Painkillers and vaccines do not cause autism – DZPG refutes misinformation - Das Deutsche Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit
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Painkillers and vaccines do not cause autism – DZPG refutes misinformation

Following recent statements by US President Donald Trump suggesting that paracetamol could cause autism and that standard vaccinations should be reconsidered, scientists and representatives with lived experience at the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) have clarified: these claims are scientifically unfounded and socially harmful.

Scientific perspective

Prof. Isabel Dziobek, DZPG partner site spokesperson for Berlin-Potsdam, explains:
“The causes of autism are complex and multifactorial, with a strong emphasis on genetic factors. Environmental influences may play a role, but neither paracetamol nor vaccines have been shown to cause autism. Large international cohort studies provide no robust evidence for the simplistic cause-and-effect relationships currently being suggested. Rather, these studies demonstrate that autism represents a spectrum of neurobiological variants that cannot be attributed to individual medications or vaccinations.”

Perspective of those affected

Silke Lipinski, spokesperson for individuals with lived experience on the DZPG Central Trialogical Board, warns of the consequences of such misinformation: “For autistic individuals, these statements are hurtful and stigmatizing. They revive old prejudices and reduce autism to something to be ‘avoided’ or ‘cured,’ rather than recognizing it as part of human diversity. Such false claims also divert attention from the real priorities: improving acceptance, diagnostics, support, and inclusion of autistic people in education, healthcare, and the workforce. At the same time, there is a danger that parents may avoid necessary medical care, such as fever-reducing medications or vaccinations, out of fear – with potentially serious consequences for their children.”

Scientific references

 

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