Study finds higher rates of chronic disorders among vaccinated children
Any chronic condition was 250% higher among vaccinated children, says epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher
- Sep 20, 2026,
- Updated Sep 20, 2026 3:35 PM IST
Nicolas Hulscher, an epidemiologist and administrator at the McCullough Foundation, has claimed that a reanalysis of Henry Ford Health data found higher rates of all 22 chronic disease categories among vaccinated children. He said autoimmune disease was 1,120% higher in vaccinated children, while neurodevelopmental disorders were 1,254% higher.
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His claims drew a reaction from Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, who said the vaccine-versus-unvaccinated cohort study "deserves attention", particularly its findings on autoimmune disorders.
Hulscher posted the findings on X on September 18 after presenting them at a Michigan House Oversight hearing. He describes himself as an epidemiologist and administrator at the McCullough Foundation and holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from the University of Michigan.
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According to Hulscher, any chronic condition was 250% higher among vaccinated children. He reported autoimmune disease was 1,120% higher, neurodevelopmental disorders 1,254% higher, mental health disorders 696% higher, and asthma 553% higher.
He also reported higher rates of autism, cancer, food allergy, developmental delay, speech disorders, motor disabilities, and seizure disorders.
Some conditions were reported only among vaccinated children in the data analysed by Hulscher. These included brain dysfunction, diabetes, ADHD, behavioural disabilities, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, tics, and other psychological disabilities.
Vembu Calls For Scrutiny
Vembu referred to the findings in a post on Sunday and said the vaccine-versus-no-vaccine cohort study deserved attention. "This vaccine vs no vaccine cohort study deserves attention, particularly the prevalence of auto-immune disorders," he wrote.
The tech veteran then laid out what he called principles that should apply to medical interventions. "The fundamental principle for any medical intervention is 'First of all, do no harm'," he said. He argued that the burden was on medical regulators to establish that an intervention causes no harm, or that its benefits substantially outweigh its risks.
He also questioned treating scientific questions as settled. "Science requires keeping an open mind even on seemingly ‘settled questions’," Vembu wrote. "The whole 'Trust the science' is a fundamentally unscientific attitude, especially so when it is used to shut down scrutiny."
Vembu cited OxyContin as an example of a widely prescribed drug that was later found to cause substantial harm.
Vembu also highlighted the work of immunologist Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld in the discussion around vaccines and autoimmune disorders. "On the subject of vaccines and auto-immune disorders, the work of the distinguished immunologist Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld (textbook link in comment) deserves particular mention," he wrote.
Nicolas Hulscher, an epidemiologist and administrator at the McCullough Foundation, has claimed that a reanalysis of Henry Ford Health data found higher rates of all 22 chronic disease categories among vaccinated children. He said autoimmune disease was 1,120% higher in vaccinated children, while neurodevelopmental disorders were 1,254% higher.
Don't Miss: India’s first dengue vaccine is coming: Dr Reddy’s ties up with Japan’s Takeda
His claims drew a reaction from Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, who said the vaccine-versus-unvaccinated cohort study "deserves attention", particularly its findings on autoimmune disorders.
Hulscher posted the findings on X on September 18 after presenting them at a Michigan House Oversight hearing. He describes himself as an epidemiologist and administrator at the McCullough Foundation and holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from the University of Michigan.
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According to Hulscher, any chronic condition was 250% higher among vaccinated children. He reported autoimmune disease was 1,120% higher, neurodevelopmental disorders 1,254% higher, mental health disorders 696% higher, and asthma 553% higher.
He also reported higher rates of autism, cancer, food allergy, developmental delay, speech disorders, motor disabilities, and seizure disorders.
Some conditions were reported only among vaccinated children in the data analysed by Hulscher. These included brain dysfunction, diabetes, ADHD, behavioural disabilities, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, tics, and other psychological disabilities.
Vembu Calls For Scrutiny
Vembu referred to the findings in a post on Sunday and said the vaccine-versus-no-vaccine cohort study deserved attention. "This vaccine vs no vaccine cohort study deserves attention, particularly the prevalence of auto-immune disorders," he wrote.
The tech veteran then laid out what he called principles that should apply to medical interventions. "The fundamental principle for any medical intervention is 'First of all, do no harm'," he said. He argued that the burden was on medical regulators to establish that an intervention causes no harm, or that its benefits substantially outweigh its risks.
He also questioned treating scientific questions as settled. "Science requires keeping an open mind even on seemingly ‘settled questions’," Vembu wrote. "The whole 'Trust the science' is a fundamentally unscientific attitude, especially so when it is used to shut down scrutiny."
Vembu cited OxyContin as an example of a widely prescribed drug that was later found to cause substantial harm.
Vembu also highlighted the work of immunologist Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld in the discussion around vaccines and autoimmune disorders. "On the subject of vaccines and auto-immune disorders, the work of the distinguished immunologist Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld (textbook link in comment) deserves particular mention," he wrote.