The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to fund a large-scale study investigating whether vaccination might explain the rising rate of diagnosed autism in the US. The move has sparked concerns among public health experts, who say that scientific consensus already proves vaccines do not cause autism.
Despite increased rates of autism over the last few decades, most researchers attribute this to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, as well as reduced stigma around diagnoses. Studies have consistently shown no link between vaccines and autism, including a 2014 study published in Vaccine and a 2019 Danish study on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
However, some high-profile advocates for anti-vaccination views, such as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., continue to promote the false idea that vaccines cause autism. While Kennedy has recently emphasized vaccination’s importance in combating outbreaks like measles, he still promotes nutrition and vitamins as preventative measures.
Yale University epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves says that no further study is needed on vaccine-autism links, citing clear research evidence that shows vaccines are not the cause of autism. Stanford University health economist Jay Bhattacharya also expressed skepticism about a link between vaccines and autism, suggesting instead that more focus should be placed on understanding other factors contributing to the rise in autism cases.
Critics, including Senator Mitch McConnell and University of Arizona epidemiologist Elizabeth Jacobs, argue that such a study would be a waste of resources given the already established scientific consensus. The CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH) face limited funding, making it puzzling for the Trump administration to pursue an expensive study on conspiracy theories rather than evidence-based research.
Source: https://cen.acs.org/policy/research-funding/Wasting-time-CDC-study-disproven/103/web/2025/03