ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has quietly changed its vaccine safety webpage, softening its previous stance that vaccines do not cause autism.
The updated language now states that the claim “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based because studies have not fully ruled out a possible link. It also asserts that some research suggesting a connection has been ignored by health authorities. The revision comes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose history of vaccine skepticism drew scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearings.
Public health experts and autism advocacy groups have criticized the change, calling it misleading and contrary to decades of research showing no link between vaccines and autism. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to affirm that vaccines are safe and do not cause autism.
Autism Prevalence
- Nationally: About 1 in 31 children (3.2%) are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the CDC’s latest data.
- New Mexico: Roughly 3.5% of children ages 3–17 have an autism diagnosis, slightly above the national average.
The Department of Health and Human Services says it has launched a “comprehensive assessment” into autism causes, but critics warn the CDC’s revised language could fuel vaccine hesitancy and undermine public trust in immunization programs.
