Pharmacists besieged by worried patients after Trump’s unfounded paracetamol and vaccines claims

Pharmacists have been inundated with queries from worried patients after Donald Trump made unsubstantiated claims about the safety of paracetamol and vaccines, a poll reveals.

One in three pharmacies (32 per cent) said customers have told them they are less likely to get themselves or their children jabbed following the US president’s remarks this week.

And 24 per cent report patients questioning the use of paracetamol, known in the States as Tylenol.

The National Pharmacy Association, which surveyed 500 pharmacies serving 2.5million patients, found more than half (58 per cent) believe Mr Trump’s comments pose a risk to care in the UK.

It warned against the spreading of ‘misinformation’ about medicines and vaccinations, which have helped prevent life-threatening diseases.

Mr Trump told a White House press conference there has been a ‘meteoric rise’ in cases of autism and suggested that Tylenol is a likely cause.

He said expectant mothers should not take the painkiller and instead ‘tough it out’. He also raised unfounded concerns about vaccines.

His comments have been widely criticised by autism campaigners and scientists in the UK, who say it is ‘fear-mongering’ and could put women and children at risk of harm.

The UK and EU medicines regulators have issued comments stressing the safety of the drug in pregnancy.

Pharmacies are also assuring pregnant women that it is appropriate to take paracetamol if experiencing a high fever or in need of pain relief and say parents should continue to get their children vaccinated to prevent serious illness.

Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, which represents around 6000 independent community pharmacies in the UK, said: ‘President Trump’s comments break long standing international consensus around treatments which strong medical evidence suggests are very safe, highly effective and used by millions of people over many years.

‘People have every right to question medicines but it is vitally important that patients get their medical advice from trusted and well evidenced sources, such as pharmacists and doctors who have seen the clinical research underpinning treatments.

‘Statements like these cause alarm to parents, who feel unnecessary guilt for having done the right thing for their health during their pregnancy.

‘Paracetamol remains an effective and safe pain relief option for patients, including for pregnant women and leaving fever and pain untreated can pose risks to unborn babies.

‘Childhood vaccination campaigns have also been crucial in preventing serious illnesses that were common place in the UK 60 years ago, such as measles, but people can easily be swayed by what they hear online or on the television.

‘If patients are concerned about the safety of medication, they should speak to their local pharmacist.’

Speaking earlier this week, health secretary Wes Streeting said ‘I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this’, as he urged pregnant women not to pay ‘any attention whatsoever’ to the US president.

The MP told ITV’s Lorraine: ‘I’ve just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None.

‘In fact, a major study was done back in 2024 in Sweden, involving 2.4 million children, and it did not uphold those claims.

‘So I would just say to people watching, don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.

’In fact, don’t take even take my word for it, as a politician – listen to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS.’