The CDC has revised its position on the potential link between vaccines and autism, acknowledging that previous claims lacked evidence and prompting a comprehensive assessment of autism causes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has quietly updated its website regarding the controversial link between vaccines and autism. This change follows a comprehensive assessment initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explore potential causes of autism.
The revised wording on the CDC’s site now 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.” This marks a significant shift from the agency’s previous stance, which asserted that studies had shown no link between vaccinations and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The CDC acknowledged that the statement asserting vaccines do not cause autism has been “historically disseminated” by federal health agencies to combat vaccine hesitancy. The agency’s earlier position was more definitive, claiming that extensive research had established no connection between vaccines and autism.
As part of its updated stance, the CDC indicated that the header “Vaccines do not cause autism” remains on the page, but it now includes an asterisk. This asterisk clarifies that the statement was retained due to a prior agreement rather than because of supporting evidence.
The Children’s Health Defense, an organization that has long questioned the safety of vaccines, praised the CDC’s updated position. Mary Holland, president and CEO of the organization, expressed optimism about the change. “Finally, the CDC is beginning to acknowledge the truth about this condition that affects millions, disavowing the bold, long-running lie that ‘vaccines do not cause autism,’” she told Fox News Digital.
Holland emphasized that no studies have definitively proven the claim that vaccines do not contribute to autism. She pointed out that many studies suggest vaccines could be a plausible primary cause of the condition. The HHS’s comprehensive assessment is expected to include investigations into plausible biological mechanisms and potential causal links related to autism.
In contrast, other medical organizations have firmly rejected the notion that vaccines contribute to autism. The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains on its website that “studies have repeatedly found no credible link between life-saving childhood vaccines and autism.” They further state that while research continues to uncover potential causes of autism, vaccines are not among them, and there is no single root cause of the disorder.
Current CDC data indicates a rising trend in autism diagnoses among children. For instance, among children aged 8 years born in 2014, approximately one in 31 (3.2%) were identified with autism spectrum disorder, a significant increase from one in 150 (0.67%) in the year 2000.
Fox News Digital reached out to healthcare professionals and the HHS for additional comments regarding the updated stance.
Source: Original article