CBER Director Says Measles Vaccine is Safe, Effective

CBER Director Peter Marks said the FDA remains confident in the safety and efficacy of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, as the CDC reported a 71 percent spike in measles cases to 626 cases in one week in the United States.

Many parents rejected the MMR vaccine based on research published in the Lancet two decades ago suggesting a link between the vaccine and autism. That research was later retracted but the mythology has persisted.

The World Health Organization says vaccine “hesitancy” is one of the biggest threats to public health. Hoping to turn the tide, the federal government has designated April 27 to May 4 as National Infant Immunization Week.