Vaccines and Autism

Vaccines are among the most significant advancements in public health, preventing diseases that previously devastated communities and caused widespread illness and death. Despite overwhelming evidence demonstrating vaccine safety, misinformation about vaccines persists—particularly the myth linking them to autism. As a family physician who practiced in rural west central Indiana, I regularly discussed vaccine concerns with parents. It is crucial to present reliable scientific evidence to help parents feel confident about vaccinating their kids.

I’ve mentioned this previously, but it’s worth repeating. The mistaken belief linking vaccines to autism originated in 1998 with a study by Andrew Wakefield, published in a reputable medical journal. Wakefield claimed a connection between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. However, subsequent investigations revealed that Wakefield falsified his data, leading the journal to retract the paper and Wakefield to lose his medical license. Sadly, the lies he spread continue to circulate, leading some families to avoid vaccination, causing outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles.

Since Wakefield’s fraudulent paper, numerous large-scale studies have conclusively shown no association between vaccines and autism. A landmark 2019 Danish study involving over 650,000 children reaffirmed this finding, clearly demonstrating that receiving the MMR vaccine does not increase autism risk. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics affirm that vaccines are safe and are not related to autism.

Past concerns have also focused briefly on thimerosal, an ethyl mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines. Although no credible scientific evidence suggested harm, thimerosal was voluntarily removed or significantly reduced from all routinely administered childhood vaccines by 2001. Even after removal, autism rates continued to rise, further disproving any supposed link between thimerosal and autism.

Scientists now understand autism as a complex neurodevelopmental disorder primarily influenced by genetic and environmental exposures prior to birth. Research published in highly respected journals such as JAMA Pediatrics emphasizes genetic causes and prenatal developmental influences. Autism typically becomes noticeable around the same age vaccines are administered, creating confusion among some parents. However, this timing is coincidental, not causal.

Given this settled scientific consensus, it is deeply troubling that David Geier was recently appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to oversee a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) study revisiting the long debunked vaccine-autism link. Geier is not a medical doctor, has been disciplined for practicing medicine without a license, and has repeatedly been criticized for the poor quality of his research promoting vaccine skepticism. Together with his father, Mark Geier, he has persistently advocated discredited theories about vaccines causing autism, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

It is particularly concerning because Geier seems to have already arrived at his conclusion: that vaccines cause autism. This fundamentally conflicts with the scientific method, which requires researchers to objectively evaluate evidence without bias. Instead of neutrally investigating the question, I fear Geier will selectively look for data supporting his preconceived beliefs, ignoring the overwhelming evidence disproving any vaccine-autism link. Such an approach is not science – it is confirmation bias, which jeopardizes the credibility of the study from the outset.

Additionally, allocating taxpayer funding to re-investigate a disproven hypothesis is wasteful and irresponsible. Limited public health resources should be directed toward meaningful autism research, exploring genetics, early developmental influences, and effective interventions. Redirecting these valuable resources toward a flawed, biased investigation undermines progress toward understanding autism’s true causes and effective treatments.

Public confidence in vaccines is critical. Lower vaccination rates increase vulnerability, threatening community-wide protection (herd immunity) and placing individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons at risk. Medical providers should always provide the most accurate, trustworthy vaccine information to parents so they can confidently protect their children’s health. We must collectively reject flawed science and biased research agendas. Families affected by autism deserve credible, objective research guided by scientific integrity. Vaccines have proven their safety and efficacy repeatedly, protecting countless lives. Misguided, predetermined conclusions like Geier is likely to produce, undermine public health and erode trust in medical science. Instead, we must ensure autism research is conducted ethically, objectively, and responsibly, truly advancing our understanding of this important condition.