Drug News
MMR vaccine may raise blood disorder risk
By Ben Wasserman
Mar 13, 2008 - 6:36:11 PM

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TURSDAY March 13, 2008 (Foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published in the March issue of Pediatrics suggests that measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine may increase risk of immune thrombocytopenic purpura in babies who receive the drug in their second year of life.

The altered immune response may not be limited to MMR vaccine, according to Dr. Joe Mercola, a conventional physician who promotes natural health, who suggests that all vaccines reduce the natural capability of immune defense system.

But Dr. Eric K. France, of Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, and colleagues said that the risk is low and the disease if triggered is mild and revolves within an average 7 days. They conclude that the finding does not mean the current immunization policies should be altered.

Patients with ITP may have a dangerously low platelet counts because the compromised immune system can mistakenly recognize the body's own platelets as foreign objects and destroys them.

The study, essentially confirming a link observed in two early studies between MMR vaccine and ITP, showed that one case of ITP would result from every 40,000 vaccinations in the 12 to 23 and 12 to 15-month age groups.