California Pushes Back Against US Govt's 'Misleading' Autism-Vaccine Link, Urges Continued Immunization
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In a bold move, California and three other liberal US states have issued a joint statement reaffirming the safety of vaccines, despite a recent change in the federal government's stance on autism. The West Coast Health Alliance, comprising California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, expressed deep concern over the 'anti-science mood' at the Centers for Disease Control, led by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy, a vocal vaccine skeptic. According to the alliance, rigorous research spanning decades and involving millions of people across multiple countries has conclusively shown that vaccines are not linked to autism. The condition is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multiple contributing genetic and environmental factors, the statement emphasized. The intervention comes after the Centers for Disease Control revised its website, using language that undermines its previous stance and suggests that health authorities have ignored research supporting a link between vaccines and autism. This move has sparked anger among career scientists and public health figures who have spent years combating false information. The purported connection between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and autism originated from a flawed 1998 study, which was later retracted for including falsified data. Subsequent research has refuted this claim, but it remains a contentious issue. The West Coast Health Alliance was formed in September to counter what many see as a worrying trend of conspiracy theories in the US government. The partnership aims to safeguard scientific expertise and ensure public policy is informed by trusted and qualified voices. The four states will coordinate health guidelines, aligning immunization recommendations with respected national medical organizations. This will provide consistent, science-based guidance for the public, despite shifting federal actions.
