Britain’s medicines regulator has reaffirmed the safety of the routine childhood vaccination programme, stating there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism in children. In a statement, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said vaccination remains one of the most effective and safest public health measures, and noted the programme is backed by the NHS, paediatric bodies and public health authorities in the UK and internationally.
Dr Alison Cave, the MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer, said the position reflects a substantial international evidence base. Multiple high‑quality studies involving millions of children, including national registry and sibling‑controlled designs, have consistently found no link between vaccination and autism spectrum disorder. A 2014 meta‑analysis by Taylor and colleagues, pooling data from more than 1.26 million children in cohort studies and nearly 10,000 in case–control studies, reported no association.
Before authorisation in the UK, vaccines undergo independent assessment by the MHRA for safety, quality and efficacy. Products that meet those standards are approved for use. The regulator emphasised that this scientific gatekeeping is not a one‑off event; post‑authorisation requirements and periodic benefit–risk reviews form part of ongoing oversight.
Once in use, vaccine safety is monitored through multiple channels: the Yellow Card scheme for suspected side effects, analysis of large healthcare datasets and review of international evidence, with scrutiny from independent scientific experts. The MHRA reminded the public and clinicians to report suspected side effects, adding that spontaneous reports are signals for investigation rather than confirmation of causality.
The UK childhood vaccination schedule is determined by evidence‑based recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and delivered under NHS clinical guidance. The MHRA’s statement does not alter the schedule or existing recommendations. Parents and carers are advised to consult NHS information and speak to a healthcare professional if they have questions about appointments or contraindications.
For health system leaders, the message is operational clarity rather than policy change. Commissioners, directors of public health and practice managers can continue to plan on the basis that the routine schedule remains in place, while ensuring call‑recall, consent materials and staff briefings reflect the MHRA’s latest safety communication. Clinicians should signpost the Yellow Card route during conversations about side effects and record discussions appropriately in patient notes.
The agency reiterated that vaccination protects against serious infections such as measles, meningitis and whooping cough. With many of these diseases still circulating globally, adherence to the schedule remains the primary means of preventing outbreaks and reducing severe outcomes. The MHRA stated it would act promptly to update guidance should new evidence alter the balance of benefits and risks.
The regulator, an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, said its decisions are grounded in evidence and patient safety remains the first consideration. It encouraged continued public participation in safety surveillance through timely reporting and engagement with trusted NHS advice.