For more than two decades, the science has been conclusive: the overwhelming evidence shows that vaccines do not cause autism. This is not a matter of debate. The evidence base includes more than 50 high-quality studies, multiple Cochrane reviews, and data from over 15 million children worldwide. Research has examined not only vaccines but also vaccine ingredients, dosing schedules, and immune responses and every credible study has reached the same result: no association.
Altering CDC language to imply that a link ‘has not been ruled out’ misrepresents this global scientific consensus and undermines the very purpose of public health communication. These distortions come at a moment when declining vaccination rates have led to measles and whooping cough outbreaks across the country, threatening our status as a nation with eliminated continuous measles transmission.
“Rewriting settled science doesn’t change the facts,” said AcademyHealth President and CEO Aaron Carroll. “Vaccines have been studied more rigorously than almost any topic in pediatrics, and the conclusion is always the same: they don’t cause autism, but they do save lives.”
As Carroll wrote in the New York Times a decade ago, vaccines are among the most thoroughly studied medical interventions in the world. Researchers have tested every plausible hypothesis — including the number of vaccines, the timing of vaccines, and specific components like aluminum and thimerosal — and found no mechanism, no pattern, and no credible evidence linking vaccines to autism.
Our organization is nonpartisan, and our position on this issue is not about politics. If any administration, Republican or Democrat, altered scientific guidance in a way that contradicted overwhelming evidence, we would call it out. Our team has written previously about autism research and the importance of ethical, transparent approaches to real-world data collection. In a July 2025 blog post, we explored how real-world data platforms can advance understanding of autism while emphasizing trust, privacy, and community engagement — lessons that are particularly relevant now as public guidance on vaccines is being questioned.
Members of Congress and state leaders rely on federal agencies for clear, evidence-based information. It is critical that CDC immediately rescind this outrageous and anti-scientific language and explain how it got through the review process.
Watch and Share: Accessible, Evidence-Based Vaccine Resources
These short, engaging videos from Healthcare Triage explain the science behind vaccines and autism in clear, evidence-based terms. They are designed to help journalists, policymakers, educators, and the public understand the facts quickly and accurately.
- Vaccines (6-part series): Watch the series
- Vaccines and Autism (standalone episode): Watch here