November 2025 - The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC)

Statement on autism and vaccines

MVEC strongly disagrees with the changes to messaging recently published on the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page ‘Autism and Vaccines’.

For a vaccine to be administered in Australia, it must adhere to the strict requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and have supportive evidence to satisfy the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). Australian health authorities involved in vaccine policy and decision‑making are independent of political agenda, influence and financial gain. Transparency and appropriate management of conflicts of interest are integral to maintaining the high standards required to fulfil this responsibility.

Australia has robust vaccine safety monitoring systems that include both active and passive adverse event reporting, and signal detection and investigation. Safety surveillance continues after vaccines are approved and rolled out to a population. There are no safety signals relating to any vaccine (including MMR which protects against measles, mumps and rubella) or vaccine ingredient (including aluminium) causing autism.

CDC’s recent change to messaging asserts that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence‑based. However, this ignores scientific methodology, whereby researchers seek evidence for a particular event happening – i.e. vaccines causing autism – rather trying to prove that an event can never happen. Dozens of studies involving millions of children have found no link between vaccines and autism. These studies are evidence that vaccines do not cause autism.

Spreading vaccine misinformation and disinformation threatens trust not only in vaccines but also in the processes in place to ensure our safety.

Vaccines have saved 6 lives every minute since 1974. 154 million deaths have been prevented in the last 50 years. The vaccines used in Australia are safe and effective.

Resources

by Alice Black

Gavi: Study reveals the heavy emotional toll of having a baby hospitalised with RSV

A new study investigates the psychological impact on caregivers when their young child is hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The study found having a child hospitalised with RSV causes significant stress and anxiety, noting the importance of emotional support for caregivers especially for families at higher risk of psychological distress due to social or financial pressures.

For more information about RSV, visit MVEC: RSV

by Alice Black

Protecting Victorians From Mosquito-Borne Diseases

On 7 November 2025, the Victorian Minister for Health announced more Victorians will have protection from Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), with increased eligibility for free vaccines in at-risk regional areas.

JEV is spread to humans through mosquito bites; it is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis (brain inflammation) in Asia and the Western Pacific.

High-risk local government areas where residents are eligible for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine include: Alpine, Benalla, Buloke, Campaspe, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Indigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Mildura, Mitchell, Moira, Northern Grampians, Strathbogie, Swan Hill, Towong, Wangaratta, West Wimmera, Wodonga and Yarriambiack.

For more information about JEV, visit MVEC: Japanese encephalitis

Victorian Government media release: Protecting Victorians From Mosquito-Borne Diseases

by Alice Black

Vaccine X: Open Access in 2025: supporting the publication of readily accessible, ‘peer reviewed’ immunization science has never been more important

In a recent article, the editorial group at the online journal Vaccine X has highlighted the importance of transparency in immunisation policy decision-making.

The editors examine the role of open access research to promote evidence-based vaccine science and bolster public confidence in vaccines.

Read the article in full: Open Access in 2025: supporting the publication of readily accessible, ‘peer reviewed’ immunization science has never been more important

by Alice Black

BBC: Canada loses its measles-free status, with US on track to follow

Canada had been declared measles-free for 3 decades, until it lost that status on Monday 10 November. Health officials in Canada attribute Canada’s ongoing measles outbreak to low vaccination rates.

BBC: Canada loses its measles-free status, with US on track to follow

For more information about measles disease, epidemiology and prevention, go to MVEC: Measles

by Alice Black

Immunisation Coalition: 27th Annual Scientific Meeting

Immunisation Coalition will hold its 27th Annual Scientific Meeting in February 2026. Registrations are now open.

Date: 15–16 February 2026
Venue: Pullman Melbourne Albert Park

Learn more and register on the Immunisation Coalition’s event page.

by Alice Black

CDIC 2026: Call for abstracts

Next year’s Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference (CDIC 2026) is accepting abstract submissions. The conference theme will be ‘Public Health at Risk – Collective Solutions to New Challenges’.

Date: 15 to 17 June 2026
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Registrations are now open. Abstract submissions close on Friday 13 February 2026.

by Alice Black

NCIRS: Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has published a comprehensive report on vaccination coverage across age groups and geographical areas in Australia. NCIRS notes several key takeaways from the report:

HPV vaccination in adolescent girls and boys is below the target of 90% coverage and has declined since 2020.
The percentage of fully vaccinated children has decreased between 2023 and 2024 at all key milestones (12 months, 24 months and 60 years of age).
Adult vaccine coverage is consistently suboptimal across all vaccines.
Coverage of Prevenar 13 in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults increased by 8% compared to 2023.

Read the report in full: Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024

by Alice Black

The New York Times: Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent

Countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees are seeing diphtheria outbreaks. This recent article examines the resurgence of diphtheria, its spread fuelled by “disruptions in routine immunization that came with Covid and its stress on global health systems, and the rise in vaccine hesitancy”.

Diphtheria is a potentially life-threatening, acute bacterial illness. For more information on disease transmission, epidemiology and prevention, visit MVEC: Diphtheria.

New York Times: Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent

by Alice Black