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Receiving multiple vaccinations within one day does not increase an infant's risk for autism. Nearly all infants get dozens of their vaccinations in one sitting, and despite the benefits of these shots for the infant's health, about one-third of parents are still hesitant about the possible side effects of vaccinations. These parents hear claims that vaccinations can lead to the development of autism. However, a new study reaffirms the safety behind vaccinations and state that an infant's risk for autism would not increase merely because of the number of vaccinations given in one day.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 10 parents decide to opt out or delay vaccinations based on these unscientific claims. These parents believe that their infants' immune systems would react adversely to the huge amount of antigens coming from the shots, and thus, they either limit the number of vaccinations per visit, or choose not to vaccinate their infants. Vaccinations are vital for babies and children, which is why the study, which took data from the Institute of Medicine, analyzed the effects of these shots on infants.

The researchers looked at the data already compiled on 256 autistic children and 752 children without autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). They looked into the child's immunization records and schedules, and measured the total amount of antigens that the child received from one day of shots and throughout early childhood. The researchers also looked into three different age groups to see if the shots affected the children at different stages of life. The age groups were from birth to three months, birth to seven months, and birth to two years. Even with three different groupings with the last age group containing the most antigen exposure, the researchers did not find any correlations or any causal relationships between administering vaccination shots and risk for autism. The researchers also stated that the number of shots given per visit also did not appear to play a factor in the development of autism.

The authors of the study hope that these findings can help reassure parents that vaccinations do not lead to ASDs.

The study published in the Journal of Pediatrics.