JABS Press Release 10 July 2006
BBC withdraws allegation that Dr Andrew Wakefield was paid to
conduct MMR investigation
Following reports in the Sunday Times on 22 February 2004 the Prime Minister
told BBC news: "I hope now that people will see the situation is somewhat
different from what they were led to believe...." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3512195.stm.)
The same report went on to state:
'Dr Wakefield was being paid by Legal Aid to examine whether parents who claim
their children were damaged by MMR had a case. Some children were involved in
both studies. The Lancet says it was never told of this.'
Now, after more than two years the BBC has accepted that Dr Wakefield was not
paid to undertake this investigation. Health safety campaigner, John Stone,
pressed the BBC to correct inaccurate statements. He reports: "After extensive
private representations the BBC has withdrawn its claim that Andrew Wakefield
was paid to investigate whether children had been damaged by MMR vaccine on
behalf of litigants."
A BBC report dated 4 March 2004 'MMR researchers issue retraction' stated:
It followed the discovery that Andrew Wakefield was carrying out a second study
at the time. He was being paid to see whether there was any evidence to support
a possible legal action by a group of parents who claimed their children were
damaged by the vaccine.
The text now reads:
Funding was provided to the hospital where his team worked for the study, which
was investigating if there was any evidence to support possible legal action by
a group of parents who claimed their children were damaged by the vaccine.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3530551.stm
Although the report says it was last updated on 4 March 2004, it was in fact
changed this week. At least one other BBC report has been similarly modified.
The payment was one of a number of serious allegations raised against Dr
Wakefield. The General Medical Council (GMC) has been investigating whether to
charge him or not for the last two years and to date no formal charges have been
laid. No parent of any of the children who were under his team's care have made
adverse remarks or allegations against Dr Wakefield. The original allegations,
Jabs believes, came from a hostile journalist.
Dr Wakefield has insisted he has done nothing wrong and says the science behind
his study still stands. He welcomed the GMC investigation. "I not only welcome
this, I insist on it," he said. "Serious allegations have been made against me
in relation to the provision of clinical care for children with autism and bowel
disease, and the subsequent reporting of their disease."
Jabs believes the only serious issue Dr Wakefield is guilty of is listening to
the parents, investigating the children and reporting his findings.
Contact details:
John Stone - 0208 888 7109
Jackie Fletcher - 01942 713565
Jonathan Harris - 0121 722 3004
About Jabs:
Jabs is a support group for parents who believe their children have been damaged
by vaccines. Jabs neither recommends nor advises against vaccinations but we aim
to promote understanding about immunisations and offer basic support to any
parent whose child has a health problem after vaccination.
For further background information:
See earlier Jabs Forum topic 'Wakefield was not paid to investigate damage':
http://www.jabs.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=207
See also 'Richard Horton and the Wakefield affair':
http://www.jabs.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=184