The immunizations and autism debate doesn’t seem to go away. As of today, the scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Md. In fact, the initial study implicating vaccines has been retracted and its author has lost his medical license. Some groups still contend that the preservative thimerosal, which contains a type of mercury, is responsible for the rising rates of autism. However, Congress banned the use of thimerosol in all regularly used childhood vaccines in 2002.
To date, there is no evidence that any vaccine can cause autism.