CDC's Controversial Vaccine Statement Sparks Outrage

Sat Nov 22 2025 02:09:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The CDC's recent alteration to its vaccine safety webpage, suggesting that vaccines may be linked to autism, ignites backlash from health experts and advocates. Here's what you need to know.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its vaccine safety webpage to include a misleading statement about autism, contradicting decades of scientific consensus. Public health officials and autism advocates reacted with outrage, stressing the importance of maintaining trust in vaccine safety. Critics argue the change reflects the influence of anti-vaccine activism. The update includes a note about ongoing evaluations of autism causes, but it also retains a controversial message that could confuse the public about vaccine safety.

CDC's Vaccine Safety Page Sparks Controversy

In a surprising turn of events, the CDC has altered its long-standing statement about vaccines and autism, prompting widespread condemnation from health experts. The updated webpage now claims that the statement Vaccines do not cause autism is not entirely evidence-based, contradicting decades of scientific research.

Advocates for public health and autism awareness have expressed their dismay. This change is filled with anti-vaccine rhetoric and outright lies about vaccines and autism, said a spokesperson from the Autism Science Foundation.

For years, a solid scientific consensus has rejected any connection between vaccines and autism, consistently supporting vaccine safety. Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasized the need to rely on evidence-based practices, stating, The conclusion is clear and unambiguous. The CDC's recent modifications are seen as sowing distrust and confusion.

Despite the uproar, the CDC has not cited new research to support its recent claims, choosing instead to assert that previous studies were overlooked. This move follows the influence of anti-vaccine activists, who argue that there is a hidden link between vaccines and autism—a claim that has been widely discredited.

Former CDC officials have raised concerns, fearing that inaccurate information is being disseminated due to ideological pressures, with some claiming that evidence-based decision-making is being replaced by decision-based evidence making.

As the CDC continues to navigate this contentious issue, many are calling for transparency and adherence to established scientific guidelines. They urge the agency to restore confidence in vaccinations, which play a crucial role in public health.