WHO - No evidence for Trump’s autism claims, risk lies in delayed vaccines

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has strongly refuted US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks linking paracetamol use in pregnancy and childhood vaccines to autism. At a press briefing in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic stressed that there is no consistent scientific evidence establishing such a connection. He clarified that while some early observational studies had suggested a possible link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism, later research has found no such relationship. “If the connection were strong, it would have been replicated across multiple studies, but that has not been the case,” he explained, cautioning against drawing firm conclusions.

Spreading unverified claims like these, however, risks fueling unnecessary fear among pregnant women and can deepen stigma faced by autistic individuals. Trump, speaking from the White House, urged women to avoid Tylenol entirely during pregnancy and even went so far as to suggest that childhood vaccines should be delayed until the age of 12, an idea that has no basis in science and, if followed, could endanger millions of children worldwide. WHO officials reminded that the global immunisation schedule has saved over 150 million lives in the last five decades and continues to be updated on the foundation of rigorous scientific evidence.

Yet, despite WHO’s dismissal, questions remain for many about whether the organisation itself can be fully trusted. After all, it was the same WHO that guided the world through COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, a process still mired in political debates and suspicions for many people. This tension highlights how easily science can become a battlefield for political grandstanding.

For Trump, these remarks appear to be part of a familiar pattern. He has often sought to make headline-grabbing statements that cast doubt on institutions like the WHO, stirring controversy and commanding public attention. By tying his comments to issues that affect large numbers of people, such as pregnant women and parents of young children, he positions himself at the centre of highly emotional debates. But such posturing risks undermining public trust in science and healthcare at a time when accurate information is crucial.

WHO has announced that its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) will soon hold a press conference to reaffirm evidence-based guidance on vaccines, underscoring that deviating from recommended schedules only increases risks of disease for children and their communities. For many, this reflects the continuing struggle to ensure facts prevail against misinformation especially when amplified from the highest political office.