Meeting on November 27, the WHO The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety reviewed 31 major research studies published between 2010 and August 2025.
The analysis looked at data from several countries and looked at both vaccines in general and those containing thiomersal – a preservative sometimes used to prevent contamination in multidose vials.
“Positive security profile”
According to the committee, the latest review “strongly supports the positive safety profile of vaccines used in childhood and pregnancy” And “confirms the absence of a causal link with autism spectrum disorders“.
Experts also examined concerns about some vaccines that contain very small amounts of aluminum salts, which help the body mount a stronger immune response.
This assessment draws on studies published over more than two decades, as well as a large national Danish study that followed children born between 1997 and 2018.
The WHO committee concluded that the evidence “shows no association between trace amounts of aluminum used in some vaccines and ASD,” emphasizing that these ingredients have been used safely for many decades.
Following this review, the group reaffirmed its previous findings published in 2002, 2004 and 2012: “Vaccines, including those containing thiomersal and/or aluminum, do not cause autism.”
The WHO urged governments to ensure that vaccine policies remain rooted in science, noting that “global efforts to vaccinate children represent one of the greatest success stories in improving lives, livelihoods and the prosperity of societies.”
Over the past 50 years, WHO estimates that vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives.
Debate in the United States
The update follows an OMS press release published on September 24following the resumption of political debate in the United States. The statement warned against resurrecting discredited theories linking vaccines to autism, emphasizing that “there is a strong and extensive evidence base demonstrating that childhood vaccines do not cause autism.”
Studies suggesting otherwise, the WHO said at the time, were flawed and have long been debunked.
The WHO reiterated that decades of independent research point to the same conclusion: vaccines are safe, effective and essential for public health.
The organization said it would continue to review emerging evidence and advise countries based on the strongest available science.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
