US CDC on Wednesday has revised its webpage to change its ‘vaccines don’t cause autism‘ stance, and has updated it to – “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not evidence-based.”
The updated webpage also states that “studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” It added that studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.
“HHS has launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism, including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links,” the revised page mentions.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. along with US President Donald Trump have been promoting the link between childhood vaccines to autism but health experts have warned against the consequences of not vaccinating the kids. Skipping childhood vaccination is linked to serious conditions in children including measles, diarrhoea, pneumonia, blindness, and malnutrition, says UNICEF.
CDC’s website earlier mentioned – “studies have shown there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder.” But it has backtracked on its own guidance.
However, CDC continued to have the same header – “Vaccines do not cause autism” on its web page, citing agreement with Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the US Senate’s Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, for not removing it.
What is autism?
Around the world about 1 in 127 persons had autism in 2021, says WHO. Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder constitutes a diverse group of conditions related to development of the brain. While the characteristics of the condition may be detected in early childhood, it is often diagnosed much later.
People with autism are at greater risk of conditions like epilepsy, depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Reaction to the CDC update
The changes in the US CDC page have drawn mixed reactions.
“The revisions show that the CDC cannot currently be trusted as a scientific voice,” Demetre Daskalakis, who formerly led the agency’s center responsible for respiratory viruses and immunizations told Washington Post. “The weaponization of the CDC voice by validating false claims on official websites confirms what we have been saying,” he said.
“The CDC is beginning to acknowledge the truth about this condition that affects millions, disavowing the bold, long-running lie that ‘vaccines do not cause autism,'” The anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, which was previously led by Kennedy said on X.
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