CDC Plans Study on Vaccines and Autism Despite Scientific Consensus Against a Link

The study, proposed under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., coincides with growing concerns over vaccination rates and a significant measles outbreak.

The CDC is preparing a large-scale study to investigate potential links between vaccines and autism, despite extensive research consistently finding no evidence of such a connection.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his history of vaccine skepticism, has not confirmed involvement in the study, and details about its design remain unclear.
The decision comes as the U.S. faces its largest measles outbreak in a decade, with over 150 cases and two deaths reported in Texas and New Mexico, driven by declining vaccination rates.
Autism diagnoses in the U.S. have risen significantly since 2000, attributed largely to expanded diagnostic criteria and increased awareness, though no rigorous studies have linked vaccines to autism.
Prominent figures, including President Donald Trump, have publicly supported further investigation into autism's causes, while some scientists and lawmakers express concern over revisiting debunked vaccine theories.