A few years ago it was suggested that Crohn’s disease (CD) was possibly brought on by vaccination – in particular the MMR vaccine conferring immunity to measles, mumps and rubella. This lead to many mothers refusing to allow their children to be immunised so that in recent years measles, a potentially dangerous disease, has once again emerged in outbreaks in Southern England.
The link between measles and CD has been fiercely debated, and the original proponents of the idea have failed to support their case. A recent detailed analysis published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Vol 13 p1405) examines the risk for developing IBD following vaccination. These included studies of different vaccinations – BCG, diphtheria, tetanus, smallpox, polio, whooping cough, measles, rubella, mumps and the combined MMR vaccine. In this very large study there was NO association between childhood immunisation and the risk of developing IBD.
This is a very reassuring report which should persuade worried mothers that it is safe to have their children immunised and so to prevent the risk of these unpleasant diseases affecting their children.
This article was first published on the original crohns.org.uk blog. Research has moved on since, so please check current advice with your IBD team.