US CDC says claims that vaccines do not cause autism are not evidence-based

20/11/2025 16:53

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its website on Wednesday to say that claims about vaccines not causing autism are not "evidence-based."



Vaccine skeptic and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as well as U.S. President Donald Trump have promoted the theory - contrary to scientific evidence - that childhood vaccines are a cause of autism. But the CDC's website previously said "studies have shown there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder."



As of Wednesday night the agency's website states: "The claim 'vaccines do not cause autism' is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism." It added that health authorities have "ignored" studies supporting the link between the two.



The agency kept the header "Vaccines do not cause autism" on its web page, saying that it has not been removed due to an agreement with Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.