By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Author
NEW YORK (AP) — A Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention web site has been modified to contradict the longtime scientific conclusion that vaccines don’t trigger autism, spurring outrage amongst quite a few public well being and autism specialists.
The CDC “vaccine safety” webpage was up to date Wednesday, saying “the statement ‘Vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim.”
The change is the most recent transfer by the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies to revisit — and foster uncertainty about — long-held scientific consensus concerning the security of vaccines and different pharmaceutical merchandise.
It was instantly decried by scientists and advocates who’ve lengthy been centered on discovering the causes of autism.
“We are appalled to find that the content on the CDC webpage ‘Autism and Vaccines’ has been changed and distorted, and is now filled with anti-vaccine rhetoric and outright lies about vaccines and autism,” the Autism Science Basis stated in an announcement Thursday.
Widespread scientific consensus and a long time of research have firmly concluded there is no such thing as a hyperlink between vaccines and autism. “The conclusion is clear and unambiguous,” stated Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in an announcement Thursday.
“We call on the CDC to stop wasting government resources to amplify false claims that sow doubt in one of the best tools we have to keep children healthy and thriving: routine immunizations,” she stated.
The CDC has, till now, echoed the absence of a hyperlink in selling Meals and Drug Administration-licensed vaccines.
However anti-vaccines activists — together with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who this yr turned secretary of Well being and Human Companies — have lengthy claimed there’s one.
It’s unclear if anybody at CDC was really concerned within the change, or whether or not it was accomplished by Kennedy’s HHS, which oversees the CDC.
Many at CDC have been shocked.
“I spoke with several scientists at CDC yesterday and none were aware of this change in content,” stated Dr. Debra Houry, who was a part of a gaggle of CDC high officers who resigned from the company in August. “When scientists are cut out of scientific reviews, then inaccurate and ideologic information results.”
The up to date web page doesn’t cite any new analysis. It as a substitute argues that previous research supporting a hyperlink have been ignored by well being authorities.
A lot of former CDC officers have stated that what CDC posts about sure topics — together with vaccine security — can not be trusted.
Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who additionally resigned from the company in August, informed reporters Wednesday that Kennedy appears to be “going from evidence-based decision making to decision-based evidence making.”
U.S. Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, earlier this yr performed a decisive position in approving Kennedy’s nomination for HHS secretary. Cassidy initially voiced misgivings about Kennedy, however in February stated Kennedy had pledged — amongst different issues — to not take away language from the CDC web site mentioning that vaccines don’t trigger autism.
The brand new website continues to have a headline that claims “Vaccines do not cause autism,” however HHS officers put an asterisk subsequent to it. A word on the backside of the web page says the phrasing “has not been removed due to an agreement with the chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that it would remain on the CDC website.”
Cassidy’s spokespersons didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Training and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.
