The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week cited some of our work in new guidance related to vaccines and autism.  However, the citations do not provide the greater context of the full body of work on vaccine safety that is essential for informed debate about this topic. It is important to point out that the 2012 Institute of Medicine report assessing adverse effects of vaccines and cited by the CDC, found that very few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines.  Further, based on our body of work on this topic and the overwhelming scientific consensus, we support the statement that vaccines do not cause autism.

There is a substantial body of work, including expert reports from the National Academies, dating back decades analyzing data and providing guidance on the important question of childhood vaccine safety.  That work has affirmed that childhood vaccines are safe for the general population with long-established benefits of preventing illness and averting death.  The presidents of the National Academies have repeatedly issued statements* that call for application of scientific studies and public communications surrounding the safety and individual and public health benefits of childhood vaccination.    

It is essential for the health and well-being of American families that as scientific studies provide new evidence and insights, medical guidance shared with the public must be evidence-based, clear, and complete.

Marcia McNutt 
President, National Academy of Sciences

Victor J. Dzau
President, National Academy of Medicine

National Academies Work on Vaccines

• Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. 2004

• Adverse Effects of Vaccines:  Evidence and Causality 2012 

• The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence, and Future Studies  2013

• Guidance on Routine Childhood immunizations  2024

• Vaccine Risk Monitoring and Evaluation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report Release Webinar  2025