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FACT BRIEF

Is there definite evidence that vaccines are linked to autism?

By Eric Ferkenhoff
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NO

Peer-reviewed and replicated medical research shows no causation between vaccines and autism.  

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study on whether there was any causal relationship between vaccines and autism. Researchers studied all children born in Denmark over an eight-year period beginning in January 1991. The researchers found "strong evidence against the hypothesis that MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination causes autism." 

Among the findings was risk of autism was similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated children. 

The FDA has stringent protocols for approving vaccines and has pledged it will not sacrifice safety to speed a vaccine to market.  

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
New England Journal of Medicine A Population-Based Study of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination and Autism
US Department of Health and Human Services Vaccine Safety
Science Feedback Vaccines and autism
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.