Study Finds No Link Between Childhood Immunization Schedule and Type 1 Diabetes

Childhood immunizations were not associated with the development of Type 1 diabetes in a study published in the December 2021 Pediatrics that reaffirms the safety of the recommended immunization schedule. The epidemiological study, “The Childhood Vaccination Schedule and the Lack of Association with Type 1 Diabetes,” published online Nov. 8, analyzed a cohort of 584,171 children across eight integrated health care organizations in California, Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. Researchers examined associations between three measures of the childhood immunization schedule and the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children ages 2 to 14 years. The measures analyzed were the average number days that children were undervaccinated; their cumulative vaccine antigen exposure; and cumulative vaccine aluminum exposure through the first 23 months of life. The study found that the average number of days unvaccinated and cumulative antigen exposure were not associated with Type 1 diabetes. Cumulative vaccine aluminum exposure was associated with a reduced incidence of Type 1 diabetes. While survey and vaccination coverage data suggest that approximately 10% to 15% of parents refuse or delay recommended vaccines for their children due to safety concerns, the authors conclude that their findings offer reassurance that the immunization schedule is safe. Type 1 diabetes affects an estimated 27,000 children annually in the United States.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.