Introduction to the CDC’s Change in Messaging
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that once stated unequivocally that vaccines do not cause autism has been rewritten, now suggesting without evidence that health authorities “ignored” possible links between the shots and autism.
The change was posted Wednesday and first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The New Language
The new language states, “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” Pediatricians and vaccine experts have long said that autism is among the most studied childhood conditions and that no credible research has ever suggested a link between it and vaccines.
Reaction from the Scientific Community
Scientists, vaccinologists, and autism researchers who’ve sought to identify possible causes were shocked by the change. “This is madness,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, head of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infectious diseases committee, said during a media briefing Thursday. O’Leary said that scientists have taken an exhaustive look at potential environmental causes of autism. “One thing that is very clear is that vaccines are not one of those things. They do not cause autism. Period.”
Criticism from Autism Organizations
The Autism Science Foundation said in a statement that the group is “appalled” by the change in CDC messaging, calling it “anti-vaccine rhetoric and outright lies about vaccines and autism.” The foundation’s director, Alison Singer, said during a media briefing, “The idea that vaccines cause autism is not only scientifically false, it’s also profoundly stigmatizing to autistic people and to their families. It frames autism as being caused by parental action, as if autism is a preventable injury.”
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Involvement
The updated webpage also notes that the Department of Health and Human Services has launched “a comprehensive assessment” to examine the causes of autism. It’s unclear what the assessment will be or how it will be conducted. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the website had been updated “to reflect gold standard, evidence-based science.” A question about how the agency defines such science wasn’t immediately answered.
Implications and Concerns
The new language comes just ahead of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee meeting scheduled for Dec. 4-5, where members are expected to vote on changing the childhood schedule for hepatitis B vaccines. The Trump administration had previously demanded changes to the CDC website, notably insisting that anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, be erased. This latest revision “crossed the line,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman, an infectious disease specialist at Georgetown University Medical Center and former chief scientist with the Food and Drug Administration.
What Do the Autism Studies Really Show?
Some scientists and doctors accused the CDC of cherry-picking studies that raise doubt about the relationship between autism and vaccines, and misrepresenting data or omitting credible studies that don’t show an association. “They’re taking evidence of safety and pretending it shows uncertainty. And I think that’s in a lot of ways actually worse than citing bad studies, because it’s corrupting good ones,” said Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious diseases specialist at Stanford Medicine.
Conclusion
The change in the CDC’s messaging on vaccines and autism has sparked controversy and concern among the scientific community and autism organizations. The new language suggests a possible link between vaccines and autism without evidence, which contradicts decades of research showing no such link. The implications of this change are significant, and it remains to be seen how it will affect public perception and trust in vaccines.
FAQs
Q: What has the CDC changed about its messaging on vaccines and autism?
A: The CDC has rewritten its webpage to suggest that health authorities may have “ignored” possible links between vaccines and autism, without providing evidence.
Q: What do scientists and autism organizations say about the change?
A: Scientists and autism organizations are critical of the change, stating that it is not based on evidence and is misleading.
Q: What are the implications of the change?
A: The change may affect public perception and trust in vaccines, and could have significant implications for public health.
Q: What does the scientific evidence say about the link between vaccines and autism?
A: The overwhelming scientific evidence shows no link between vaccines and autism.
