RFK Jr. says he ordered CDC vaccine–autism webpage change

📌 Key Facts

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told The New York Times he personally directed the CDC to update its vaccine–autism webpage.
Kennedy acknowledged studies finding no link between autism and thimerosal or the MMR vaccine but said gaps remain and more research is needed.
During his confirmation he pledged to Sen. Bill Cassidy to keep the 'vaccines do not cause autism' statement on the CDC site; that phrase remains but now carries a disclaimer noting their agreement, and Cassidy publicly criticized the change as 'wrong' and 'irresponsible' after Kennedy said he had spoken with him.
Kennedy said, 'The whole thing about “vaccines have been tested and there’s been this determination made,” is just a lie.'
Kennedy has taken multiple actions reshaping federal vaccine policy, including pulling $500 million from vaccine development, replacing members of a federal vaccine advisory committee, pledging to overhaul the federal vaccine injury compensation program, and firing CDC Director Susan Monarez after disagreements over vaccine policy.

Social media users on X highlight RFK Jr.'s emphasis on untested vaccines in early infancy and the need for better injury surveillance, viewing the webpage change as a step toward greater transparency in vaccine safety research.
Posts on X discuss a specific demographic concern, noting studies allegedly showing a 260% higher autism risk in African-American boys who received the MMR vaccine on schedule, which they claim was covered up by the CDC.
Many X users express support for RFK Jr.'s reforms, such as overhauling the vaccine injury compensation program, seeing it as addressing long-standing gaps in federal vaccine policy.
Critics on X, including medical professionals, warn that the webpage revision could exacerbate vaccine hesitancy amid ongoing measles outbreaks, potentially endangering public health.
X discussions include perspectives from autism experts and former health officials who condemn the change as dangerous revisionism, arguing it undermines decades of evidence-based science without new data.

Based on 2 sources

Twin Cities by Associated Press November 21, 2025

New information:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told The New York Times he personally directed the CDC to update its vaccine–autism webpage.
Kennedy acknowledged studies showing no link between autism and thimerosal or the MMR vaccine, but claimed gaps remain and more research is needed.
During confirmation, Kennedy pledged to Sen. Bill Cassidy to keep the 'vaccines do not cause autism' statement on the CDC site; the phrase remains with a disclaimer noting their agreement.
Kennedy said he spoke with Cassidy about the change; Cassidy publicly criticized the move, calling it 'wrong' and 'irresponsible.'
Context added: Kennedy has pulled $500 million from vaccine development, replaced a federal vaccine advisory committee’s members, pledged to overhaul the federal vaccine injury compensation program, and fired CDC Director Susan Monarez after disagreements over vaccine policy.
Direct quote from Kennedy: 'The whole thing about “vaccines have been tested and there’s been this determination made,” is just a lie.'

Twin Cities by Associated Press November 20, 2025