Immunization Program

This message is being sent to all VFC providers, VFA providers, COVID-19 vaccinators, monkeypox vaccinators, and local and tribal health departments.

A new observational study published in Academic Pediatrics signals a possible association between exposure to aluminum, which is found in some childhood vaccines, and development of persistent asthma in children. The CDC and DHS agree with the authors that this single observational study does not show that aluminum in some childhood vaccines can cause development of persistent asthma. This CDC-funded study has important limitations that the authors acknowledge. “Considering the small effect size observed and the limitations described above, particularly related to unmeasured confounding, these findings do not constitute strong evidence for questioning the safety of aluminum in vaccines.” (Daley et.al. 2022)

CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are discussing more studies to look at aluminum in childhood vaccines.

The CDC is not changing the current routine childhood vaccination recommendations based on this single study. Further investigation is needed to explore the risk of aluminum exposure from routine childhood vaccines on the development of persistent asthma in children; efforts are already underway. We ask all vaccinators to strongly recommend that parents and caregivers vaccinate their children on time with all vaccines, including flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Resources

• Key messages and talking points from the CDC.
• CDC has recently updated information on adjuvants in vaccines.
• DHS Plan to Protect and Childhood and Adolescent Vaccine Information materials on the safety and importance of on time vaccinations for young children.

Please do not reply directly to this email message. If you have a question, please email Stephanie Schauer.