WHO Expert Committee Confirms No Link Between Vaccines and Autism

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reaffirmed that there is no causal link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), following a fresh analysis by its global expert committee on vaccine safety.

The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS), established in 1999 to provide independent scientific advice to WHO, reviewed the latest evidence during its meeting on 27 November 2025. The committee examined data from 31 primary research studies published between January 2010 and August 2025, which included information from multiple countries worldwide.

The analysis focused on two key areas: the relationship between thiomersal-containing vaccines and ASD, and the broader association between vaccines in general and autism. The findings strongly support the safety profile of vaccines used during childhood and pregnancy.

In addition to the thiomersal review, GACVS assessed potential health risks associated with vaccines containing aluminium adjuvants. The committee examined studies conducted from 1999 through March 2023, as well as a recent large cohort study analysing nationwide registry data of children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018.

The available high-quality evidence shows no association between the trace amounts of aluminium used in some vaccines and ASD. This supports the continued use of vaccines with aluminium adjuvants, which help enhance immune response.

This latest review reaffirms previous conclusions from the committee in 2002, 2004, and 2012. WHO advises all national health authorities to base their vaccine policies on the strongest available scientific evidence.

Childhood immunisation remains one of the most significant achievements in global public health. Over the past 50 years, vaccination programmes have saved at least 154 million lives worldwide, according to WHO data.