From the Guidelines
There is no scientific evidence supporting a link between vaccines and autism, as consistently demonstrated by multiple large, well-designed studies, including those referenced in 1 and 1.
Key Points
- Multiple large, well-designed studies have thoroughly investigated the question of a link between vaccines and autism and found no connection between childhood vaccines and autism development.
- The original 1998 study that suggested a possible link between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism was later retracted due to serious methodological flaws and ethical violations.
- Numerous studies involving hundreds of thousands of children have examined whether vaccines, vaccine ingredients (such as thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative), or the timing of vaccinations might contribute to autism risk, and all have found no association, as noted in 1 and 1.
- Medical and public health organizations worldwide, including the CDC, WHO, and American Academy of Pediatrics, affirm that vaccines are safe and do not cause autism, as stated in 1 and 1.
- The actual causes of autism appear to be complex, involving genetic factors and possibly environmental influences during early development, but vaccines are not among these factors.
- Vaccination remains one of our most effective tools for preventing serious childhood diseases.
Recommendation
Vaccination should be recommended for all children, as the benefits of protecting them against the known risks of influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases far outweigh any perceived risks, as emphasized in 1 and 1. The most recent and highest quality studies, such as those referenced in 1 and 1, should be prioritized when making decisions about vaccination. These studies demonstrate the safety and efficacy of vaccines in preventing serious childhood diseases, and they do not support a link between vaccines and autism.
From the Research
Association Between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Vaccination
- The majority of scientific studies have found no causal relationship between vaccination and the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Early studies and reviews, including one by the Institute of Medicine in 2001, concluded that the evidence favors the rejection of a causal relationship between measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and ASD 2.
- Later studies have continued to support this finding, with no increased risk of ASD associated with measles-mumps-rubella vaccine or other vaccines 3, 5.
- Theories suggesting that vaccines, including those containing mercury, cause autism by altering intestinal permeability or accumulating peptides in the central nervous system have been investigated and refuted 3, 6.
- The etiology of autism is still unknown, but extensive research indicates that childhood vaccination is not a cause of the increase in autism diagnoses 3, 4.
- Despite overwhelming evidence, some parents remain hesitant to immunize their children due to concerns about the alleged association between vaccines and autism, which can pose a threat to public health 4.