There is no scientific evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism. The question about a possible link between the vaccine and autism has been extensively reviewed by independent groups of experts in the United States, including the Health Division of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. These reviews have concluded that there is not a causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Immunize.org
Materials for Providers
Need Help Responding to Vaccine-Hesitant Parents?
A list of science-based materials available from respected organizations.
Materials for Vaccine Recipients
Clear Answers and Smart Advice About Your Baby’s Shots
Written by Dr. Ari Brown, clear answers to parents’ questions about vaccines.
- Also available in:
- Russian
These articles are provided for parents and practitioners to compare the balance of evidence.
Measles: Questions and Answers
Information about the disease and vaccines for patients and parents.
More From Immunize.org
Printable resources and links to partner organizations to help you address hesitancy related to vaccination-related anxiety.
Printable resources designed to help healthcare professionals in all aspects of immunization practice.
Immunize.org experts answer challenging questions about measles, mumps, rubella.
Information sheets produced by CDC that explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine to vaccine recipients. View the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) and MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella) VISs.
Real-life accounts of suffering and loss.
From our affiliated site VaccineInformation.org, information about the importance of vaccines and answers to many common questions.
Read Brian Deer’s analyses as well as related news coverage and commentaries from 2011.
CDC ∙ FDA ∙ WHO
CDC
Statement from CDC, includes links to many resources and references.
A summary of the MMR vaccine safety information.
Prevent measles and encourage patients to talk to their healthcare provider about the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, especially if planning to travel.
Trusted Organizations
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Information about autism for parents.
Studies that reject the link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Parents send in personal testimonies on why they vaccinate their children.
Autism Science Foundation
The nonprofit Autism Science Foundation supports autism research and provides information about autism to the general public and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders.
Data from several studies show no relationship between vaccines and autism.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Vaccine Education Center (VEC)
Deals with three main concerns: the MMR vaccine, thimerosal, and the idea that babies receive too many vaccines too soon. A Spanish-language version is also available.
Examination of the “Wakefield studies,” showing that MMR vaccine does not cause autism, as well as other causes of autism (includes references).
Author Paul A. Offit, MD, recounts the history of autism research and the exploitation of this tragic condition by advocates and zealots. (Columbia University Press, 2008: 328 pages)
A review of natural infection versus immunization, viral shedding after receiving live vaccines.
National Academy of Medicine
The National Academy of Medicine is an impartial group of the world’s leading experts that advises Congress on science issues.
A 2012 analysis of more than 1,000 research articles concludes that few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines.
A 2002 study from the National Academy of Medicine, an impartial group of the world’s leading experts that advises Congress on science issues.
Vaxopedia
Questions and answers about the measles vaccine.
Studies show the MMR vaccine is safe.
Additional Resources
Findings suggest that providers should emphasize benefits directly to the child. (Pediatrics, September 1, 2014)
Evidence suggests some vaccines are associated with serious adverse events, though they’re extremely rare. Any adverse events need to be weighed against the benefits of vaccines. (Pediatrics, August 1, 2014)
These findings demonstrate that there is no harmful connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, even among children at a higher risk for autism. (JAMA, April 21, 2015)
The study found no persuasive evidence that the MMR vaccination and increasing thimerosal dose is associated with a higher risk of autism. (Vaccine, May 15, 2015)
Results of the study suggest no relationship between exposure to the MMR vaccine and cognitive development in children. (Vaccine, May 24, 2013)
The study strongly supports that the MMR vaccination does not increase the risk for autism, does not trigger autism in susceptible children, and is not associated with clustering of autism cases after vaccination. (Annals of Internal Medicine, April 16, 2019)
A summary of pertinent evidence related to the more common vaccine safety controversies, as discussed with primary care providers. (Clinical Infectious Diseases, August 15, 2019)
Existing evidence supports the use of the MMR/MMRV vaccines for mass immunization. (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, November 21, 2021)
A blog discussing autism news, science, and opinions.
This is an archived site and is no longer maintained. However, Neurodiversity in Business (NiB) has saved the site as it’s of historical interest and is full of excellent information on autism research and investigations into dangerous treatments for autism.
Videos
The infamous Wakefield study kickstarted the Autism Myth, but many studies have since shown that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Find out how it all got started. Rishi is a pediatric infectious disease physician and works at Khan Academy.
Aaron Carroll, MD, professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, produces videos at Healthcare Triage about healthcare issues. In this video, he describes the measles outbreak in Clark County, WA, how it spread, the seriousness of measles, and the importance of vaccination.
Vaccine Questions?
Email CDC at nipinfo@cdc.gov