The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its vaccine safety webpage to include language suggesting an unproven link between vaccines and autism. This change introduces doubt where decades of scientific consensus confirms no such connection, aligning with views previously expressed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has long questioned vaccine safety.
Experts Condemn the Revision
Epidemiologists and medical professionals have strongly criticized the CDC’s move as anti-scientific and dangerous. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, called the update “a tragedy,” stating it rejects established evidence and endangers public health by potentially reducing vaccine uptake.
“This signals that truth carries no weight in current discussions on vaccines. Children will die because of this,” Osterholm warned.
Decades of Evidence Dismissed
Previously, the CDC webpage unequivocally stated that vaccines do not cause autism, citing decades of research. The revised version now claims that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” lacks evidence and alleges that studies suggesting a link have been ignored by health authorities. This contradicts over 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 million people conducted across seven countries since 1998, all of which have found no causal relationship between vaccines and autism.
For example, a 2019 study examined over 657,000 children and found no evidence of a tie between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasized, “There is no link between vaccines and autism. Anyone repeating this myth is either misinformed or intentionally misleading parents.”
CDC Plans New Investigation
The CDC update also announces plans to re-investigate the relationship between early childhood vaccinations and autism, despite existing conclusive evidence. The move suggests a willingness to re-examine settled science, potentially undermining public trust in vaccination programs.
The CDC’s decision to introduce doubt into a scientifically resolved matter raises serious concerns about the politicization of public health. The revisions prioritize unsubstantiated claims over decades of rigorous research, potentially leading to decreased vaccine confidence and preventable outbreaks of dangerous diseases.
