Public Health Communication

Multiple outlets report HHS political appointees instructed a change to a CDC vaccine‑safety webpage — inserting language that “the statement ‘Vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence‑based claim” and suggesting studies supporting a link have been ignored — and did so without input from CDC scientists; HHS says it has launched a “comprehensive assessment” into autism causes and is reviewing vaccine components such as adjuvants. The update, which keeps the original “Vaccines do not cause autism” headline with an asterisk tied to an agreement with Sen. Bill Cassidy, drew sharp condemnation from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Autism Science Foundation and former CDC officials as undermining scientific integrity, and outlets note there is no new evidence establishing a vaccine–autism link.