More Vaccinations for Toddlers Does Not Increase Risk for Autism

No Autoimmune Safety Signal for Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine
No Autoimmune Safety Signal for Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine
Increased exposure to vaccines during the first two years of life is not associated with an increased risk of autism, according to a new study.

(HealthDay News) – Increased exposure to vaccines during the first two years of life is not associated with an increased risk of autism, according to a study published online March 29 in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Frank DeStefano, MD, MPH, from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues compared exposure to total antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides from vaccines during the first two years of life (based on immunization registries and medical records) in 256 children with autism spectrum disorder and 752 control children.

The researchers found that there was no increase in the risk of autism spectrum disorder per 25-unit increase in total antigen exposure for cumulative exposure up to 2 years of age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.999). They also found no increase in the risk of autistic disorder or autism spectrum disorder with regression based on antigen exposure.

“In this study of managed care organizations members, increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines during the first two years of life was not related to the risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder,” the authors write.

Full Text