Trump Goofs Again on Vaccines as Health Agencies Reject Autism Claims
Donald Trump has once again reignited controversy over vaccines, repeating a long-
debunked claim that they may be linked to autism. Speaking at a rally in the US, the
president suggested both childhood vaccines and the use of Tylenol during pregnancy
could play a role in autism diagnoses, remarks swiftly dismissed by leading health
authorities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
wasted little time in rejecting Trump’s assertions. “We know that vaccines do not cause
autism. Vaccines, as I said, save countless lives,” a WHO spokesperson said on
Monday, underlining the global consensus that inoculation remains one of the most
effective tools in public health.
The EMA echoed this, pointing to extensive scientific evidence disproving any causal
link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder. “These claims resurface from time
to time, but the data is clear – vaccines are safe, effective, and critical for preventing
serious disease,” an EMA official noted.
Trump has a long history of stoking vaccine skepticism. During his first presidential
campaign and while in office, he often gave credence to fringe theories, despite his
administration’s eventual role in rolling out Covid-19 vaccines at record speed. His latest
remarks appear to recycle conspiratorial talking points popular among anti-vaccine
groups in the US.
Scientists say such statements are not only misleading but dangerous. “Every time a
public figure makes these claims, vaccination rates risk being undermined, and that can
cost lives,” said Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, a WHO infectious disease epidemiologist.
Experts point to the resurgence of measles and other preventable diseases in countries
where vaccine uptake has faltered due to misinformation.
On Tylenol, also known as paracetamol or acetaminophen, research into prenatal use
has been ongoing for years. Some studies have suggested a potential association
between prolonged use during pregnancy and developmental outcomes, but health
agencies stress that the evidence is far from conclusive. The US Food and Drug
Administration and EMA both maintain that no causal link to autism has been
established.
For critics, Trump’s latest intervention is another example of political theatre trumping
science. “He’s playing to an audience that thrives on distrust of institutions, even at the
cost of public health,” said one European health policy expert.
While Trump’s comments may win him applause in some corners, they risk deepening
skepticism just as global health agencies battle to rebuild confidence in vaccination after
the pandemic. Once again, the science is clear and once again, Trump is on the wrong
side of it.