RFK Jr.’s Autism Research Plan Draws Backlash Over Discredited Vaccine Theories

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aims to identify the cause of autism by September, but experts warn the initiative risks reviving debunked claims and undermining public trust.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an ambitious plan to determine the cause of autism by September, including investigations into vaccines and environmental factors.
Experts and autism advocacy groups criticized the timeline as unrealistic and expressed concerns about reviving discredited vaccine-autism theories, which could mislead families and harm public health efforts.
Kennedy appointed David Geier, a controversial figure linked to discredited studies on vaccines, to lead the research, raising questions about the initiative's credibility and methodology.
The announcement comes during a measles outbreak that has killed three unvaccinated individuals, with critics arguing that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric exacerbates declining vaccination rates.
Kennedy's recent offensive remarks and conspiratorial rhetoric during meetings with FDA staff have further damaged confidence in his leadership and the study’s integrity.

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