NEW DELHI: At a time when the debate has resurfaced in the United States, a 15-year review by the World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that there is no causal link between vaccines and autism. The findings not only dismantle persistent myths but also underscore the safety of vaccines, reinforcing the critical role immunisation plays in public health worldwide.Autism spectrum disorder is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that can affect social interaction and communication skills, with signs typically emerging in early childhood.The controversy began in 1998, when a study led by British doctor Andrew Wakefield claimed that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine could be linked to autism. The study was later retracted byThe Lancet, but the claim continued to spread.The issue gained fresh attention in the US on Aug 10, when President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking changes to childhood vaccine recommendations and raised the issue of autism during the signing ceremony. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has long questioned vaccine safety, backed the move. However, WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has repeatedly examined the issue and found no evidence of a causal relationship.The findings are particularly relevant for India, where measles-rubella vaccination is part of the national immunisation programme, with the govt working towards measles-rubella elimination by 2026. The Union health ministry launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign 2025-26 in April 2025, with children up to five years targeted for two doses of the vaccine. Its 2025-26 annual report puts first-dose coverage at 98.6% for April-Dec 2025.The WHO review, published on Sept 3, assessed peer-reviewed studies from 2010 to Aug 2025. It included 31 primary studies and five meta-analyses, along with 21 narrative reviews. Methodologically the most rigorous studies did not support a causal association between vaccines, including those containing thiomersal, and autism spectrum disorder.
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Studies reporting a positive association were rated as having very low strength of evidence and high risk of bias, while none of the meta-analyses supported a causal link. The review also found no convincing evidence that thiomersal, an organomercury preservative, causes autism. WHO said the overall evidence supports the safety of current vaccines.WHO also cautioned that the rise in autism diagnoses should not automatically be attributed to vaccination. Improved identification, broader diagnostic criteria and greater awareness could be contributing to higher diagnosis rates.
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