NEW YORK (AP) – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reportedly directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to update its website to contradict its longstanding guidance that vaccines do not cause autism. In an interview with The New York Times, Kennedy revealed his involvement in the alteration of the CDC's website, which surprised many current and former staffers at the agency when new guidance was published on Wednesday, challenging scientific consensus on the issue.
Kennedy, a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, has initiated changes within public health agencies that have alarmed much of the medical community. He believes that the assertion that vaccines have been tested and found to be safe is misleading. “The whole thing about ‘vaccines have been tested and there’s been this determination made,’ is just a lie,” Kennedy stated during the interview conducted on Thursday.
The updated CDC "vaccine safety" page now claims that the statement "vaccines do not cause autism" is not substantiated by evidence, suggesting that it does not rule out the possibility of infant vaccines being linked to autism. Additionally, the revised page implies that health officials have neglected to consider studies indicating a potential link between vaccines and autism.
Public health researchers and advocates are strongly pushing back against the recent changes, asserting that the updated information misleads the public by failing to recognize that the scientific method cannot satisfy demands to prove a negative. They emphasize that extensive research spanning decades has thoroughly investigated potential links between vaccines and autism, consistently finding no such connection. The Autism Science Foundation released a statement underscoring that “[n]o environmental factor has been better studied as a potential cause of autism than vaccines,” which includes both vaccine ingredients and the body's response to vaccinations.
While Kennedy acknowledged the existence of studies showing no connection between the mercury-based preservative thimerosal, the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, and autism, he maintained that gaps in vaccine safety science still exist and that further research is needed. This position has led to conflicts with some political figures, including Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and the Republican chair of the Senate health committee. During Kennedy’s confirmation process, he committed to Cassidy that he would retain the statement asserting that vaccines do not cause autism on the CDC website. Although that statement remains, it now includes a disclaimer attributing its continuation to their agreement.
Kennedy shared that he discussed the updated website with Cassidy, who expressed disagreement with the decision. Cassidy emphasized on X that it is crucial for parents to understand that vaccines for diseases such as measles, polio, and hepatitis B are safe and effective, stating, “Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker.”
The alterations to the CDC's website come amid Kennedy's broader efforts as health secretary that contribute to growing skepticism regarding immunizations. Notably, he has halted $500 million allocated for vaccine development, replaced all members of a federal vaccine advisory committee, pledged to reform a compensation program for individuals injured by vaccines, and terminated former CDC Director Susan Monarez shortly after her appointment due to disagreements over vaccination policy.
Dr. Sean O'Leary, the head of the infectious diseases committee at the American Academy of Pediatrics, criticized the CDC’s updated guidance, calling it a perpetuation of misinformation. He described the situation as “madness,” asserting, “Vaccines do not cause autism, and unfortunately, we can no longer trust health-related information coming from our government.”
The Department of Health and Human Services did not make Kennedy available for comment and has not responded to requests for further information regarding the matter.
