U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison and Democratic Doctors Slam RFK Jr. For Promoting False Claim that Vaccines Cause Autism

“RFK Jr. and the Trump Administration’s baseless claims that vaccines cause autism are reckless and dangerous to the American people,” said Congresswoman Morrison. “Vaccines are modern miracles that have saved countless lives, and as a doctor, I am shocked that our top health officials are putting American families at risk like this. The politicization of science and public health must stop before more harm is done.”

“We write to you regarding the alarming removal of scientific information refuting the link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (autism) from the Vaccine Safety page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website on November 19. The installation of false claims, without CDC expert career staff knowledge according to reporting, regarding a false connection between autism and vaccines is a direct threat to our nation’s public health. Before your agency’s anti-vaccine propaganda appeared on the CDC’s Vaccine Safety webpage, the CDC webpage stated that studies have shown that there is “no link” between vaccines and developing autism and that “no links” have been found between any vaccine ingredients and the disorder, according to archived webpages,” the letter states. 

The letter continues, “Your politicization of vaccines has made American families less safe, returns the U.S. to an era before mass vaccination prevented millions of infections, and will result in tragic deaths, particularly among children.”

All six Democratic physicians serving in the U.S. House of Representatives joined together this year to launch the first-ever Democratic Doctors Caucus. The caucus is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of Americans, advancing pragmatic health care policy, and providing fellow Members with insights on critical health issues.

Members of the Democratic Doctors Caucus include:

Dear Secretary Kennedy, 

We write to you regarding the alarming removal of scientific information refuting the link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (autism) from the Vaccine Safety page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website on November 19. The installation of false claims, without CDC expert career staff knowledge according to reporting, regarding a false connection between autism and vaccines is a direct threat to our nation’s public health. Before your agency’s anti-vaccine propaganda appeared on the CDC’s Vaccine Safety webpage, the CDC webpage stated that studies have shown that there is “no link” between vaccines and developing autism and that “no links” have been found between any vaccine ingredients and the disorder, according to archived webpages. 

A robust review of scientific literature, from studies all around the world, show no correlation between autism and childhood vaccines. The percentage of children with autism spectrum disorders is the same in vaccinated and non-vaccinated populations. Physicians, public health experts, and autism advocates are united in condemning this harmful myth and stopping the spread of misinformation. Vaccines are rigorously tested and monitored for safety, and there is robust scientific evidence showing that they save millions of lives each year - especially the lives of children. For a Health and Human Services Secretary who constantly talks about radical transparency, you have obscured real, evidence-based science and replaced it with conspiracy theories. You have discredited sound science vetted by scientists across the globe, undermined confidence in the CDC, and endangered Americans’ health. 

Americans deserve robust evidence-based recommendations, especially when it comes to their health. As the Secretary of Health and Human Services, you continue to espouse harmful anti-vaccine rhetoric from our national public health agency which sows doubt and fear in the American public that will ultimately cost lives. Your politicization of vaccines has made American families less safe, returns the U.S. to an era before mass vaccination prevented millions of infections, and will result in tragic deaths, particularly among children. 

We demand that you correct CDC’s website by removing vaccine misinformation and restore America’s trust in our national public health agency.