New Study Finds No Link Between Vaccines and Autism, Contradicting trump’s Claims
LONDON – A large-scale, peer-reviewed study published in the British medical Journal has found no evidence to support a link between vaccines and autism, directly refuting claims repeatedly made by former U.S. President Donald Trump and fueling a long-standing debate. The research, analyzing health data from over 95,000 children born between 2004 and 2015 in the united Kingdom, adds to a ample body of scientific evidence debunking the discredited theory that vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder.
The findings arrive amid renewed scrutiny of the issue following Trump’s recent assertions at a campaign rally, where he again suggested a connection between vaccines and autism. This latest study provides further reassurance to parents and public health officials, while underscoring the dangers of misinformation surrounding vaccination.The persistence of these false claims has contributed to vaccine hesitancy, possibly jeopardizing public health efforts to control preventable diseases.
Researchers from the University of Sydney utilized data from the UK’s Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated children, controlling for a range of potential confounding factors. The study meticulously examined developmental outcomes, finding no statistically meaningful difference in autism diagnoses between the two groups.
“Our analysis found no association between vaccination and autism,” stated lead researcher Dr. Emma McBryde in a press statement. “These findings should reassure parents and healthcare professionals that vaccines do not increase the risk of autism.”
Several experts have lauded the study’s rigorous methodology. “this is based on a high-quality methodology that confirms what experts around the world repeat,” judged Dimitrios Siassakos, professor of obstetrics at University College London, in a reaction to the British Science Media Center.
The original claim linking vaccines to autism stemmed from a fraudulent 1998 study published in The Lancet by Andrew Wakefield, which was later retracted and Wakefield was stripped of his medical license. Despite its discrediting, the myth continues to circulate, fueled by online misinformation and amplified by public figures like trump.