The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing to conduct a large-scale study on potential links between vaccines and autism, according to sources cited by Reuters. This move comes despite extensive scientific research that has failed to establish any connection between the two.
The decision follows one of the most significant measles outbreaks in the past decade, with over 200 cases and two deaths reported in Texas and New Mexico. The outbreak has been fueled by declining vaccination rates in communities where misinformation has led parents to question the safety of vaccines.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees the CDC, has a history of casting doubt on the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. During a recent cabinet meeting, he downplayed the significance of a child’s death due to measles in Texas—the first such fatality in a decade—failing to acknowledge the role of vaccination in preventing the disease.
Kennedy later published an opinion piece on Fox News promoting the importance of vaccines while also emphasizing that vaccination should be a personal choice, advising parents to consult their physicians. It remains unclear whether he is directly involved in the planned CDC study.
In a joint statement, the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cited rising autism rates as a key reason for the study.
“CDC will leave no stone unturned in its mission to figure out what exactly is happening,” the statement read. “The American people expect high-quality research and transparency, and that is what CDC is delivering.”
The study announcement coincides with the upcoming Senate confirmation hearing for Dr. Dave Weldon, President Donald Trump’s nominee for CDC director. Some senators have raised concerns over Weldon’s stance on vaccines, though he has declined to comment.
Experts warn that launching such a study could inadvertently fuel public doubt. Dr. Wilbur Chen, a former member of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, noted that the mere existence of the study could imply that a link between vaccines and autism is worth investigating, potentially reinforcing misinformation.
Autism diagnoses in the US have surged since 2000, prompting public concern. While researchers largely attribute the rise to improved screening and broader diagnostic criteria, some public figures have promoted the debunked theory that vaccines are to blame. This belief originated from a discredited study by British researcher Andrew Wakefield in the late 1990s.
Despite extensive research, no credible studies have found a link between vaccines and autism. Many scientists believe autism’s neurological traits develop in utero, with factors such as maternal health during pregnancy and birth complications potentially playing a role.
In a recent address to Congress, Trump acknowledged the increase in autism diagnoses, stating, “So, 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,” referring to Kennedy. The White House has not commented on the CDC’s planned study.
Kennedy’s stance on vaccines has raised concerns among some Republicans. During his confirmation hearing, Senator Bill Cassidy urged him to disavow the vaccine-autism link, which Kennedy declined to do. Meanwhile, Trump’s nominee for the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, acknowledged that while he does not believe vaccines cause autism, further scientific investigation into autism’s rise is warranted.
