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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing to conduct a major study to examine any possible link between vaccines and autism, sources close to Reuters report.
It is not yet known whether Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance, is involved in the study or how it will be conducted. The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services have not commented on the matter.
This development comes amid a major measles outbreak in the US, with over 200 cases and two deaths in Texas and New Mexico.
Kennedy, who has authority over the CDC, has questioned the safety of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. During a cabinet meeting, he downplayed the death of a child from measles in Texas, calling it a common occurrence and failing to emphasize the importance of vaccination.
Kennedy later published an opinion piece on Fox News supporting vaccination, but emphasizing that the choice is up to parents and recommending they consult with their doctors.
Autism diagnosis rates in the U.S. have increased significantly since 2000, largely due to broader screening and the inclusion of a broader spectrum of behaviors in diagnostic criteria.
So far, scientists have found no credible evidence linking autism to vaccines or their ingredients, such as thimerosal or formaldehyde.
President Donald Trump has backed Kennedy on the matter, stating: "We will find out the truth, and there is no one better suited than Bobby and his team to do that."
Meanwhile, Trump's nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon as CDC director is expected to go through a Senate hearing, where several senators have expressed concerns about his stance on vaccines.
In another session, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the nominee to head the National Institutes of Health, was asked about the link between vaccines and autism. He replied, “Based on the scientific literature, I don’t believe there is such a link. But we have a rapid increase in cases of autism, and science still doesn’t know the exact cause.”
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