Sir, - Dr Muiris Houston's conclusion that the MMR vaccine is not guilty (The Irish Times, July 22nd) may be premature.
The evidence is open to many interpretations, depending upon one's point of view.
As Robert Preston, medical historian, said (in relation to cancer treatments), "It is important to ask who is doing science, in what institutional context, and at what cost. Understanding such things can give us insight into why scientific tools are sharp for certain kinds of problems and dull for others."
I would suggest that the jury is still out regarding the safety of MMR vaccine. However, my hopes for a fair hearing of all the evidence is not high while the jury is composed mainly of doctors, who frequently benefit financially from giving vaccinations, and pharmaceutical companies, which manufacture them. - Yours, etc.,
Dr S. GASCOIGNE, Ardfield, Clonakilty, Co Cork.