The World Health Organization’s committee on vaccine safety announced on Thursday that recent reviews of scientific studies have once again confirmed that there is no connection between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder. This reaffirms the conclusions drawn over twenty years ago. The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety evaluated two systematic reviews that looked at research published from 2010 to August 2025.
These reviews focused on vaccines in general and specifically examined those containing thiomersal, a mercury-based preservative that has often been criticized for allegedly contributing to autism. However, scientific studies have consistently refuted this claim. The committee emphasized that a causal link between vaccines and health conditions is only established when multiple high-quality studies consistently demonstrate a statistical association.
According to the WHO, out of 31 studies analyzed, twenty found no evidence linking vaccines to autism. The committee identified eleven studies that suggested a potential link but were deemed to have significant methodological flaws and a high risk of bias.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that he had directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise its position on vaccines and autism, contrary to the long-standing belief that vaccines do not cause autism.