It's a topic every new parent agonizes over: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?  A famous 1998 study supposedly linked the common childhood vaccine for Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) to increased rates of autism - a claim that many parents took to heart, perhaps most famously Jenny McCarthy.

While most pediatricians and health authorities insist that the dangers of Measles, Mumps or Rubella far outweigh any potential side effects, the questions raised in the study by Dr Andrew Wakefield were enough to convince some parents to refuse the vaccine.  Perhaps as a result, measles outbreaks have increased in many areas in Europe and North America according to reports.

Some in the medical community worked to discredit Wakefield's findings, resulting in the recent revocation of his medical license in Britain.  Now, a new analysis has been published that suggests not only was Dr Wakefield wrong, but that the research was faked.

Dr Wakefield has strongly denied these claims, but certainly the non-vaccine camp has taken a big hit over this news.

Are you convinced of the safety of vaccines for children and adults?  Or are you less trustful and try to avoid them whenever possible?