WHO Reaffirms: “Vaccines Do NOT Cause Autism” — Ending a 25-Year-Old Myth

The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again issued a clear scientific verdict: there is no causal link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The statement comes after WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) reviewed 31 high-quality studies published between 2010 and 2025.

In its official note, WHO stated: “There is no evidence of a causal association between vaccines and autism.”

According to the committee, the latest review “strongly supports the positive safety profile of vaccines used during childhood and pregnancy” and “confirms the absence of a causal link with autism spectrum disorders”.

Experts also reviewed concerns about certain vaccines that contain very small amounts of aluminium salts, which help the body create a stronger immune response. This assessment drew on studies published over more than two decades, as well as a large national study from Denmark that tracked children born between 1997 and 2018.

The WHO committee concluded that the evidence “shows no association between the trace amounts of aluminium used in some vaccines and ASD”, stressing that these ingredients have been used safely for many decades.

Following the review, the group reaffirmed earlier findings issued in 2002, 2004 and 2012: “Vaccines, including those with thiomersal and/or aluminium, do not cause autism.”

WHO urged governments to ensure that vaccine policies remain rooted in science, noting that “global childhood immunisation efforts represent one of the greatest achievements in improving lives, livelihoods and the prosperity of societies”.

What WHO’s New Review Confirms

After examining three decades of global research, WHO found:

• No link between childhood vaccines and autism
• No link between thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative) and ASD
• No link between aluminum-based adjuvants and ASD

WHO emphasized: “If such a link existed, multiple robust studies would have detected it over the years.”

Background: One of the Most Persistent Health Myths

The controversy traces back to a 1998 study that falsely claimed that the MMR (Measles–Mumps–Rubella) vaccine could cause autism in children. The research was later exposed as fraudulent, scientifically flawed, and intentionally misleading. The paper was retracted, and the lead author even lost his medical license.

Still, the myth survived—spread widely through misinformation, social media narratives, and vaccine-hesitant groups. WHO has labelled this misconception as “one of the most harmful and persistent public health myths.”

Why This Matters

Vaccines remain one of the greatest achievements of modern public health, preventing millions of deaths worldwide. WHO warned that misinformation about vaccine safety not only spreads confusion but also reduces immunization rates—putting children and communities at risk. Over the past 50 years, WHO estimates that vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives.