Aluminum, Autism and the Myth That Won't Die
A new study of more than 1.2 million children just confirmed what decades of science already told us: aluminum in vaccines doesn’t cause autism. Or ADHD. Or asthma. Or anything else that anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists keep trying to pin on it.
The study, featured in a July 2025 CIDRAP report, compared children who received aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines before age two with those who didn’t. The result? No link to adverse outcomes. No elevated autism risk. No justification for the fear-mongering that’s been used to stigmatize autistic people and scare parents into mistrust.
Why It Matters
We understand why some parents worry. When autism is misunderstood — and bad-faith actors flood social media with fear — it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But fear isn’t the same as fact. And the most loving thing we can do, for all our kids, is follow the truth where it leads — even when it challenges what we’ve been told.
Because myths don’t just live in comment sections. They show up in school board debates, policy proposals and media headlines. They shape how autism is seen, talked about and treated.
This one has done particular damage. The aluminum myth:
- Casts autism as something to be prevented rather than understood
- Paints vaccines—lifesaving tools—as dangerous intrusions
- Turns autistic lives into cautionary tales instead of complex, valuable realities
And it’s not just bad science. It’s bad ethics. Because every time someone says “vaccines cause autism,” they’re saying autism is worse than polio, measles or death. And we’re done letting that go unchallenged.
The Science Is Clear
Aluminum salts have been used safely in vaccines for nearly a century. They help the immune system respond more effectively. They’re found in vaccines for:
- Hepatitis B
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
- HPV
They are present in trace amounts. They are cleared by the body. And they do not cause autism.
The Bigger Story
This study didn’t just refute one myth. It modeled what responsible public health looks like:
- Large, diverse sample size
- Careful outcome tracking
- No scare tactics or spin
It reminds us what real accountability looks like—not bending to public panic, but calmly presenting data, even when it's not flashy.
AAB’s Take
We don’t usually cheer institutions. But in this case, we recognize when a clear, well-communicated study helps pull the autism narrative out of the fear-industrial complex.
This is how you build trust: not with slogans, but with rigor. Not with silence, but with clarity.
Let’s retire this myth for good — and start talking about the real risks autistic people face: healthcare neglect, late diagnosis, poverty, systemic barriers.
Autism isn’t a side effect. It’s a neurotype.
And the people spreading pseudoscience aren’t “concerned.” They’re causing harm.
Study Source: CIDRAP / Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study (2025)