Former Congressman and Physician Urges Public to Rely on Science, Debunks Tylenol-Autism and Vaccine Misinformation
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A growing wave of misinformation surrounding common medications and vaccines is endangering public health, and a former U.S. Representative is speaking out to set the record straight. Dr. Michael Burgess, who served Texas’ 26th congressional district from 2003 to 2025 and previously practiced obstetrics and gynecology for over two decades, is urging Americans to trust established science and the guidance of their physicians.
Concerns Stem from Recent Claims
The impetus for Dr. Burgess’s public statement arose from recent claims linking acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol) to an increased risk of autism in children, as well as suggestions to alter the recommended childhood vaccination schedule. These assertions, he notes, are not supported by scientific evidence and are causing unnecessary fear and confusion. “There’s been too much misinformation that simply adds to public health confusion,” he stated.
Debunking the Tylenol-Autism Link
Dr. Burgess emphasized the lack of a causal connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. He cited research from Sweden, which studied 2.5 million sibling births – comparing those exposed to acetaminophen in utero with those who were not – and found no difference in autism rates. A subsequent Japanese study, involving over 200,000 children, yielded similar results. “The truth is simple: No study has ever shown a causal link between acetaminophen and autism,” he affirmed.
He also called for transparency from the Department of Health and Human Services, stating that any definitive studies on the topic should be made publicly available immediately. Pregnant mothers, he stressed, deserve access to accurate, timely scientific information, not “unfounded recommendations.”
The Critical Importance of Vaccination
Beyond the Tylenol concerns, Dr. Burgess expressed deep worry over attempts to undermine confidence in vaccines. As a physician, he underscored that delaying or altering the recommended vaccination schedule does not enhance safety, but rather leaves children vulnerable to potentially deadly, vaccine-preventable illnesses like whooping cough.
The current schedule, he explained, is carefully designed to protect infants during their most fragile months. Combining vaccines has been rigorously tested for safety, and spacing them out offers no medical benefit, only increasing the risk window and the number of required shots.
A Resurgence of Preventable Diseases
The consequences of declining vaccination rates are already being felt across the country. Dr. Burgess pointed to the largest measles outbreak in decades and rising cases of whooping cough, both of which have tragically resulted in children’s deaths. He contrasted this with the remarkable success of vaccines in eradicating or controlling diseases like polio, which once paralyzed and killed tens of thousands of American children annually.
“Vaccines are among the most effective medical interventions ever developed,” he stated. “They have driven diseases that once killed thousands of children into obscurity.”
Texas at the Epicenter
The situation is particularly concerning in Texas, where Dr. Burgess delivered over 3,000 newborns and represented constituents for 22 years. He expressed profound sadness over the fact that two children in Texas died from measles this year – deaths he described as “heartbreaking” and “preventable.”
A Call for Accurate Information
Dr. Burgess believes that improving America’s health requires a commitment to delivering accurate information, even – and especially – when it challenges prevailing narratives. He reiterated his firm belief that neither acetaminophen nor vaccines cause autism, and urged individuals to follow the advice of their doctors. “Asking questions is smart, but allowing fear to supersede facts will not provide the health children deserve,” he concluded.
