Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new head of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has filled a key autism committee with individuals who are known to promote debunked theories that vaccines cause autism. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is tasked with providing guidance on services for people with autism and recommending research funding.
Among those appointed to the IACC are individuals who have been vocal about their skepticism of vaccine safety and have promoted pseudoscientific treatments for autism. For example, Daniel Rossignol, a doctor who has been sued for alleged fraud after prescribing a 7-year-old autistic child a debunked treatment, is now on the committee.
Tracy Slepcevic, an appointee who Kennedy calls a "dear friend," organizes an annual Autism Health Summit that promotes pseudoscientific treatments for autism. Another appointee, Toby Rogers, has claimed that vaccines cause autism and that vaccine makers are "poisoning children." Rogers is also a fellow at the Brownstone Institute for Social and Economic Research.
Ginger Taylor, the former director of the Maine Coalition for Vaccine Choice, has publicly claimed that many autism cases involve "vaccine causation." Elizabeth Mumper, a senior fellow with the Independent Medical Alliance, has written for Children's Health Defense, an organization founded by Kennedy that links autism to vaccines.
The Department of Health and Human Services says claims that members of the panel were selected to advance predetermined conclusions is unfounded and misleading. However, some critics argue that the appointments are an attempt to undermine evidence-based research on autism and promote pseudoscientific treatments.
Autism advocates are worried that this new committee could pave the way for dangerous pseudoscientific treatments going mainstream. "The new IACC is overwhelmingly made up of anti-vaccine advocates and peddlers of dangerous quack autism 'treatments'," said the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in a statement on its website.
Kennedy has already overhauled the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a normally independent group that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine usage. The decisions combined could lead to disastrous outcomes, experts say.
Among those appointed to the IACC are individuals who have been vocal about their skepticism of vaccine safety and have promoted pseudoscientific treatments for autism. For example, Daniel Rossignol, a doctor who has been sued for alleged fraud after prescribing a 7-year-old autistic child a debunked treatment, is now on the committee.
Tracy Slepcevic, an appointee who Kennedy calls a "dear friend," organizes an annual Autism Health Summit that promotes pseudoscientific treatments for autism. Another appointee, Toby Rogers, has claimed that vaccines cause autism and that vaccine makers are "poisoning children." Rogers is also a fellow at the Brownstone Institute for Social and Economic Research.
Ginger Taylor, the former director of the Maine Coalition for Vaccine Choice, has publicly claimed that many autism cases involve "vaccine causation." Elizabeth Mumper, a senior fellow with the Independent Medical Alliance, has written for Children's Health Defense, an organization founded by Kennedy that links autism to vaccines.
The Department of Health and Human Services says claims that members of the panel were selected to advance predetermined conclusions is unfounded and misleading. However, some critics argue that the appointments are an attempt to undermine evidence-based research on autism and promote pseudoscientific treatments.
Autism advocates are worried that this new committee could pave the way for dangerous pseudoscientific treatments going mainstream. "The new IACC is overwhelmingly made up of anti-vaccine advocates and peddlers of dangerous quack autism 'treatments'," said the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in a statement on its website.
Kennedy has already overhauled the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a normally independent group that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine usage. The decisions combined could lead to disastrous outcomes, experts say.
I'm worried about what's happening with this new autism committee 
. It seems like they're putting people who spread misinformation about vaccines on a committee that's supposed to help people with autism 
. And now Kennedy has appointed people who promote debunked treatments 
. I think it's a huge mistake, and it could lead to more harm than good for autistic people 
. The fact that some of these appointees have been sued or have written about pseudoscientific nonsense is red flag 
. We need experts who are grounded in science and evidence-based research on this committee, not just spreading misinformation 
. What do you guys think? Should we be concerned about the direction Kennedy is taking our health department? 
... it seems like we're taking a step back from fact-based research and evidence-based medicine. I get where Kennedy is coming from, but filling the autism committee with people who promote debunked theories can be really damaging. What if these individuals are trying to push their own agendas or profit from people's fears? 
Let's make sure we're supporting people with autism, not perpetuating misinformation. Can't we find middle ground and support both vaccine safety and advocating for people with autism at the same time? 
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is right on the money when they say this new committee could lead to disastrous outcomes. We need evidence-based research, not some bunch of quacks peddling their own brand of pseudoscience 
.
. Newsflash: autism is not caused by vaccines, period 
. The overwhelming scientific evidence says so 
.
.
. Kennedy's already made some questionable changes to the ACIP, and now this? It's like he's trying to dismantle the very foundation of vaccine safety 
.
It seems like they're more interested in promoting their own agenda than actually doing what's best for people with autism. What's next, gonna start giving out pseudoscientific treatments instead of actual evidence-based care? 
And can someone please explain why Kennedy is surrounding himself with these individuals who are basically peddling anti-vax propaganda? 
. And what really gets me is that these people are trying to undermine evidence-based research on autism, which is exactly what we need more of 
. We can't have someone with a "dear friend" label getting to decide on autism policy without having a thorough background check 
. This whole thing just smells like a recipe for disaster 
anyway what's the deal with this autism committee? it sounds super sketchy to me. all these people promoting debunked theories and pseudoscientific treatments for autism... it gives me the ick 
and what's up with all these vaccine links? isn't that just, like, a conspiracy theory or something? 
, like, a guy juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle... anyway, what's going on with these vaccine people is wild 
! Autism advocacy groups are freaking out because of these appointments 
. By the way, have you ever been to Tokyo in December? It's, like, super festive and cozy 
!
.