This is a story about the pernicious claims borne out of a single, discredited scientific paper in 1998. But it’s also a story of how this belief has persisted among a growing number of Americans, despite its scientific foundations crumbling in the years following its origin.

To chronicle the scientific merit of this idea, we’ll refer to a number of studies, as well as to investigative journalism pieces focused on the credibility of its most vocal proponent: Andrew Wakefield.

To chronicle the belief in the autism-vaccine link I’ll use the New York Times archive to show the articles that mention a link between both these terms. We use these articles not to cast aspersions on the Times, but to demonstrate the fact that these beliefs have grown sufficiently popular for the paper of record to mention them with increased frequency.

Science etc. is a series of shorter visual stories exploring the unexpected aspects of scientific research and their implications.

Some 30 studies have found no relationship between autism and the MMR vaccine; the original study, its data misrepresented, has been retracted, and its lead researcher is now barred from practicing medicine in the UK. And yet, the myth persists, with measles cases breaking out in wealthy nations like the US and UK.

In rare cases, adverse effects may occur, but their likelihood, and severity, pale in comparison to the consequences of highly contagious diseases like measles.

Is there a fix? Abolishing the voluntary exemption to vaccinations, as several states have, is one. The others are simple: vaccinate your kids, and tell your friends the most harmful characteristic of the MMR vaccine is its false link to autism.