The World Health Organization clarified on Tuesday that there is no evidence linking the painkiller Tylenol or vaccines to autism, contrary to recent statements made by the US president and his administration. President Donald Trump advised pregnant women on Monday to avoid Tylenol due to an alleged but unproven association with autism. He also called for changes to standard baby vaccines.
Medical experts have consistently recommended acetaminophen, the main component of Tylenol, as a safe pain relief option during pregnancy. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic acknowledged previous observational studies suggesting a possible tie between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism but emphasized the inconsistency of the evidence. He noted that subsequent studies found no such correlation, cautioning against hasty conclusions about acetaminophen’s role in autism.
Trump’s recent remarks included questioning the safety and necessity of common vaccines, such as the MMR shot, and expressing concerns about aluminum in vaccines. Despite these claims, there is no scientific basis linking vaccines to autism. The WHO-backed childhood immunization schedule, credited with saving over 154 million lives in the last 50 years, protects against 30 infectious diseases. Jasarevic emphasized the importance of adhering to immunization schedules to prevent the increased risk of life-threatening infections both for individuals and communities.