Researchers from Japan have investigated whether there is a link between the number of inactivated aluminium-containing vaccines given before six months of age and the development of asthma, wheezing or eczema by 12 months of age.

They found that giving three or more inactivated aluminium vaccines before six months of age significantly increased a child’s risk of suffering from wheezing or being diagnosed with asthma or eczema by 12 months of age. The greater the number of vaccines that are given before six months of age, the greater was the risk of developing asthma, wheezing or eczema.

The authors suspect that this increased risk is primarily due to the aluminium adjuvant contained in the vaccines. Aluminium is known to push the child’s immune system into an allergic (type 2) direction. At Babyjabs, we generally recommend delaying the start of vaccines until at least 12 weeks of age and giving no more than two aluminium-containing vaccines before six months of age.