Tweet sparks continued false claims about vaccines and autism

A viral tweet compares the trends in vaccination rates and the reported rise in autism diagnoses since 1983. It speculates that, by 2025, 50% of the population could be diagnosed with autism. The post includes a video featuring a well-known vaccine opponent in which he expresses concerns about safety testing conducted on vaccines and suggests a connection between vaccines and autism.

Risk level: Medium

Recommendation: Despite thorough debunking, false claims around vaccines and autism continue to circulate. If patients repeat this information or have concerns, doctors and other health care providers may reiterate key talking points: There is no connection between vaccines and autism. This original claim was propagated by a now retracted study that has been proven false. All major pediatric associations, scientific experts, and physicians advocate for vaccines as the best and safest way to protect children from deadly diseases.