WHO Confirms Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism, Citing New Global Evidence

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that childhood vaccines do not cause Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), following a comprehensive review by its Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS).

The GACVS, a panel of international experts established in 1999 to provide independent scientific advice on vaccine safety, examined evidence from 31 primary research studies published between January 2010 and August 2025. The analysis included data from multiple countries and focused on both thiomersal-containing vaccines and vaccines in general.

This was contained in a statement it shared on its X page, in which the committee said the evidence strongly supports the safety of vaccines administered during childhood and pregnancy, confirming there is no causal link between vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The review also looked at vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants, analyzing studies conducted from 1999 through March 2023, including a large cohort study of children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018. Findings indicate that the trace amounts of aluminum used in vaccines are not associated with autism.

“The available high-quality evidence continues to show that vaccines, including those with thiomersal and aluminum, do not cause autism,” GACVS stated, reaffirming conclusions from similar reviews conducted in 2002, 2004, and 2012.

WHO emphasized that national authorities should base vaccine policies on the latest scientific evidence to maintain confidence in immunization programs. The organization highlighted that global childhood immunization efforts over the past 50 years have saved at least 154 million lives, significantly improving health, livelihoods, and societal prosperity.

WHO’s statement comes amid ongoing public concern about vaccine safety and aims to strengthen public trust in immunization as a critical tool for preventing disease.

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