Nov. 20 (UPI) — The Centers for Disease Control on Wednesday published a webpage suggesting links exist between autism and vaccines, and that drew strong criticism from some health experts.
The revised CDC website says there is no evidence to show that vaccines do not cause autism and accuses “health authorities” of ignoring studies that suggest evidence of a link does exist.
“Scientific studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines contribute to the development of autism,” the CDC said.
“However, this statement has historically been disseminated by the CDC and other federal health agencies within [the Department of Health and Human Services] to prevent vaccine hesitancy.”
HHS has begun a “comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism,” including potential links between vaccines and other “plausible biological mechanisms,” according to the CDC.
While the updated CDC website does not say evidence proves a link exists between autism and vaccines, the revision drew criticism.
“The science is clear that vaccines do not cause autism,” the Autism Science Foundation said in a statement issued on Thursday, CNN reported.
“No environmental factor has been better studied as a potential cause of autism than vaccines,” the statement continued. “This includes vaccine ingredients, as well as the body’s response to vaccines.”
CNN further reported that studies that show a correlation between autism and vaccines are biased, poorly designed or fraudulent.
A report by NPR said the correlation between autism and vaccines has been “debunked” and the CDC’s revised website “is alarming public health experts.”
The CDC is promoting “false information suggesting vaccines cause autism,” American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Susan Kressly said in a prepared statement shared with NPR.
“Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving 5.6 million people,” Kressly said.
“The conclusion is clear and unambiguous: There’s no link between vaccines and autism.”
Autism Science Foundation officials likewise affirmed that no studies show a link between autism and vaccines, but HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said such claims are not “evidence-based,” NPR reported.