The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) sent the following comment letter to the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), to ensure that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal science agencies uphold their critically important evidence-based communication practices.
Additional organizations may sign onto the letter by 5 PM Eastern on Friday, December 5.
If you have questions, please contact info@nfid.org.
We, the undersigned organizations, are deeply concerned by recent federal public health communications that conflict with the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism spectrum disorder, particularly when such information guides decisions affecting the health of families and communities.
On November 19, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website was updated to include a post suggesting a possible link between vaccines and autism. In the days since, scientific and medical organizations—as well as international bodies such as the European Medicines Agency—have reiterated the well-established evidence that there is no credible causal relationship between vaccines and autism. Despite this, the webpage remains publicly available.
The posting of information on a federal public health website that contradicts established, evidence-based scientific consensus is alarming. At a moment when vaccine-preventable diseases including measles are resurging and the US is entering what may be a severe respiratory season, with public confidence already fragile, statements like this will have real and harmful consequences for public health.
This moment highlights the importance of clear, accurate, and evidence-based public communications from federal health agencies. Strong internal scientific review processes are critical to maintaining public trust—especially for parents and caregivers making decisions about their children’s health. CDC’s public guidance, including website content, should be informed and led by professionals with relevant scientific and medical expertise.
For decades, CDC has served as the nation’s leading source of public health guidance, supported by dedicated career scientists and public health professionals whose work is essential to the health of families and communities. With respect for CDC’s long-standing mission, we urge that this webpage be updated to accurately reflect the current scientific consensus that there is no causal relationship between vaccines and autism.
We also ask the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), in its oversight role, to ensure CDC and other federal science agencies uphold their critically important evidence-based communication practices.
We remain committed to supporting CDC in its mission to ensure that federal public health guidance remains clear and grounded in science, and we thank you for your leadership and service.