CDC changes website to promote debunked vaccines-autism link

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its website to promote the widely debunked claim that vaccines may cause autism.

Why it matters: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly linked vaccines to autism, and now the public health agency he oversees is publicly reversing its position to reflect that belief.

• Multiple studies over decades have disproven links between childhood vaccines and developing autism.

State of play: The agency's webpage on vaccines and autism, updated Wednesday, now says the statement that vaccines don't cause autism "is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism."

• "Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities," the website continues.
• HHS in September released plans to contract with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to research connections between vaccines and autism.
• Career scientists at the agency were not consulted about the changes and were caught off guard by them, the Washington Post reported.

The CDC site previously said studies showed there was no connection between receiving vaccines and developing autism.

What they're saying: HHS communications director Andrew Nixon said the agency updated the site to reflect "gold standard, evidence-based science."

• He did not respond to questions about the timing of the change or who was involved.

Zoom in: The CDC website still has a heading that reads "Vaccines do not cause autism" followed by an asterisk. A note further down says the header hasn't been removed "due to agreement with the chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that it would remain on the CDC website."

• During his confirmation process, Kennedy struck an agreement with committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) that he would not dismantle vaccine safety systems or remove government vaccine guidance.

Cassidy posted on X Thursday: "I'm a doctor who has seen people die from vaccine-preventable diseases. What parents need to hear right now is vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism."

• "Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker."

Peter Sullivan contributed.

This story has been updated with Cassidy's X post.