GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) reaffirms its position that childhood vaccines do not cause Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), based on a comprehensive new analysis by its Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS).
The latest findings, discussed by the independent panel on Nov 27, reinforce decades of scientific evidence supporting the safety profile of jabs administered during childhood and pregnancy.
The Committee’s analysis focused primarily on two areas: the association between vaccines in general and ASD, and the relationship between thiomersal-containing vaccines and ASD.
Evidence was drawn from 31 primary research studies published between January 2010 and August 2025, which included data from numerous countries worldwide. The GACVS confirmed that this robust body of evidence "strongly supports the positive safety profile of vaccines used during childhood and pregnancy, and confirms the absence of a causal link with ASD."
In addition to the general vaccine review, the Committee specifically assessed potential health risks associated with vaccines that use aluminum adjuvants, reviewing studies conducted from 1999 to March 2023.
The analysis also incorporated a recent large cohort study examining nationwide registry data of children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018. The available high-quality evidence showed "no association between the trace amounts of aluminum used in some vaccines and ASD," supporting the ongoing use of vaccines with aluminum adjuvants.
Following its review, the GACVS reiterated its previous conclusions from 2002, 2004, and 2012: vaccines, including those with thiomersal and/or aluminum, do not cause autism.
The WHO, in a statement dated Dec 11, advised all national health authorities to "rely on the latest science" and ensure that national vaccine policies are "grounded in the strongest available evidence."
The health body underscored the immense global impact of vaccination programmes, noting that childhood immunisation efforts represent "one of the greatest achievements in improving lives, livelihoods and the prosperity of societies."
Over the past 50 years alone, childhood immunisation has been credited with saving at least 154 million lives worldwide.
