Is The Combination Measles (MMR) Vaccination Safe?

Our Walk-In Lab
Our Discount Study Tests

What The Evidence Says = It’s Safe

MMR vaccine’s side effects are uncommon and usually very mild (DeStefano, et al., 2019). Common adverse reactions include injection site reactions, 5 to 15% get a fever, and 5% get a mild rash; anything more intense is really rare (DeStefano, et al., 2019).

How Effective Is The MMR Vaccine at Preventing Measles?

MMR vaccine is over 97% effective against measles and rubella, after two doses (DeStefano, et al., 2019).

Why Do People Think The MMR Vaccination Is Unsafe?

In 1998 Media reports circulated about a possible link between the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) and autism or bowel disease (Rao, & Andrade, 2011).

Is There A Link Between Autism And The MMR Vaccination? = No

These reports were based on a case series published in Lancet by Wakefield et al., (1998) that was highly criticised by the scientific community, disproven by 6 comprehensive follow-up studies, and the scientists from the paper that started it all, were convicted of deliberate fraud (Rao, & Andrade, 2011).

Wakefield had been paid by a lawyer to find a link between MMR and autism (Rao, & Andrade, 2011). With the aim of getting the results they needed for a lawsuit (Deer, 2011).

Wakefield changed the information parents gave him to make it look like there was a link between the MMR vaccine (Deer, 2011). When the parents were visited by a journalist, their stories and what was reported in Wakefield’s paper were very different (Deer, 2011).

This has been highly publicised. But the damage is done. Many parents now worry and question not just the MMR vaccine, but many others.

Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism

In a book titled, Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism, Peter Hotez Md, PhD explored the organized political resistance to vaccines as a paediatrician, a vaccine scientist and a dad of a little girl with autism.

If anyone had motive to believe in the vaccine-autism connection, it would be this dad. He has the ability to find the truth as a vaccine scientist, and the issue is close to home as his own daughter suffers from autism.

Yet in his book dedicated to finding the roots of autism, that’s not what he found.

In Chapter 8: Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism, Dr Hotez, explained that the vaccine-autism link has no scientific basis and any claims to the contrary are either false or a pseudo-scientific half-truth.

In Chapter 9: What Does Cause Autism? He explored how far our knowledge on the genes and brains of kids with autism has come. We now know that that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) begins during pregnancy. But this syndrome only really starts to show itself between 18 and 24 months because that’s the age when a child’s brain is going through massive growth. This is when many social developmental milestones happen (smiling or rolling over); milestones which many ASD children miss.

Incidentally, this is the same age children are given their vaccinations. But the science definitely says that’s exactly what it is, a coincidence.

So should you trust the MMR vaccine = YES

South Africa’s 2023 Measles Outbreak: What’s Happening Now?

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, & it’s making waves in SA right now. Learn more about this deadly childhood disease.

learn more here

Why Is Measles Surging In South Africa?

Measles has made a big comeback in South Africa. But why is it infecting children not just in South Africa, but across the world? We look at the evidence.

learn more here

Learn More About Our Walk-In Lab

Epicentre has an extensive walk-in testing centre for both rapid and lab tests. Learn more here.

Learn More

Like Our Articles?

If you want to read more articles like this, join our monthly newsletter! We release insider info on what the health research industry is taking a look at each month.

Join Our Newsletter

Read Our Full Newsletter Here

Like our normal newsletter format or want to see all our articles for February – March 2023? Click the button below to read them now.

Click Here

Book with Epicentre

For 20 years Epicentre has been fighting South African’s infectious diseases, and now we’re taking on COVID-19! We are a company founded on a vision, ending disease in South Africa! So we believe in making an IMPACT.

We are an independent organization that is committed to creating a positive impact on health & wellness for all in South Africa. We want to close the gap between unscreened, undiagnosed, and uncontrolled HIV & COVID-19 infections as well as other chronic diseases for all South Africans.

By booking your tests with Epicentre, you are supporting a real local company that has worked for 20 years in all 9 provinces, from Pollsmoor prison to Constantia; & you’re getting a gold standard service that experts trust!

Epicentre Special Deals

We offer free and heavily discounted tests as they are subsidized by research organizations that are looking to use this anonymous information to investigate various research questions, like can people test themselves for COVID?

Our Special Deals

10% Off All Walk-In Lab Tests

Only for pensioners at all branches.

Free Blood Pressure Tests

With all Walk-In Lab tests

Rapid COVID-19 Antigen/infection testing

R50 pensioners discount!

Epicentre offers

Walk-In Lab

Please note that our packages are just a guide, you can pick any of these tests in these packages, add extra tests or take out any tests. Choose what suits your needs!

Women’s Wellness Package (Foundation)

Women’s Wellness Package (+40yrs)

Men’s Wellness Package (Foundation)

Men’s Wellness Package (+40yrs)

Arthritis Package

Athletes Total Wellness Package

Diabetes Monitoring Package

Diabetes Screening Package

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Package

Comprehensive Weight Loss Package

Liver & Pancreas Package

Long COVID Package

HIV Monitoring Package

HIV Screening Package

Iron Deficiency & Anaemia Package

Menopause Package

Women’s Fertility Test Package

Men’s Fertility Test Package

STI Screening Package

Thyroid Screening Package

Rapid Typhoid Test

Drive Through

Laboratory Typhoid Test

Home

Measles Test Package

Drive Through

Mumps Test Package

Drive Through

Drive-Thru COVID Tests

Rapid COVID-19 Antigen/infection testing

(R250 with a R50 pensioners discount!)

Drive-Thru COVID-19 PCR Testing

(R500)

Home based COVID-19 PCR Testing

(R1150 + travel over 50kms)

Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Tests

On Sale! (R150)

Express International Flight Testing

(PCR Flight certificate in 12hrs)

(R850)

Cape Town Only

Extra Express International Flight Testing

(PCR Flight certificate in 4-5hrs)

(R2000)

Cape Town Only

International Flight Testing Package

(PCR + Antiviral Mask)

(R1000)

Contact Us

Ready to talk? Contact us today for a free consultation!