Photo: Bladość / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Andrew Wakefield is a figure I find hard to discuss without weighing the harm. A former surgeon from Eton, he authored the now-retracted 1998 Lancet paper falsely linking the MMR vaccine to autism, was struck from the medical register for misconduct, and reinvented himself as an anti-vaccine activist and filmmaker. The 2018 Rusty Razor Award captures the verdict the scientific community reached. Whatever talent he once had, his lasting influence has been to seed fear with discredited claims. I see him as a cautionary study in how a single fraudulent narrative can outlive its debunking and do lasting damage.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Andrew Wakefield
- Name (Japanese)
- アンドリュー・ウェイクフィールド
- Reading
- あんどりゅー・うぇいくふぃーるど
- Born
- September 3, 1956 (age 69)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Monkey
- Origin
- Eton, United Kingdom
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- physician / anti-vaccine activist / film producer / film director / screenwriter
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2018 Rusty Razor Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Andrew Wakefield born?
Born September 3, 1956 (age 69).
Where is Andrew Wakefield from?
Andrew Wakefield is from Eton, United Kingdom.
What does Andrew Wakefield do?
Andrew Wakefield works as physician, anti-vaccine activist, film producer, film director, screenwriter.
What is Andrew Wakefield known for?
Notable works include RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children.
Physician — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.