You must have heard claims about vaccines causing autism. It is natural for parents to want what’s best for their child. It must be terrifying for you when you hear babble like vaccines cause autism. But worry not; several studies have proven there is no link between vaccines and autism. In this article, we discuss facts about vaccines and autism and clear up misconceptions through scientific studies.

Firstly, let’s answer some of the questions rising in your mind like,

Are childhood vaccines safe?

Yes, absolutely. Vaccines protect your child from infectious diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, and influenza.

Do vaccines cause autism?

Not at all. There is no connection between vaccines and autism.

Autism and MMR controversy

Many myths related to vaccines lead to vaccine hesitancy and jeopardized public health efforts. However, the one that got the limelight is that vaccines cause autism. This misconception has circulated for many years after a British doctor, Andrew Wakefield, published his study in 1998, claiming that there is a connection between MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) and autism. However, soon after the release of the paper, it was labeled as a fraud. Why?

Because there were many flaws in it:

• The sample size was too small, involving only 12 children.
• Many doctors conducted research to find the connection between vaccines and autism. But none of them could find any evidence of it.
• Later, it was found that Dr. Andrew Wakefield deliberately falsified the study due to some financial interest.

This led to the debunking of Andrew Wakefield’s vaccination research and the revocation of his medical license in 2010. However, the damage had already been done, as this misconception had gained significant attention, causing a dramatic drop in vaccination rates.

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” – Mark Twain.

Scientific studies on vaccines and autism

Following the autism and MMR controversy, many scientists worked on this topic to find something. Many large-scale scientific studies on vaccines and autism proved that there is no connection between autism and vaccines. For example, in 2014, data from 10 studies were combined, involving a sample size of 1.2 million children. The result of this meta-analysis found no link between vaccines and autism.

Another study published in 2015 involved 95,000 children, found that after receiving MMR vaccines, the risk rate of autism did not increase.

One of the biggest studies on vaccines and MMR was conducted in 2019, involving approximately 650,000 children. The result of this study also concluded that vaccines do not cause autism.

What causes autism?

Now, you may be wondering, if vaccines do not cause autism, then what does? Unfortunately, we still could not find the answer to this question. However, the research has suggested the factors that could contribute to autism. These factors include:

• Genetics.
• Becoming parents in older age (over 45 years).
• Complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
• Environmental factors.

However, we for sure know what can not cause autism. There is evident research indicating factors that can not cause autism.

• Vaccination.
• Dietary choices.
• Bad parenting.

Importance of vaccines

Vaccinations are a cornerstone of global health. Their importance has become more evident with the rise of many infectious diseases. Vaccinations protect against diseases, prevent future resurgence, strengthen our public healthcare system, and reduce healthcare costs. They protect not only us but everyone around us through herd immunity.

Vaccination can be incredibly impactful. Consequently, we do not see rubella and mumps cases anymore in Australia. However, to prevent the future outbreak of rubella and mumps and eradicate measles, more immunization is required. Measles is highly contagious that’s why 95% of individuals need to be vaccinated with two doses to halt the spread of measles.

Final thoughts

The MMR vaccine does not cause autism. It is safe and effective in preventing measles, mumps, and rubella. Therefore, do not worry about a myth that has been debunked because there are tons of scientific data proving the safety of these vaccinations.

In an era of social media, where rumors spread like wildfire without proper evidence, do not believe everything you see online. If you have concerns, talk to your healthcare provider or book a telehealth appointment with us.

References:

• Mph, J. D. Q. M., & Larson, H. (2018, February 28). The Vaccine-Autism myth started 20 years ago. Here’s why it still endures today. TIME.
  https://time.com/5175704/andrew-wakefield-vaccine-autism/.
• Childhood vaccinations. (2020).
  https://www.health.gov.au/system/files/2023-04/childhood-vaccinations-your-questions-answered-faq_9.pdf.
• Clinic, C. (2025, February 3). No, vaccines don’t cause autism. Cleveland Clinic.
  https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-vaccines-cause-autism.
• FAQ2 – Questions about the safety of MMR/MMRV vaccine | NCIRS. (2025, February 20).
  https://ncirs.org.au/mmrv-vaccine-decision-aid/faq2-questions-about-safety-mmrmmrv-vaccine.
• Causes of autism | Autism Awareness Australia. (n.d.).
  https://www.autismawareness.com.au/navigating-autism/causes-of-autism.
• Link between autism and vaccination debunked. (2022, March). Hometown Health. |
  https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/autism-vaccine-link-debunked.