British medical journal The Lancet has fully retracted an article that it published in 1998, which cited research linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to an increased chance of developing autism and bowel cancer. 

At the time of its publication, and to this day, the article has been referenced by advocates against immunisation, causing many parents to prevent their child from receiving the MMR vaccination. As a result, measles became endemic in Britain in 2008, 14 years after its spread was halted by the introduction of the MMR vaccine. The rate of measles has also risen in Europe and the USA.

Statements made in the article, by lead author Andrew Wakefield, were found to be false and incorrect during an investigation by the UK General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practise Panel, which passed its judgement on the matter last week.

The official retraction by the editors of The Lancet said that claims made in the original article that children were “consecutively referred” and investigations were “approved” by the local ethics committee were proven to be false.

The statements made in the original article have been widely rejected by the medical community.

To view the retraction visit: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2960175-7/fulltext