CDC Plans Large Study On Long-Debunked Connection Between Vaccines And Autism, Report Says

Topline

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—which falls under the purview of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—is planning to study potential connections between vaccines and autism, Reuters reported Friday, a link Kennedy has controversially pushed in the past.

Key Facts

Two unnamed sources familiar with the matter told Reuters of the planned study, though it was unclear whether Kennedy, a known-vaccine skeptic who has pushed the conspiracy that autism is linked to vaccination, is involved.

The CDC’s page on frequently asked questions about autism—which was last updated on Nov. 5, 2024—states that, “to date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with” autism spectrum disorder.

There have been a number of scientific studies done in the past that have shown no connection between vaccination and autism, but 20 years ago, Kennedy emerged as the most prominent figure pushing the conspiracy.

Forbes has reached out to the CDC for comment.

What Has Kennedy Said About Vaccines?

Kennedy’s stance that vaccines may cause autism, along with his other stances on the safety of various vaccinations, has been slammed by health experts and organizations who argue he is spreading long-discredited theories. Kennedy was among the most well-known public figures spreading the theory for years: In 2005, he published a later-retracted article claiming a preservative used to prevent vaccine vial contamination was tied to childhood neurological disorders—a theory that CDC experts have long rejected. He also cites a decades-old CDC study when alleging vaccines are tied to autism, despite one of the authors of the study saying it gave no conclusion on a potential connection, according to FactCheck.org. Kennedy has also falsely stated as recently as last year that there are no adults “with full-blown autism,” repeating that belief when he appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast last summer. His claims were questioned heavily by lawmakers during his confirmation hearings. During the hearings, Kennedy said he was not “anti-vaccine” but is “pro-safety,” though he refused to say there is no link between autism and vaccines. In October, before he was appointed to lead HHS, Kennedy said in a post on X he is “not going to take anyone’s vaccines away from them. I just want to be sure every American knows the safety profile, the risk profile, and the efficacy of each vaccine.”

What Has Trump Said About Autism And Vaccines?

Since being elected, Trump has discussed the rise in autism rates—which many experts believe is linked to more frequent diagnoses—and said in a post on Truth Social “something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!!” referring to Kennedy. In his joint address to Congress on Tuesday, Trump cited the rise in autism in children and said, “we’re going to find out what it is, and there’s nobody better than Bobby and all of the people that are working with you.” In 2014, Trump weighed in more specifically on the conspiracy that vaccines cause autism, saying in a post on X: “Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn’t feel good and changes – AUTISM. Many such cases!”

Have Autism Rates Been Increasing?

Yes, autism diagnoses have been on the rise. The CDC reported in 2020 that 1 in 36 children were diagnosed with autism, an increase from from 1 in 150 two decades earlier. Researchers maintain there are no trusted scientific studies that show a connection between vaccines and autism, and the CDC says there have been nine agency-funded or conducted studies that have shown no link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Rather, researchers say the increase can be attributed to things including more awareness, more parents having children at a later age and increased risk factors like exposure to toxic chemicals and viral infections during pregnancy, The New York Times reported.

Where Did The Theory That Vaccines Cause Autism Originate?

A since-retracted 1998 medical study from Andrew Wakefield hypothesized there could be a connection between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and the development of autism. The paper was discredited by health experts, retracted and Wakefield lost his medical license for acting “dishonestly and irresponsibly” while conducting research, ABC News reported.

Tangent

On Wednesday, Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health indicated he was open to funding new studies looking into potential links between vaccines and autism. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in his confirmation hearing that he’s “convinced” there is not a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but would “support a broad scientific agenda based on data to get an answer” to why the rate of children being diagnosed with autism is increasing.