The Lancet article (1998)

The 1998 article in The Lancet, authored by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues, falsely linked the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to autism. The study suggested a new syndrome involving gastrointestinal issues and developmental problems in children post-vaccination. This sparked widespread fear and led to a decline in vaccination rates. However, subsequent investigations revealed serious ethical issues, including undisclosed financial conflicts and flawed research methods. The study was retracted in 2010, and extensive evidence has since disproved any link between vaccines and autism, underscoring the importance of vaccines for public health.