CDC Intends to Explore Potential Vaccines and Autism Links

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to study potential links between vaccination and autism diagnoses in children, according to a Reuters news report citing sources familiar with the matter.

The news comes in the midst of ongoing outbreaks, including measles in the United States, which can largely be prevented with vaccination. Recently, in Texas, one death has been confirmed and a second is under investigation, according to the latest information from the CDC. As of March 5, 2025, 222 measles cases have been confirmed in 2025 in the United States, 94% of which involved individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) issued a statement in response to the news of the CDC’s potential study. The group emphasized the proven safety of vaccines and expressed concerns at the diversion of federal research funding from more crucial areas of study, including unknown causes of autism.

“CDC’s study on the safety of vaccines could drive misinformation, leading to lower vaccination rates, more serious, vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and a significantly weakened public health response,” said Tina Tan, MD, president of the IDSA, in the statement.

A Rigorous New Study Could Confirm Vaccine Safety

William Schaffner, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, told Medscape Medical News in an interview that he is “of two minds” as to why the CDC is looking into an association between vaccines and autism in children, even though research suggesting such a link has been discredited, and many large, well-conducted studies show no such link.

“The scientific side of my brain recognizes that the initial report of an association of measles vaccine with autism was fraudulent and completely incorrect,” said Schaffner. “Numerous subsequent studies done by different groups and investigators in several countries have shown no association,” he added. “Scientifically, this is a settled question; there is no association of any vaccine with the development of autism,” he emphasized. 

“On the other hand, the public health side of my brain recognizes that, among the general public, the idea that vaccines might lead to autism is still passionately common; the scientific evidence is not believed,” Schaffner told Medscape Medical News. “That said, is there an opportunity to do yet another study, this one under the sponsorship of a well-known vaccine skeptic? Yes, if the study is designed and conducted according to rigorous scientific standards, and there are many excellent public health professionals at the CDC who could design and execute such a study,” he said.

In addition, the results might be more readily accepted if the study had an external oversight board composed not only of epidemiologic experts in study design but also some persons who are recognized as vaccine sceptics, Schaffner noted. “If such a composite external board endorsed the design of the study, its execution as well as the analysis and interpretation of the results, perhaps the controversy might be diminished,” he said.

Navigate Skeptics’ Concerns

“The routine use of vaccination in infants and children has resulted in the profound reduction in the occurrence of many serious childhood diseases; several have essentially disappeared,” said Schaffner. Consequently, two or three generations of parents are unfamiliar with these diseases, and do not fear them, so they question the value of the vaccines, he said.

“In addition, in our current social environment there is a lack of trust in authorities, including public health leaders. We need to address the concerns of the skeptical parents and regain their trust, and this will take some time,” Schaffner noted. “Clinicians need to listen to parents and patients and take the time both to respond to their questions and to reassure them that vaccinations are safe, effective and important,” he emphasized.

As for the potential CDC study, it should be designed without bias either for or against vaccines, Schaffner told Medscape Medical News. “That is good, rigorous science. After its completion, we will all see what the results tell us,” he said.

Schaffner had no financial conflicts to disclose.