Listen to the article
Long Beach health officials have strongly rejected claims by the Trump administration suggesting a possible link between autism and vaccines, joining a growing chorus of medical professionals challenging what they describe as dangerous misinformation.
On November 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a webpage stating that the “claim that ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim.” The page further asserted that studies supporting a connection have “been ignored by health authorities.”
Local health officials responded decisively on social media, declaring “vaccines DO NOT cause autism,” directly contradicting the CDC’s newly published position.
The controversy stems from a widely discredited 1998 study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and 12 co-authors that was published in the Lancet, a respected medical journal. Though the study sparked widespread vaccine hesitancy, it was thoroughly debunked and formally retracted in 2010, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Britain’s General Medical Council found Wakefield’s research to be fundamentally unethical, revealing it had been funded by lawyers representing parents in lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers. The council also determined that the children in the study had been selectively chosen and that the research demonstrated “callous disregard” for their wellbeing.
Despite the retraction, the study’s discredited findings continue to fuel anti-vaccination movements, which have gained new legitimacy under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic appointed by President Donald Trump.
Kennedy, who lacks medical credentials, has been outspoken about his views on vaccines. Earlier this month, he told the New York Times that “the whole thing about ‘vaccines have been tested and there’s been this determination made,’ is just a lie.” Kennedy acknowledged directing the CDC to alter its website language regarding autism and vaccines.
In response, the Long Beach Health Department emphasized that independent researchers from seven countries have conducted 40 “high-quality” studies involving 5.6 million people since Wakefield’s paper was published.
“No credible scientific evidence supports a connection,” the department stated in a November 25 press release. “The increase in autism diagnoses reflects improved screening practices, broader diagnostic criteria and greater public awareness, not a link to vaccines.”
The health department added that such misinformation “not only spreads confusion but also contributes to stigma affecting people in the autism community and their families.”
Opposition to Kennedy’s leadership has intensified in recent months. During a Senate Finance Committee hearing in September, Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia called Kennedy “a hazard to the health of the American people” and urged him to resign, as reported by CBS News.
Of particular concern is the resurgence of measles in parts of the United States. According to Johns Hopkins University’s U.S. Measles Tracker, cases reached 1,800 by November 28 this year – the highest level since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, with Texas accounting for 44% of cases. This significantly exceeds the 2019 peak of 1,274 cases and dwarfs the annual average of 152 cases recorded between 2018 and 2024 (excluding 2019).
The university’s data indicates that 94% of these cases occurred in unvaccinated children. At least three measles-related deaths have been recorded in the U.S. this year, according to the JAMA Network.
Dr. Tempe Chen, who specializes in pediatrics and infectious diseases at Long Beach Medical Center, refuted the administration’s claims in a statement to the Watchdog.
“There are numerous high-quality studies (including epidemiologic studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses) examining the relationship between vaccines and autism, and the evidence consistently shows no association between vaccines and autism,” Chen wrote. “In summary, vaccines do not cause autism. Rather, they make adults!”
As the controversy continues, public health officials nationwide are increasingly concerned that undermining confidence in vaccines could reverse decades of progress against preventable diseases.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
14 Comments
Vaccines are one of our most important public health tools. Undermining confidence in them, especially from a government agency, is extremely concerning. I’m glad the local officials are pushing back forcefully against this misinformation.
Agreed. The scientific consensus on vaccine safety and efficacy is clear. The CDC should be a trusted source of accurate, evidence-based information, not a platform for spreading dangerous myths.
It’s deeply concerning to see a government agency like the CDC amplifying anti-vaccine misinformation. Vaccines are safe, effective, and critical for public health. I’m glad the local officials are speaking out forcefully against this dangerous rhetoric.
Agreed. The CDC has a responsibility to the American people to provide reliable, science-based information. Promoting vaccine skepticism undermines public trust and puts lives at risk.
This is a disturbing development. Vaccine hesitancy can have devastating consequences, as we’ve seen with outbreaks of preventable diseases. I hope the CDC course-corrects quickly and reaffirms the overwhelming scientific consensus.
Absolutely. Promoting anti-vaccine propaganda, especially from a public health authority, is irresponsible and puts lives at risk. The CDC needs to take this seriously and correct the record.
I’m glad the local health officials are taking a strong stand against this dangerous misinformation. Vaccines have saved millions of lives, and undermining public trust in them puts vulnerable communities at risk.
Agreed. We can’t allow discredited studies and conspiracy theories to erode confidence in one of our most important public health interventions.
This is really troubling. The CDC should be a reliable, science-based source of information, not a vehicle for promoting discredited anti-vaccine claims. I hope they quickly correct this and reaffirm the overwhelming evidence supporting vaccine safety.
Absolutely. Vaccines have saved countless lives and are essential for protecting public health. The CDC needs to take responsibility for this misstep and recommit to providing accurate, evidence-based guidance.
This is concerning. Spreading misinformation about vaccines can lead to real public health risks. I’m glad local officials are pushing back forcefully against these claims, which have been thoroughly debunked by the scientific community.
Absolutely. Vaccines are one of our most effective tools for protecting public health. Undermining confidence in them is irresponsible and dangerous.
It’s troubling to see the CDC publishing content that contradicts established scientific consensus on vaccines. I hope they quickly correct this misstep and reinforce the overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe and effective.
Yes, the CDC has a responsibility to provide accurate, evidence-based information to the public. Spreading doubt about vaccine safety is the last thing they should be doing.