The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reaffirmed that vaccines do not cause autism, releasing new analysis that strengthens decades of scientific evidence while celebrating the transformative impact of global childhood immunisation.
In its latest review, the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) concluded that no causal link exists between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), dispelling a persistent myth that has fuelled vaccine hesitancy around the world.
The findings, discussed by the Committee on 27 November 2025, examined 31 high-quality studies conducted between 2010 and 2025 across multiple countries.
The review assessed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines and vaccines with aluminium adjuvants, confirming that neither ingredient is associated with ASD.
This includes a recent large cohort study analysing nationwide registry data of children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018.
Evidence from research spanning more than two decades consistently supports the strong safety profile of vaccines used during pregnancy and childhood.
GACVS reiterated its earlier conclusions from 2002, 2004 and 2012, stating unequivocally that vaccines, including those containing thiomersal and aluminium, do not cause autism.
WHO urged national authorities to base immunisation policies on robust scientific evidence, emphasising that childhood vaccination remains one of the most successful public health interventions in history.
Over the past 50 years, global immunisation efforts have saved at least 154 million lives, contributing significantly to longer life expectancy, healthier populations and stronger economies.
The organisation said continued trust in vaccines is vital to maintaining these gains and protecting future generations from preventable diseases.
