Vaccines Not Linked to Childhood Diabetes

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Summary and Comment

Vaccines Not Linked to Childhood Diabetes

Findings from an elegant epidemiologic study show no connection between vaccination and childhood diabetes.

Critics of childhood vaccination programs have proposed links between vaccines and increasing incidences of autism and type 1 diabetes mellitus in children. Strong scientific evidence has accumulated against any association of vaccinations with autism (see Journal Watch Infectious Diseases Dec 12 2003 and Oct 10 2003). Now, using a registry of all children born in Denmark from 1990 through 2000, a national vaccine registry, and a national hospital registry that identified diabetes diagnoses, investigators have performed a longitudinal study of vaccinations and type 1 diabetes.

The researchers identified 681 cases of type 1 diabetes among 739,694 children during 4,720,517 person-years of follow-up. Comparison of diabetes rate ratios among unvaccinated children and children who received at least one dose of vaccine (Haemophilus influenzae type b; diphtheria, tetanus, and inactivated poliovirus; diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated poliovirus; whole-cell pertussis; measles, mumps, and rubella; or oral poliovirus) showed no association between vaccination and disease. Rate ratios did not change with succeeding doses of vaccines, with greater total numbers of vaccinations, or in the 2 to 4 years after receipt of any vaccine. Vaccinations were not associated with development of type 1 diabetes in siblings of diabetic children.

Comment: Findings from this elegant epidemiologic study should refute claims that vaccinations cause type 1 diabetes mellitus in children. The study design eliminated potential selection and recall biases. Setting the record straight on vaccinations and diabetes is in the best interest of public health.

— Neil R. Blacklow, MD

Published in Journal Watch Infectious Diseases April 9, 2004