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.<\/p>\n
The revised CDC website<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n “Scientific studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines contribute to the development of autism,” the CDC said.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n While the updated CDC website does not say evidence proves a link exists between autism and vaccines, the revision drew criticism.<\/p>\n “The science is clear that vaccines do not cause autism,” the Autism Science Foundation said in a statement issued on Thursday, CNN reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n CNN further reported that studies that show a correlation between autism and vaccines are biased, poorly designed or fraudulent.<\/p>\n