(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing back against recent comments from US President Donald Trump, who linked childhood vaccines and the pain reliever paracetamol—known as acetaminophen or Tylenol in the US—to autism in kids.
At a press briefing in Geneva on September 24, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic made it clear that science doesn’t back up these claims. He focused first on paracetamol use during pregnancy, explaining that some early observational studies hinted at a possible connection to autism. But he stressed the evidence is spotty at best. “Several studies that followed found no such relationship,” Jasarevic said. “If the link were strong, we’d see it consistently across research. This inconsistency means we should avoid jumping to conclusions about paracetamol causing autism.”
Jasarevic urged caution with any medications in pregnancy, especially during the first three months. “Women should always talk to their doctors or health experts,” he added. “They can weigh your personal situation and suggest what’s safest.”
Shifting to vaccines, Jasarevic defended WHO’s childhood immunization schedule as rock-solid science. The organization, which bases all its advice on thorough reviews, says the schedule has saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years. It now protects children, teens, and adults from 30 infectious diseases, with updates driven by the latest research from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, or SAGE.
A press conference on the next SAGE meeting is coming up soon, Jasarevic noted. SAGE reviews evidence independently to recommend the best timing for vaccines, aiming to shield people from serious illnesses.
He warned strongly against delaying or spreading out shots beyond the recommended timeline. “It ramps up the risk of infections—not just for the child, but for the whole community,” he said. Babies too young for vaccines, folks with weak immune systems, or those with health issues face the biggest dangers. Plus, extra doctor visits can lead to missed doses or shots given in the wrong order, which might weaken protection. “Every skipped dose raises the odds of a life-threatening disease,” Jasarevic cautioned.
Trump made his remarks earlier at a White House briefing, telling women to skip Tylenol throughout pregnancy. He also claimed the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would alert doctors about a potential autism risk from the drug, based on animal studies. On vaccines, Trump suggested holding off until a child turns 12, when they’re “fully formed.” These statements have sparked fresh debate on vaccines and autism, a topic debunked by major health groups like WHO for years.
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