FACT CHECK #URXJDER1

WHAT WE FOUND

Decades of high-quality scientific research involving millions of children have repeatedly demonstrated that vaccines do not cause autism 4, 5, 11. Major health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state there is no evidence of a causal link between childhood immunizations and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 1, 3. Specific studies have examined the MMR vaccine, the Hepatitis B vaccine, and vaccine ingredients like thimerosal, finding no association with autism 1, 7, 10. While a 2025 report noted that the CDC modified its website wording to cast doubt on previous findings, the scientific consensus remains that the link has been debunked 8. The original 1998 study that sparked these concerns was based on only 12 children, lacked a control group, and has since been thoroughly discredited 6. Experts note that autism is often diagnosed around the same age children receive primary vaccinations, which can lead to a false perception of a causal connection 2.

SOURCES

1. 1 · cdc.govACADEMIC
   Autism and Vaccines | Vaccine Safety | CDC

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2. 2 · pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govACADEMIC
   The myth of vaccination and autism spectrum - PMC - NIH

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3. 3 · who.intACADEMIC
   WHO expert group’s new analysis reaffirms there is no link between vaccines and autism

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4. 4 · politifact.comFACT-CHECKER
   Decades of vaccine research doesn’t show they cause autism

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5. 5 · chop.eduACADEMIC
   Vaccines and autism | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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6. 6 · publichealth.jhu.eduACADEMIC
   Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health

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7. 7 · cidrap.umn.eduACADEMIC
   No link between MMR vaccination before age 2 and autism, large US study suggests | CIDRAP

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8. 8 · npr.orgNEWS
   The CDC revives debunked 'link' between childhood vaccines and autism

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9. 9 · autismspeaks.orgWEB
   Do vaccines cause autism? | Autism Speaks

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10. 10 · autismsciencefoundation.orgWEB
    Autism and Vaccines - Autism Science Foundation

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11. 11 · webmd.comWEB
    Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

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12. 12 · vaccinateyourfamily.orgWEB
    The Truth About Autism and Vaccines - Vaccinate Your Family

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