The United States’ top health agency, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), is now advancing a false theory about an alleged link between vaccines and autism, a turnaround pushed by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr and on Thursday strongly condemned by doctors and scientists.
In an update on its website late Wednesday, the CDC dramatically changed its response to the issue. To date, the agency reminds that a number of studies have been carried out “shows that there is no link between vaccination and the development of autism spectrum disorders”conclusions shared by WHO and major scientific authorities.
By Thursday, this text had been largely replaced by language elements repeating the words of Robert Kennedy Jr, who for years has advanced conspiracy theories about vaccines, particularly conspiracy theories about Covid-19. The agency now states that the previous denial did not occur “not based on evidence” and accused health authorities of ignoring research supporting the link. This occurs despite years of research showing no causal link between vaccinations and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
“Back to the Middle Ages”
“This is very worrying”alert Agence France-Presse Helen Tager-Flusberg, an autism specialist at Boston University. “I feel like we are back in the Middle Ages (…)we undermine science by linking it to political interests.”he complained, saying that this change would create unnecessary fear among parents and encourage them not to vaccinate their children. “We will have a significant increase in childhood illnesses”he assured, although some diseases, such as measles, are already experiencing a strong comeback in the country due to falling vaccination rates.
Several healthcare organizations and experts also strongly criticized the move, deeming the agency untrustworthy, while anti-vaccine associations welcomed the turnaround and thanked the minister. Even within the CDC, people do “very worried and angry”a union member told AFP.
However, the agency’s website may cause confusion because on Thursday there was still a mention, which is certainly unique, of the fact that “Vaccines do not cause autism”due to requests from Republican doctors selected by training.
The false theory linking autism to childhood vaccines – namely the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine – stems from a fake study published in 1998, which was later retracted and repeatedly debunked. Since taking office, Robert Kennedy Jr has initiated a major overhaul of America’s health agencies with massive layoffs and budget cuts and vowed to uncover the causes of what he describes as“epidemic” autism.
