November 21, 2025 (Washington, DC) — The Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP) is deeply concerned by recent changes made to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s website that promote misinformation linking childhood vaccines to autism.
Decades of rigorous scientific research have consistently found no casual connection between vaccines and autism. Unfortunately, this latest action reflects a troubling and dangerous pattern of this Administration advancing unsupported claims about the causes of autism.
Our concerns are shared by leading organizations in the neurodiverse and pediatric communities. The Autism Science Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics have each issued statements warning that the CDC’s updates “needlessly cause fear in parents of young children” and “promote false information suggesting vaccines cause autism.”
In response to the CDC’s updated language on autism and vaccines, Millicent Gorham, CEO of the Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP), issued the following statement:
“The CDC was created to combat infectious diseases and protect public health. But its recent changes ignore decades of evidence showing that vaccines do not cause autism and instead sow fear and doubt about one of the best tools we have against preventable diseases.
Women and families rely on the CDC for clear guidance and are now being met with misinformation and mixed messages. Vaccines undoubtedly remain our best defense against disease, undergoing a gold-standard review process that includes scientific research, clinical trials, robust regulatory review and approvals, and continuous safety monitoring and testing.
AWHP will continue advocating for policies that promote access to vital preventive health services—including vaccines— so that women and families live full and healthy lives.”
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About AWHP
The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization working to ensure that all women and girls have access to high-quality preventive care. Our mission is to advance policy that drives equitable access and prevents the burden and progression of disease to improve the lives and health of all women and girls. For more information, please visit WomensHealthandPrevention.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X @AWHPOrg.