This report summarizes the current state of evidence from scientific studies examining the possibility of a causal link between immunizations and immune dysfunction. The report illustrates that there is some biological plausibility and some epidemiologic evidence for links between multiple vaccines and adverse health effects, but that there is much uncertainty in this area of scientific inquiry and that much more research needs to be done before we can definitively rule in or rule out causal associations. At the very least, all health professionals should read the executive summary of this report. The IOM committee that synthesized the scientific evidence on vaccination risks and benefits, also recommends in this report that another committee should be convened expressly for the purpose of presenting this complex scientific information in a way that can be more easily read and understood by patients and "typical" health care consumers.

Following are some relevant quotes from the report:

"Although the committee's review points to no causal relationship between multiple immunizations and type 1 diabetes or risk of infection, and the review is inconclusive for asthma, the biological evidence does provide weak support for increased risk of allergy and autoimmunity and strong support for increased risk of infection. Further study of such associations poses difficult scientific challenges, and relevant epidemiological evidence remains limited. Several important scientific and policy issues, therefore, deserve further public health attention."

"Current approaches to immunization policy-making emphasize epidemiologic
and economic considerations, but may benefit from greater attention to ethical issues, including personal liberty and equity of allocation of the benefits and burdens of immunization. With new vaccines in development and discussions of the wider use of existing vaccines, more flexible approaches to immunization policies -- especially regarding priorities -- may be needed."