CDC intends to explore potential vaccines and autism ties

Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) intend to study potential bonds between vaccination and autism diagnosis in children, according to a Reuters News report citing sources familiar with the problem.

The news is in the middle of the ongoing outbreaks, including measles in the United States, which can be prevented largely with vaccination. Recently, in Texas, a death was confirmed and a second is under investigation, according to the latest information from CDC. On March 5, 2025, 222 cases of measles were confirmed in 2025 in the United States, 94% involved people who were not unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was not known.

Infectious Society of Diseases in America (IDSA) issued a statement In response to the news of the potential CDC. The group emphasized the proven safety of vaccines and expressed concern about the deviation of federal financing of research from more crucial fields of study, including unknown causes.

“The CDC study on the safety of vaccines could cause misinformation, which leads to lower vaccination rates, more serious, outbreaks of preventable vaccine diseases and a significant response to public health,” said Tina Tan, MD, IDSA president, in the statement.

A new rigorous study could confirm the safety of the vaccine

William Schaffner, MD, said professor of medicine in the Infectious Disease Division at Vanderbilt University Medscape Medical News In an interview that is “from two minds” about why CDC analyzes an association between vaccines and autism in children, even if research that suggests such a connection have been discredited, and many large, well-conducted studies do not show such a connection.

“The scientific part of my brain recognizes that the initial ratio of a measles vaccine association with autism was fraudulent and completely incorrect,” Schaffner said. “Numerous subsequent studies conducted by different groups and investigators in several countries have not shown any association,” he added. “Scientifically, this is an established question; There is no association of any vaccine with the development of autism, ”he stressed.

“On the other hand, the public health part of my brain recognizes that, among the general public, the idea that vaccines could lead to autism is still a common passionate; Scientific evidence is not believed, ”said Schaffner Medscape Medical News. “That being said, is there an opportunity to do another study, this under the sponsorship of a known vaccine skeptic? Yes, if the study is designed and conducted in accordance with rigorous scientific standards and there are many excellent professionals in the field of public health at the CDC, who could design and perform such a study, ”he said.

In addition, the results could be more easily accepted if the study had an external supervisory board composed not only by epidemiological experts in designing the study, but also some people who are recognized as vaccine skeptics, Schaffner said. “If such a compound external council approved the design of the study, its execution, as well as the analysis and interpretation of the results, it can be controversy,” he said.

Navigate in skeptic concerns

“The use of routine of vaccination in infants and children has led to the deep reduction of the appearance of many serious childhood diseases; More have disappeared essentially, “Schaffner said. As a result, two or three generations of parents are not familiar with these diseases and are not afraid of them, so they question the value of the vaccines, he said.

“In addition, in our current social environment there is a lack of confidence in the authorities, including public health leaders. We must address the concerns of the skeptical parents and regain their confidence, and this will take some time, ”said Schaffner. “Clinicians have to listen to parents and patients and make time both to answer their questions and to ensure that vaccinations are safe, efficient and important,” he stressed.

In terms of potential CDC study, it should be designed without prejudice for or against vaccines, Schaffner said Medscape Medical News. “It is a good, rigorous science. After its completion, we will all see what the results tell us, ”he said.

Schaffner had no financial conflicts to reveal.