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WASHINGTON (AP) — Since taking office just two months ago as the federal health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has implemented significant changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), marking a shift in its agenda.
Kennedy has laid off 10,000 public health workers, engaged with state governors advocating for limitations on unhealthy foods in federally funded programs, and has been unpredictable in his messaging regarding vaccines amid a rise in measles cases across the nation. He has vowed to investigate the factors contributing to the increasing rates of autism within a six-month timeframe.
His supporters — a blend of health-conscious mothers, Trump loyalists, and others — have applauded his initiatives dubbed “Make America Healthy Again.” However, many in the scientific community and public health sectors have expressed concerns regarding some of Kennedy’s comments about U.S. dietary habits, vaccines, measles, and autism. Below is an examination of several claims made by Kennedy, along with relevant context and facts.
Autism
KENNEDY stated during a news conference: Data reveal that autism rates in the U.S. were “1 in 10,000 during my childhood,” while a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the figure is currently 1 in 31. He argues that this constitutes evidence of an autism crisis and asserts that “we know it’s an environmental exposure.”
THE FACTS: Acknowledging that autism diagnoses were indeed rare in the 20th century, often limited to cases with severe communication or socialization issues, it’s important to note that the understanding of autism has evolved. The diagnosis now encompasses a spectrum of conditions, leading to a higher number of individuals identified as having autism.
The term “epidemic” is often misused when referring to conditions like autism, obesity, or gun violence, which may experience surges, but do not meet the traditional definition of a rapidly spreading infectious disease. Experts attribute the increase in reported autism cases largely to improved diagnosis and recognition, facilitated by widespread screening practices. According to the CDC, the latest rates indicate that 1 in 31 children are currently diagnosed.
Autism is diagnosed based on behavioral observations, as there are no biological tests available. Factors under investigation include genetics, paternal age, maternal health, and environmental toxins.
Kennedy has linked childhood vaccinations to autism, a stance contradicted by extensive research, including studies from the CDC which have found no valid evidence supporting this claim. A widely discredited study that proposed a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism was retracted by the journal that originally published it.
Kennedy has announced plans for a significant study into the causes of autism, initially claiming that by September the origin of the conditions could be identified and potentially rectified. However, he later moderated this assertion, suggesting only that partial answers may be available by the same timeframe.
Vaccines
KENNEDY, during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, said: “Vaccines can cause adverse events, including fatalities, and illnesses that measles itself can cause, such as encephalitis and blindness. People should have the freedom to make their own choices.”
THE FACTS: Vaccines, including the measles vaccine, are regarded as safe, with risks far lower than the potential complications associated with contracting measles. The Infectious Diseases Society of America states that there have been no deaths linked to the MMR vaccine among healthy populations.
According to the CDC, most individuals who receive the MMR vaccine experience only minor side effects, such as soreness in the arm, mild fever, and occasionally rash. Some individuals may experience febrile seizures, a slight risk that rises with age, which is why the vaccine is recommended to be administered early in life.
Allergic reactions are possible, particularly for those allergic to neomycin, highlighting the need for precautions as outlined by the CDC.
KENNEDY later claimed in an April CBS interview: “We will always encounter measles, as the effectiveness of the (MMR) vaccine declines rapidly.”
THE FACTS: In fact, the measles vaccine maintains high efficacy and typically provides lifelong protection for the majority of individuals. Two doses of the vaccine boast a 97% effectiveness rate, as per guidance from the CDC and the global medical community. Following the introduction of the vaccine in 1963, annual cases plummeted from millions to fewer than 200 under normal circumstances.
Most measles cases in the U.S. are imported from other countries, underlining the importance of achieving high vaccination coverage to protect community health, particularly those too young or unable to receive vaccinations due to medical reasons.
Measles
KENNEDY commented in an April CBS interview about the death of an 8-year-old Texas girl from measles: “It was not the measles that caused her death, but rather a bacterial infection.”
THE FACTS: According to the Texas State Department of Health and Human Services, both fatalities in Texas were attributed to complications stemming from measles, with neither child having been vaccinated. Medical professionals who treated the girl specified she succumbed to “measles pulmonary failure.”
This narrative aligns with a common tactic among anti-vaccine advocates, suggesting that deaths occur due to complications rather than the initial illness itself. Such statements have been prevalent since the occurrence of the first child death related to measles in Texas earlier this year. Kennedy’s extensive history as a prominent advocate against vaccination has contributed to perpetuating these claims.
Complications from measles can lead to severe consequences, including pneumonia and neurological issues, resulting in death for approximately 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children infected, according to the CDC.
In an April 6 social media post, KENNEDY claimed that Texas doctors “successfully treated and healed around 300 measles-stricken Mennonite children with aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin.”
THE FACTS: Experts indicate that there is no cure for measles, as it is a virus that the body must naturally combat. Vaccination remains the most reliable form of prevention against the disease.
Budesonide, a corticosteroid utilized for various conditions, along with clarithromycin, an antibiotic effective against bacteria, is not recommended for measles treatment; their use is deemed “risky and unproven,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the academy’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, emphasized, “There are no miracle treatments for measles. If your child falls ill with measles, our goal is to provide supportive care, but unfortunately, effective treatments for this infection are not available.”
Nutrition and Obesity
On April 15, KENNEDY remarked in Indianapolis that 70% of Americans are classified as obese or overweight, compared to just 3% during John F. Kennedy’s presidency in the early 1960s.
THE FACTS: Current statistics from the CDC indicate that nearly three-quarters of the American population is overweight, with about 40% classified as obese. In contrast, historical data suggests that around 13% of individuals had obesity between 1960 and 1962.
The escalation in obesity rates has been scrutinized and analyzed, with experts attributing the trend to many interrelated factors, including biological, environmental, a greater availability of calorie-dense foods, and decreased physical activity levels. The proliferation of inexpensive, high-calorie ultraprocessed foods is linked to rising obesity rates, but the exact mechanisms driving these trends merit further exploration.
During an April 10 cabinet discussion about food colorings, KENNEDY stated: “Research shows these dyes negatively impact academic performance, as well as contributing to violence in schools and mental health issues.”
THE FACTS: Recent investigations point to links between synthetic food dyes and neurobehavioral disorders in children, suggesting these additives can aggravate conditions, especially hyperactivity. However, the extent of individual sensitivity to these substances varies significantly among children.
Researchers have indicated that while certain children may react negatively to food dyes, a definite correlation between these additives and academic or behavioral performance has not been firmly established. Thus far, the FDA states that “most children experience no adverse effects when consuming foods with color additives.”
Furthermore, KENNEDY claimed during an address on March 28 regarding restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: “Two decades ago, diabetes was virtually nonexistent in China, but now it’s affecting 50% of the population.”
THE FACTS: Diabetes rates have indeed risen in China in recent years, a trend tied to improved living standards, urban migration, and an aging demographic. Data from 2001-2002 indicated that approximately 6.1% of the population had diabetes, which has recently increased to about 12.4%, according to a 2024 Lancet report.
— JoNel Aleccia
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AP reporter Amanda Seitz contributed to this article.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is responsible for the content produced.
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