Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines: A Report of the Committee to Review the Adverse Consequences of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 1991. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/1815.
A Report of the Committee to Review the Adverse Consequences of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines Christopher P. Howson, Cynthia J. Howe, and Harvey V. Fineberg, Editors Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Institute of Medicine NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS Washington, D.C. 1991
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 1991. Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/1815.
Preface Although vaccines have markedly reduced the toll of many childhood illnesses, the practice of vaccination is not always without risk. Minor side effects are common, and serious side effects, although less numerous, have been observed on rare occasions with certain vaccines. Whether there are increased risks of serious adverse events following whole-cell pertussis and rubella vaccines, however, is controversial. The fact that pertussis and rubella vaccination is mandatory in many states has heightened public awareness of controversy and concern about the safety of the two vaccines…
In November 1989, IOM established the Committee to Review the Adverse Consequences of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines. The specific charge to the committee, as outlined in Section 312 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, was to: identify and review all available medical and scientific literature on the nature, circumstance, and extent of the relationship, if any, between vaccines containing pertussis (including whole cells, extracts, and specific antigens) and the following illnesses and conditions: hemolytic anemia, hypsarrhythmia, infantile spasms, Reye syndrome, peripheral mononeuropathy, deaths classified as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), aseptic meningitis, juvenile diabetes, autism, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, and other such illnesses as recommended by the committee or the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, and inquire into the possible association between pertussis vaccines and permanent neurologic damage…”
Summary
No data were identified that address the question of a relation between vaccination with DPT or its pertussis component and autism. There are no experimental data bearing on a possible biologic mechanism.
Conclusion
There is no evidence to indicate a causal relation between DPT vaccine or the pertussis component of DPT vaccine and autism.
