Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002.
Universal hepatitis B vaccination was recommended for U.S. newborns in 1991; however, safety findings are mixed. The association between hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and parental report of autism diagnosis was determined. This cross-sectional study used weighted probability samples obtained from National Health Interview Survey 1997-2002 data sets. Vaccination status was determined from the vaccination record. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds for autism diagnosis associated with neonatal hepatitis B vaccination among boys age 3-17 years, born before 1999, adjusted for race, maternal education, and two-parent household. Boys vaccinated as neonates had threefold greater odds for autism diagnosis compared to boys never vaccinated or vaccinated after the first month of life. Non-Hispanic white boys were 64% less likely to have autism diagnosis relative to nonwhite boys. Findings suggest that U.S. male neonates vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine prior to 1999 (from vaccination record) had a threefold higher risk for parental report of autism diagnosis compared to boys not vaccinated as neonates during that same time period. Nonwhite boys bore a greater risk.
PhD Program in Population Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, Stony Brook University Medical Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA. cmgallagher@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Carolyn M
CM
Gallagher
Melody S
MS
Goodman
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009313:National Health Programs; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D013849:Thimerosal