CDC website change sparks outrage as false claim about autism and vaccines goes live
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come under fire after a change was made to its website that appears to downplay the link between vaccines and autism. The updated page states that "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim, sparking outrage from medical professionals and advocacy groups.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the change was made by political appointees inside the Department of Health and Human Services without input from relevant agency staffers. This has led to concerns about the scientific integrity of the CDC and its commitment to transparency.
The original statement on vaccines and autism, which stated that "no links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and Autism spectrum disorder," was removed in favor of a new page that says the claim is not supported by comprehensive evidence. However, leading autism advocacy groups dispute this, pointing out that decades of research have shown no link between vaccines and autism.
Autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain, and it presents with a wide range of symptoms. The National Institutes of Health has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to studying the condition, but despite extensive research, there is overwhelming evidence that vaccines do not cause autism.
The change to the CDC website has sparked outrage among medical professionals, who argue that it undermines the agency's credibility on vaccines and other health recommendations. Dr. Sean O'Leary, chair of the AAP's Committee on Infectious Diseases, warned that the website changes could "scare parents and further stigmatize" people with autism.
The Autism Science Foundation has described the change as "misinformation" that contradicts the best available science. Alison Singer, co-founder and president of the ASF, said that while researchers can't prove that something doesn't cause something else, there is a "mountain of studies that exonerate vaccines as a cause of autism."
The controversy has also drawn attention from health experts, who are calling for more research into the causes of autism. Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious disease physician and former CDC official, said that scientists who previously vetted scientific information have been pushed aside.
The change to the CDC website comes at a time when there is already concern about rising rates of autism diagnoses, which appear to be driven by factors such as increased awareness and changes in how the condition is diagnosed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come under fire after a change was made to its website that appears to downplay the link between vaccines and autism. The updated page states that "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim, sparking outrage from medical professionals and advocacy groups.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the change was made by political appointees inside the Department of Health and Human Services without input from relevant agency staffers. This has led to concerns about the scientific integrity of the CDC and its commitment to transparency.
The original statement on vaccines and autism, which stated that "no links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and Autism spectrum disorder," was removed in favor of a new page that says the claim is not supported by comprehensive evidence. However, leading autism advocacy groups dispute this, pointing out that decades of research have shown no link between vaccines and autism.
Autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain, and it presents with a wide range of symptoms. The National Institutes of Health has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to studying the condition, but despite extensive research, there is overwhelming evidence that vaccines do not cause autism.
The change to the CDC website has sparked outrage among medical professionals, who argue that it undermines the agency's credibility on vaccines and other health recommendations. Dr. Sean O'Leary, chair of the AAP's Committee on Infectious Diseases, warned that the website changes could "scare parents and further stigmatize" people with autism.
The Autism Science Foundation has described the change as "misinformation" that contradicts the best available science. Alison Singer, co-founder and president of the ASF, said that while researchers can't prove that something doesn't cause something else, there is a "mountain of studies that exonerate vaccines as a cause of autism."
The controversy has also drawn attention from health experts, who are calling for more research into the causes of autism. Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious disease physician and former CDC official, said that scientists who previously vetted scientific information have been pushed aside.
The change to the CDC website comes at a time when there is already concern about rising rates of autism diagnoses, which appear to be driven by factors such as increased awareness and changes in how the condition is diagnosed.
the cdc's new website wording is like totally misleading people who have autism & their families. i mean, yes vaccines don't cause autism but framing it as "not supported by comprehensive evidence" is just a way of saying "we don't know" which isn't helpful in any way. meanwhile medical pros are freaking out cuz they know the science already 
and autistic folks are getting stigmatized all over again 
this change feels so political & not at all about finding actual answers to what's behind autism diagnoses 
I'm super worried about this update on the CDC website 
. As someone who has friends with autism, it's heartbreaking to see a claim that's been debunked for so long being pushed around like this 
. The science is clear: vaccines don't cause autism 
. I think we need to be having more open and honest conversations about autism, not spreading misinformation 
. It's already hard enough for people with autism to get support and understanding – do we really need to make it harder 
?
I don't know how parents are supposed to navigate all this 
it feels like everyone's trying to say something different 
vaccines or no vaccines, is it really that simple? 
and now the CDC website is changing things again 
I just want a straightforward answer 
what's going on with our kids' health?! 
. I just hope this doesn't scare parents who want to keep their kids safe. Can we please get some real scientists on the CDC website? 
but only if you're willing to face it 
. It's sad that someone has to die for us to understand the truth 
. The fact that people are outraged because their narrative about vaccines and autism was challenged shows a lack of critical thinking 
.
.
my cousin's friend has a kid with autism and i know how hard it is for them to navigate this stuff without misinformation 
and it's super worrying for me. they're saying vaccines don't cause autism but I'm not sure who made that decision or what evidence they used