The Isle of Wight Study

The Isle of Wight Study was a pioneering project conducted in the late 1980s to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. It involved over 14,000 children and compared those who received the vaccine with unvaccinated children to assess potential adverse effects. The study found no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism or other severe health issues, helping to reassure the public about vaccine safety. Its findings played a key role in increasing confidence in immunization programs and guiding public health policies across the UK.