubt about MMR vaccine safety that parents should opt for the single measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines given at yearly intervals. His response: “It’s a moral issue for me. I can’t support the continued use of these three vaccines, given in combination until this issue has been resolved.” Wakefield advocated for the use of single vaccines. He did not say to stop vaccinations altogether as many have been led to believe. Nonetheless, this minted Wakefield as the “Father of the Anti-Vaccine Movement.”