CDC to Study Potential Autism and Vaccine Links

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly plans to study potential links between autism and vaccines. 

The Details: The plans come after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called for a push “ensuring that accurate information about vaccine safety and efficacy is disseminated.” He did not oppose vaccines but did stress individualized decision-making. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said he doesn’t “generally believe” in a link between autism and vaccines but “would support a broad scientific agenda, based on data” to get concrete answers.

For Context: Amidst a decline in US childhood vaccination rates, a measles outbreak has spread in the south, mainly throughout Texas. Kennedy faced criticism for his response in saying outbreaks occur yearly and are “not unusual.” Kennedy has long been skeptical of vaccines and “Big Pharma.” A potential link between vaccines and autism is one of many existing theories about the increase in autism diagnoses. Many believe the increase is merely due to increased and broadened screenings, though an official cause remains unclear.

How the Media Covered It: USA Today (Lean Left bias) and Newsmax (Right) shared some common ground in stating that Kennedy “downplayed” the measles outbreak. USA Today led its article by stating, “Decades of scientific evidence haven’t found a link between autism and vaccines…” It called vaccines “safe and highly effective” and said people have “falsely been told [vaccines] are dangerous,” only citing sources that oppose Kennedy. Newsweek (Center) also stated, “extensive scientific research [has] consistently found no link between vaccines and autism,” and Newsmax cited an NBC News Digital (Lean Left) piece referring to the theory “already being debunked over the decades.”