What research has been done on the connection between mumps vaccine and autism?

The link between mumps vaccine and autism has been studied extensively, and the consensus among the scientific community is that there is no connection. The claim that there is a link was first made in a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues, which was later retracted. Numerous studies since then have failed to replicate the findings of the original study, and several major reviews of the evidence have concluded that there is no link between mumps vaccine and autism.

Here are some key findings from the research on the connection between mumps vaccine and autism:

* A 2013 review of the evidence by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that there is no credible evidence supporting a link between mumps vaccine and autism. The IOM review assessed over 100 studies and found that none provided convincing evidence of a link.

* A 2012 review of the evidence by the Cochrane Collaboration found that there is no reliable evidence to support the hypothesis that mumps vaccine is linked to autism. The Cochrane Collaboration review included 14 studies and found that none showed a statistically significant association between mumps vaccine and autism.

* A 2011 review of the evidence by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that there is no evidence that mumps vaccine is linked to autism. The CDC review included over 20 studies and found that none showed a consistent association between mumps vaccine and autism.

The body of scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that there is no connection between mumps vaccine and autism.