Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism
There is no correlation between autism and vaccines. This has been confirmed through dozens of scientific studies examining different types of vaccines and different vaccine timing schedules. Researchers have also studied thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in many vaccines, to see if it had any relation to autism. The results are clear: The data show no relationship between vaccines, thimerosal and autism.
Read the Science
Learn more about studies that have disproven any link between autism and vaccines.
Vaccinate Your Children
Protect your children by getting them vaccinated, and follow the vaccination schedule outlined by your child’s pediatrician. Vaccines do not cause autism.
Vaccination During Pregnancy
Studies evaluating vaccination during pregnancy have not been found to increase the risk of autism for the child. Since vaccines given during pregnancy only introduce part of the virus or bacteria, they cause less of an assault on the immune system than natural infection.
So what does cause autism?
- Genetics – Autism is strongly genetic. In about 15-20% of autism cases, a single genetic variant can explain autism features. In other cases, multiple genetic variations interact to cause autism. Genes associated with autism target the way cells connect, communicate and function. Autism runs in families. Siblings of a child with autism have a fifteen times greater likelihood of diagnosis, and nieces and nephews of a person with autism have a three times increased risk rate.
- Environment: Researchers are examining how environmental factors work independently, and, more importantly, in conjunction with genes to cause autism. Environmental factors associated with an autism diagnosis include:
- Being male – Boys are diagnosed four times more frequently than girls.
- Being born prematurely: Children born prematurely or with extremely low birthweight have a higher probability of autism. Not getting enough oxygen during birth is also associated with an ASD diagnosis.
- Having an older parent or parents: Higher age at conception of either the mother or father or both adds to likelihood of an ASD diagnosis.
- Illness during pregnancy: Illness during pregnancy can increase the likelihood that a child will be diagnosed. Illnesses like rubella, pertussis, Covid-19, RSV, and influenza can be prevented by vaccines.
- Exposures during pregnancy: Exposure to some anti-epileptic drugs as well as high levels of air pollution during pregnancy have been associated with autism in offspring
- Presence of maternal metabolic disorders like gestational diabetes may lead to later diagnosis of autism in offspring.
- Contextual factors – socioeconomic status, cultural differences and access to services can influence a diagnosis.
Additional Resources
Why is the prevalence increasing?
- Broader Diagnostic Criteria: In 2013, the definition of autism was dramatically broadened to include a wider range of behaviors and functional levels. The prevalence of profound autism has remained steady.
- Improved screening: Better screening tools and standardized processes have led to earlier detection.
- Increased awareness: More people are aware of autism and are seeking diagnoses.
- Improved access to services: More people have access to services that help identify autism.
- People are having babies at older ages. Babies born to older parents are at increased risk of autism.
- Increased survival rates for preterm babies: Improved medical care has led to more preterm babies surviving and developing, but preterm birth is associated with a higher risk of autism.
- A mix of environmental factors with genetic susceptibilities. There are thousands of genes and tens of thousands of environmental factors that have yet to be fully explored.
