Why do some folks think that the MMR vaccine licensing is being called into question?

Yup. That’s what the usual suspects are trying to make you think.
Is the MMR Vaccine Licensing Being Called into Question?
Taking advantage of the fact that many sites publish all press releases, these folks want you to think that a major news site is following their latest bombshell, which of course is just another dud.

You mean there really isn’t an FDA coverup?
“Clinical studies of 284 triple seronegative children, 11 months to 7 years of age, demonstrated that M-M-R II is highly immunogenic and generally well tolerated.”
MMR II Package Insert
Not only is the package insert very transparent about the studies used to approve the MMR II vaccine they are talking about, since only a minor change was made to the original MMR vaccine, which was approved in 1971, it isn’t surprising that larger trials weren’t required at the time.
So there were earlier, larger trials?
Yup.

But did they use a saline control group?
Nope.

The control group was actually unvaccinated.
It is also important to keep in mind that this study, and a few other MMR studies, followed much, much larger studies of the individual measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.
“The large majority of children in the United States have been vaccinated against measles and a sizable portion have been given mumps and rubella vaccines. It is estimated by us based on vaccination distribution that about 41 million children have received measles vaccine, 7 million mumps vaccine, and 21 million rubella vaccine. The combined triple vaccine provides a simple, safe, and effective immunization procedure using a single vaccine dose against three important diseases in children who have not yet been immunized.”
Stokes et al on Trivalent combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Findings in clinical-laboratory studies.
Much larger double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the individual measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.

The bottom line is that the measles (1968), mumps (1967), and rubella (1969) vaccines were safe when they were approved by the FDA.
The MMR (1971) was safe when it was approved by the FDA.
And MMR-II (1978) was safe when it was approved by the FDA.
Since then, there have also been studies showing that getting a second dose of MMR-II is safe and effective and that ProQuad, the combination measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective, although it is associated with a small increased risk of febrile seizures if given as a first dose.
There is no FDA coverup. No bombshell.
Just anti-vaccine folks continuing to try and scare you away from vaccinating and protecting your kids.
More on the Licensing of the MMR Vaccine
- VAXOPEDIA – Who Needs an MMR Vaccine?
- VAXOPEDIA – Everything You Need to Know About the Measles Vaccine
- VAXOPEDIA – Is the MMR Safe for 6-Month-Old Babies?
- VAXOPEDIA – Myths About Warnings and Adverse Reactions in the MMR Package Insert
- Study – Combined live measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccines.
- Study – Trivalent combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Findings in clinical-laboratory studies.
- Study – Combined live measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. Immunological response.
- Study – Cooperative measles vaccine field trial. I. Clinical efficacy.
- Study – Experience with live rubella virus vaccine combined with live vaccines against measles and mumps.
- Study – Live attenuated mumps virus vaccine. II. Early clinical studies.
- Study – Adverse Events Following Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine in Adults Reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 2003–2013
- CDC – MMR Vaccine Safety
- CDC – MMR Safety Studies
- FDA – MMR-II
- WHO – MMR Information Sheet
- CDC – Results from Studies Before MMRV Vaccine Was Licensed
- Ask the Experts about MMR
- MMR decision aid
- Is the MMR vaccine safe?
- A Large Study Provides More Evidence That MMR Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism
- MMR Vaccine and Autism: Lack of Association
- Questions about the safety of the MMR Vaccine
- Should I still worry about the MMR vaccine?
- The media’s MMR hoax
- Studies ‘supporting’ Andrew Wakefield
As a physician, this is the most poorly written article in defense of vaccines. Only an idiot would read this and be relieved about all the rumors flying around out there. Everyone knows the WHO, CDC, and FDA are completely political can cannot be trusted. And posting studies from the 70’s is the dumbest thing ever. No one uses medical data from the 70’s. Why would it be applicable now. That’s like relying on medical data from the 1800, dummy.