RFK Jr. Puts Stake Through Heart of CDC Credibility

Uses Agency to Promote His Anti-Vaccine Agenda

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Health experts with Defend Public Health unequivocally condemned the addition of a page entitled “Vaccines and Autism” to the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying that it sadly proves that official statements from this once-respected agency, which HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now controls, can no longer be trusted to provide reliable and accurate information.

“This page is an egregious betrayal of the thousands of scientists, healthcare providers, and public health practitioners within and outside of the CDC who have worked tirelessly for decades to protect the health of the U.S. public,” said epidemiologist Elizabeth Jacobs, a University of Arizona professor emerita and member of DPH’s coordinating committee. Jacobs was lead author of DPH’s recent analysis, Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

“The misleading information on this page is dangerous and can only harm the public, and does not reflect the work of the CDC.” Jacobs said. “Instead, it reflects the utterly false beliefs of one man, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  

“What this shows,” Jacobs added, “is that healthcare providers and public health officials can no longer trust information on the CDC’s website or other official statements, which have now become an outlet  for RFK Jr.’s disinformation campaign. This is a tragic loss. Anti-vaccine groups have already used this page to wage war on public health and will continue to do so. The disinformation that the CDC website is now spreading will result in the sickness and death of children both within the US and around the world. Congress must act immediately to reign in Mr. Kennedy before more people die because of his actions.”
 

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Defend Public Health is a volunteer-driven network of public health researchers, healthcare workers, advocates and allies fighting to protect the health of all from the Trump administration's cruel attacks on proven, science-based public health policies. We believe that everyone has the right to what they need for a healthy life, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.
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