Illinois Public Health Association Reaffirms Vaccine Safety After CDC Website Changes on Autism
Illinois Public Health Association Reaffirms Vaccine Safety After CDC Website Changes on Autism
SPRINGFIELD, IL – This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted inaccurate information linking vaccines and autism, despite decades of research showing no connection.
Tom Hughes, Executive Director of the Illinois Public Health Association, issued the following statement in response:
“Families, health professionals, and communities across Illinois deserve clear information that helps them protect their health. The recent changes to the CDC’s vaccine and autism webpage walk away from decades of research and replace well-established science with claims that are inaccurate and misleading. The science has not changed. Vaccines do not cause autism.
More than 40 high-quality studies, involving millions of people around the world, have reached the same conclusion. Thirty years of research in the United States consistently shows no link. That is the evidence we rely on, and the same evidence parents rely on when making decisions for their children.
This confusion comes at a time when our country is once again seeing preventable illnesses like measles, pertussis, and influenza take hold in communities. These diseases put real people at risk, especially young children who depend on vaccination to stay safe. When inaccurate information appears on a trusted federal website, it creates uncertainty and makes it harder for families and health workers to do what they know is right.
Here in Illinois, we are fortunate to have strong leadership at both the state and local levels that supports evidence-based public health. I want to thank our local public health leaders across the state who continue to provide clear guidance, answer questions, and focus on protecting the residents they serve. Their work remains essential. IPHA stands with them.
We encourage Illinois residents with questions to speak with their healthcare providers or visit trusted resources like the IDPH Immunization page. IPHA will continue to provide clear, reliable information to support the health of every community in our state.”
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Contact: Meredith Krantz, IPHA Public Information Consultant, meredith@krantzstrategies.com, (630) 947-2385 should you have any questions.