What you need to know
- On November 19, the CDC changed its website to promote false claims about vaccines and autism. However, decades of global research shows that there is no link between the two.
- Any connection between vaccines and autism has been repeatedly debunked.
- There is no single cause for autism, and most risk factors exist before birth.
- Unvaccinated children are at risk of catching preventable diseases that can make them very sick and cause long-term complications, including death.
On November 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its website to promote false claims about vaccines and autism. However, decades of studies prove that there is no link between the two.
“Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 million people,” Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement. “The conclusion is clear and unambiguous: There’s no link between vaccines and autism.”
Partly fueled by the spread of false information about vaccines, childhood vaccination rates are declining. This puts kids at risk of contracting and spreading dangerous diseases like measles, whooping cough, COVID-19, and the flu.
Read on to learn how we know vaccines aren’t associated with autism and are safe for kids.
What is autism, and what causes it?
Autism is a behavioral difference that affects how people communicate and socialize.
There is no single cause for autism. Research shows that genetics and birth complications likely contribute to autism, which is typically diagnosed in children who are 3 years old or older (although adult diagnoses are increasingly common).
Are vaccines safe for children?
Yes. Vaccines are rigorously tested before they are approved, and severe side effects are extremely rare.
We know this because the United States has a system that monitors vaccine safety. Anyone can submit reports to this database and then experts figure out whether something is a confirmed side effect.
After hundreds of millions of doses, we know severe side effects don’t happen often. Most children will only feel mild pain, and, possibly, some swelling at the injection site.
Despite false claims from public figures and others that vaccines cause autism in children, decades of credible studies have consistently debunked this myth.
Why do children need routine vaccines?
Routine vaccines help protect children from catching preventable diseases that can make them very sick and cause long-term complications, including death. They also help prevent children from spreading dangerous illnesses to vulnerable family members, including newborns, older adults, and immunocompromised loved ones.
Learn when children should receive recommended vaccines and how many doses they’ll need from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children can get vaccines—including an updated COVID-19 vaccine and this season’s flu vaccine—at their pediatrician’s office and at pharmacies.
For more information, talk to your health care provider.
This story was originally published December 19, 2024. It has been updated with new information.