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RFK Jr.’s Autism Research Plan Draws Backlash Over Discredited Vaccine Theories

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aims to identify the cause of autism by September, but experts warn the initiative risks reviving debunked claims and undermining public trust.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is surrounded by supporters as he departs New York State Supreme Court after a hearing challenging the constitutionality of the state legislature's repeal of the religious exemption to vaccination in Albany, New York, in August 2019.
In this February 2019 photo, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stands with protesters at the Capitol in Olympia, Washington, where they opposed a bill to tighten measles, mumps and rubella vaccine requirements for school-aged children.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 7.

Overview

  • HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an ambitious plan to determine the cause of autism by September, including investigations into vaccines and environmental factors.
  • Experts and autism advocacy groups criticized the timeline as unrealistic and expressed concerns about reviving discredited vaccine-autism theories, which could mislead families and harm public health efforts.
  • Kennedy appointed David Geier, a controversial figure linked to discredited studies on vaccines, to lead the research, raising questions about the initiative's credibility and methodology.
  • The announcement comes during a measles outbreak that has killed three unvaccinated individuals, with critics arguing that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric exacerbates declining vaccination rates.
  • Kennedy's recent offensive remarks and conspiratorial rhetoric during meetings with FDA staff have further damaged confidence in his leadership and the study’s integrity.