"Speculation that MMR - the combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella - may be a cause of autism in children has provoked fierce controversy and widespread anxiety." "Though medical opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of MMR, the campaign against the vaccine has made many parents worried and confused. Both professionals and parents struggle to cope with the resulting anxieties and fears and find it difficult to get a balanced account of the issues." "In MMR and Autism Michael Fitzpatrick, a general practitioner who is also the parent of an autistic child, explains why he believes the anti-MMR campaign is misguided in a way that will reassure parents considering vaccination and also relieve the continued anxieties of parents of autistic children. At the same time the book provides healthcare professionals and health studies students with an accessible overview of a contemporary health and media issue with significant policy implications."--Jacket.