Autism community fears RFK Jr. would set back decades of progress

Advocates worry that as HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could undermine years of work to unlink autism and vaccines.

For decades, the scientific community has worked to dispel a thoroughly debunked theory that vaccines cause autism and finally shift its focus to find true potential causes.

But now, autism advocates say they are fearful that if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as health and human services secretary, it could undermine years of progress in unlinking autism and vaccines, while potentially diverting precious research dollars to a theory already discredited by hundreds of studies worldwide. They warn he would wield vast influence over who sits on committees and steer policy. 

And some condemned Kennedy’s past rhetoric around autism, calling it stigmatizing and insulting.  

Alison Singer, founder of the Autism Science Foundation, said she welcomes an examination into potential causes of autism, but focusing on vaccines could be dangerous for children. 

“A new crop of parents will be afraid, who may believe that vaccines could harm their children, potentially cause autism, and those parents might withhold life saving vaccines from their children,” Singer said.  

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/autism-community-fears-rfk-jr-progress-rcna188885

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