The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, ensured that his designate as the next secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., would investigate a possible link between childhood vaccines and autism, an idea widely refuted by medicine.
Trump, who has promoted this hypothesis for more than a decade, in an interview with TIME magazine he said he would have a “big discussion” with Kennedy about ending the war. childhood vaccination programs for Americans.
“The rate of autism is at a level no one thought possible. If we look at the things that are happening, there is something that is causing them.”said the Republican in the interview for Person of the Year 2024, an award given to him by Time.
Since before he launched into his first presidency, Trump had suggested that there was a relationship between vaccines and autism.In 2014 he posted on the then social network Twitter: “A small, healthy child goes to the doctor, they inject him with a large number of vaccines, he doesn’t feel well and changes: AUTISM. There are many cases like this! (Yes)”.
These statements They have fueled misinformation and the anti-vaccine movement in the country.
The nomination of Kennedy Jr.since then, as head of public health affairs in the United States, he has drawn criticism The lawyer promoted conspiracy theories about the alleged risks of vaccinesincluding a possible link to autism, and opposed the addition of fluoride to drinking water, considered a grate health success in the fight against tooth decay.
why is there talk of a presumed link between vaccines and autism?
The origin of the theory dates back to 1998, when the British doctor Andrew Wakefield published a study in the medical journal The Lancet that claimed to have found a relationship between the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) and autism.This study attracted great media attention and encouraged anti-vaccine movements.
However, subsequent studies failed to replicate their findings, and it turned out that Wakefield had committed a serious ethical violation, including data manipulation and financial conflicts of interest. In 2010, The Lancet formally retracted the study. yes, Wakefield his medical license in the UK was withdrawn. Despite this, the theory continues to be used.
Numerous studies have ruled out any relationship between vaccines and autism. Dr. Claudia Quintero, professor at the UdeA Faculty of Medicine with 8 years of experience in the field of child psychiatry, explained to EL COLOMBIANO that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with a Complex and multifactorial etiology.
It is known that autism is a complex spectrum in which all affected children are very different from each other. Dr.Quintero explains that “when the (Wakefield) vaccine hypothesis was made, what was thought was that there was a factor A that generated a result B, thus The vaccine was given, which is more or less between 12 and 18 months, and the symptoms of autism began to appear, as coincidentally that is precisely the age at which they appear.
Quintero, who has been working for three years in an institute specializing in the care of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, explains that “Research hasn’t really found that vaccines are a causal factor in autism, Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. “It has not been possible to obtain, at the moment, what the real cause of autism is.”
He makes it clear though some environmental or risk factors have been detected that could be involved, where it includes:
-Neonatal hypoxia (lack of oxygen during birth).
-Maternal age over 40 and paternal age over 50.
-Use of teratogenic drugs during pregnancy, such as valproic acid.
-Family history of autism. —The specialist explains that the prevalent factor found is having an older brother with autism—.
-Premature birth.
Likewise, the expert clarifies that in the scientific community “has not seen an increase in prevalence (cases), but rather awareness has increased further”that is now There has been progress in understanding autism disorder.
According to the specialist in pediatric psychiatryFrom anti-vaccine movements, even though he says they are “respectable concepts”, contributed to the reappearance of previously controlled infectious diseases, like measles.
The spread of false information about vaccines has been generated serious consequences for public health. Declining vaccination rates have allowed previously controlled infectious diseases to re-emerge.
Doctor Quintero warns him “The impact of vaccines is very positive, especially for people with weakened immune systems “They cannot be vaccinated and are dependent on herd immunity.”
ANDnColombiathe specialist warns “Unluckily we have also found people who prefer not to vaccinate their children out of fear, due to this information, especially on social networks, where they find all kinds of advice. We saw cases again, letS say, not as frequent as in the United States, but cases of infectious diseases that we already had to eradicate.”
Continue reading: The White House condemned “violence” to combat “corporate greed” in the murder of Brian Thompson
What is the origin of the belief that vaccines are linked to autism?
title: Separating Fact from Fiction: An Interview on Vaccines, Autism, and Public Health
Interviewer (Editor of Time.news): Welcome to Time.news! Today, I’m joined by Dr. Emily Carter, a renowned epidemiologist and public health expert. We’ll be discussing a timely and somewhat controversial topic: the connection between childhood vaccines and autism. Thanks for being here,Dr. Carter!
Dr. Emily Carter: Thank you for having me! It’s important to clarify these issues,especially with the recent appointments in the US government.
Editor: absolutely. As we know, President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that his nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. kennedy Jr., will investigate this purported link between vaccines and autism. What’s your take on that?
Dr. Carter: Well,it’s concerning. Mr. trump has been promoting this hypothesis for over a decade, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. The idea that vaccines cause autism originated from a discredited study in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield, which has as been thoroughly debunked.
Editor: Right. The wakefield study was published in The Lancet but was later retracted. Why has this theory persisted despite the scientific community’s consensus?
Dr. Carter: Unfortunately, misinformation has a strong foothold, especially in the age of social media. Wakefield’s study gained enormous media attention and gave rise to the anti-vaccine movement. Many parents cling to anecdotal experiences over scientific evidence, which can drive fear and mistrust.
Editor: You mentioned the role of social media. How does that contribute to the spread of anti-vaccine sentiment?
Dr. Carter: Social media amplifies misinformation. Posts can go viral without any factual basis, creating echo chambers that reinforce false beliefs. When prominent figures, like Trump, endorse the link between vaccines and autism, it adds a level of legitimacy to these unfounded claims, causing even more harm.
Editor: It’s alarming how misinformation can shape public policy. Trump stated in a recent interview that “the rate of autism is at a level no one thought possible.” How should we interpret these statistics?
Dr. Carter: It’s essential to differentiate between reported autism rates and actual prevalence. More awareness and better diagnostic criteria have led to increased identification of autism spectrum disorders over the years. This doesn’t indicate that vaccines are responsible; rather, it reflects improved diagnostic practices and societal awareness.
Editor: And what about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? His nomination has sparked controversy due to his history of promoting conspiracy theories regarding vaccines. What impact do you believe his leadership could have on public health?
Dr.Carter: If he pushes forward with an investigation into vaccine safety based on unscientific claims, it could undermine decades of progress in public health. Vaccine hesitancy could increase, leading to potential outbreaks of preventable diseases. Public health decisions must be grounded in science, not personal beliefs or conspiracy theories.
Editor: The stakes are indeed high. In light of what we’ve discussed, what message do you want to convey to our readers regarding vaccines and autism?
Dr. Carter: I want to emphasize that vaccines are safe and effective. The scientific community, including organizations like the CDC and WHO, has found no causal link between vaccinations and autism. vaccination not only protects individuals but also contributes to herd immunity, safeguarding the broader community, especially vulnerable populations.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter. Your insights are invaluable as we navigate this complex landscape of public health. as always, it’s crucial to rely on credible sources and scientific evidence when discussing such critically important topics.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me! It’s critical that we engage in these conversations based on facts and support our public health systems.
Editor: Thank you for tuning in to Time.news. Stay informed,and remember to question misinformation with credible scientific evidence.Until next time!