The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday firmly rejected the recent claims made by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reiterating that there is no scientific link between vaccines and autism.
The clarification followed a shift in the CDC’s long-standing position last month, when it stated under the Trump administration that the consensus denying a vaccine–autism connection is not “evidence-based,” and argued that studies supporting a link have been overlooked.
In response, the WHO said its Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) conducted a detailed analysis of 31 primary studies published between January 2010 and August 2025. The review examined both thiomersal-containing vaccines and all childhood vaccines in relation to autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
“The WHO global expert committee on vaccine safety has found that, based on available evidence, no causal link exists between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders. The conclusion reaffirms WHO’s position that childhood vaccines do not cause autism,” the organisation said in a statement.
The Committee also reviewed data on aluminium-containing vaccines, drawing on research conducted between 1999 and March 2023, as well as a large cohort study involving children born in Denmark from 1997 to 2018. The findings showed no association between aluminium adjuvants and ASD.
“The available high-quality evidence shows no association between the trace amounts of aluminum used in some vaccines and ASD,” the WHO said, reaffirming earlier conclusions issued in 2002, 2004 and 2012.
The organisation urged national authorities to rely on established scientific evidence when framing immunisation policies, emphasising that vaccines remain one of the most impactful public health tools.
“Global childhood immunisation efforts represent one of the greatest achievements in improving lives, livelihoods, and the prosperity of societies. During the past 50 years, childhood immunisation has saved at least 154 million lives,” the WHO noted.
–IANS
