Autistic kids do not get vaccinated as often

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After children are diagnosed with autism, both they and their younger siblings are less likely to receive all recommended vaccinations, according to new research.

The findings published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics suggest that concerns linger among some parents about whether immunizations cause autism, despite previously debunked claims.

The study compared vaccination rates among children with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder and those without, as well as rates among both groups’ younger siblings. For kids not on the spectrum, 94 percent had received all vaccines recommended between ages 4 and 6. But for children with autism, only 82 percent had received all their shots.

Vaccination rates were also lower among younger siblings of children with autism. For instance, for immunizations recommended in infancy, 73 percent were fully vaccinated compared to 85 percent of the younger siblings of children not on the spectrum.

Zerbo described the study as the largest of its kind. While researchers analyzed vaccination data, they did not explore the reasons why children were not fully vaccinated.

“We are following up on this study to try to understand what makes parents reluctant,” Zerbo said. “The study does not tell us why we are seeing this disparity.”

Dr. Carolyn Bridgemohan, co-director of the Autism Spectrum Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, said she hears from parents who have concerns about vaccines based on flawed research.

The study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and included roughly 3,700 children with autism spectrum disorder and 600,000 kids without. The children were from California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington state and Wisconsin.