US Health Agency Plans Vaccine-Autism Link Research Amid RFK Jr. Advisory Changes

Under President Donald Trump's administration, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance, is overseeing controversial federal health initiatives that challenge established vaccine science. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to award a no-bid contract to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study the debunked link between vaccines and autism, despite extensive prior research disproving any connection. Kennedy also reconstituted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with members holding anti-vaccine views, raising concerns among public health experts about potential restrictions on vaccine use. In response to federal actions undermining vaccine trust, several states, including Colorado, California, and New York, are independently revising their vaccine policies to maintain immunization access and scientific rigor. Meanwhile, Kennedy's participation as a keynote speaker at a European vaccine-skeptic conference was withdrawn after backlash from Estonian politicians labeling him a promoter of pseudoscience. These developments reflect a growing divide between federal health policy under Kennedy and state-level efforts to uphold established vaccine science and public health standards.