Speculation on the possible correlation between the MMR vaccine and autism seems to have been largely triggered by the work of Dr. Andrew Wakefield. This research has been discredited,<ref>https://healthland.time.com/2012/01/13/great-science-frauds/slide/andrew-wakefield/</ref> in large part because of fraud in selecting test subject (his study only consisted of 12 children) and reporting the results, and because he was a paid consultant to attorneys representing parents who believed their children had been harmed by vaccines. It should also be noted that Dr. Wakefield was attempting to create a competing vaccine at the time, which could explain his allegations.<ref>https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2018/5/1/1761317/-It-s-been-20-years-since-Andrew-Wakefield-s-vaccine-causes-autism-study-it-s-still-fraudulent</ref> | Speculation on the possible correlation between the MMR vaccine and autism seems to have been largely triggered by the work of Dr. Andrew Wakefield. This research has been discredited,<ref>https://healthland.time.com/2012/01/13/great-science-frauds/slide/andrew-wakefield/</ref> in large part because of fraud in selecting test subject (his study only consisted of 12 children) and reporting the results, and because he was a paid consultant to attorneys representing parents who believed their children had been harmed by vaccines. It should also be noted that Dr. Wakefield was attempting to create a competing vaccine at the time, which could explain his allegations.<ref>https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2018/5/1/1761317/-It-s-been-20-years-since-Andrew-Wakefield-s-vaccine-causes-autism-study-it-s-still-fraudulent</ref> |