A large new study from Denmark has found no evidence that aluminum salts in childhood vaccines cause asthma, autism, or other chronic illnesses. This research, covering the health records of more than 1.2 million children over 24 years, offers strong reassurance to parents and doctors.
Aluminum salts are added to some vaccines to improve the immune system’s response. These salts have been used safely in vaccines for over 70 years. However, vaccine critics have often claimed that aluminum might be harmful to children’s health.
To test this, researchers at the Statens Serum Institut and University of Copenhagen reviewed health data for children born between 1997 and 2018. They looked at how much aluminum each child was exposed to based on their vaccine schedule and whether this exposure was linked to 50 different conditions, including allergies, autoimmune diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The result: there was no statistically significant increase in any of these conditions related to aluminum in vaccines. “We should not be concerned about aluminum used as an adjuvant in childhood vaccines,” said senior author Anders Hviid, a lead epidemiologist at Denmark’s public health agency.
Even as the number of vaccines increased over the years—raising aluminum exposure—no pattern of higher disease rates appeared. This lack of a “dose response” suggests aluminum does not increase health risks.
Experts in the U.S. agreed. Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins said the findings were especially reassuring for parents worried about asthma. Dr. Matthew Daley, who led an earlier U.S. study that questioned aluminum’s role in asthma, said the Danish research was well designed and provided clear answers.
Importantly, the study was observational, not experimental. It did not compare vaccinated and unvaccinated children because withholding vaccines would be unethical. But the large sample size and national health records made the results reliable.
Researchers admit they cannot rule out very rare risks completely. But they stress that the overall evidence shows aluminum-containing vaccines are safe and vital for preventing serious illnesses.
“These vaccines save lives,” said Hviid. “If we remove them, children around the world will be at risk.”
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