Health experts criticize the promotion of unproven links between Tylenol, autism, and vaccines

Plus, the internet reacts to a “chaotic” CDC vaccine meeting and new research finds increased rejection of childhood vaccines.

This week, reactions to the Trump administration’s claim that Tylenol and vaccines are linked to autism and the CDC’s vaccine advisory meeting dominated online conversations about vaccines. Health care providers online responded to President Trump’s claim that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism with a mix of confusion and alarm. Meanwhile, after two days of confusion and conflict, the committee voted to shift away from universal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, instead making COVID-19 vaccination a “shared decision” between patient and provider. The vote did little to ease public concern about COVID-19 vaccine availability and cost in the coming months. Finally, new research suggests that parents are increasingly rejecting or delaying childhood vaccines, sparking fears that many communities lack herd immunity.

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What’s trending in vaccine conversation:

In a September 22 press conference, President Donald Trump and several Health and Human Services Secretary officials claimed that the use of acetaminophen (name brand: Tylenol) during pregnancy is linked to autism and repeated the myth that vaccines cause autism. This claim has been roundly criticized by experts, who say the evidence to support the link is inconclusive and does not prove that the drug causes autism. The president told reporters that the Food and Drug Administration will begin notifying physicians immediately of its recommendation that use during pregnancy should be avoided unless necessary. He added that the FDA will update acetaminophen labeling to include information about the purported risk and will begin the approval process for the drug leucovorin to treat autism. Health care providers, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, condemned the announcement, with many expressing skepticism about the validity of the link and concern for pregnant patients who have limited safe pain relief options.

On September 18 and 19, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met to review recommendations for several vaccines. Days before the meeting, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. added five new members to the committee, which he had fully replaced in June. The meeting was marked by confusion and disagreements before members voted to end universal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Updated vaccines remain available and covered by insurance for everyone 6 months and older, but only as part of a “shared clinical decision” between health care providers and patients. The committee also delayed a vote on hepatitis B vaccination at birth and voted to stop recommending the combination measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox (varicella) vaccine for children under age 4. While some vaccine opponents celebrated the change in COVID-19 guidance, others argued that it did not go far enough. Spanish-language accounts spread the false claim that the CDC had issued a warning against COVID-19 vaccines. Public health experts and vaccine advocates criticized the meeting as “chaotic” and “confused,” urging caution in relying on the new committee’s recommendations. Other users questioned the need for hepatitis B vaccination and cited the MMRV vaccine decision as supposed evidence that combination vaccines are unsafe.

New research into immunizations drew concern about the increased rejection of routine vaccines in the U.S. An NBC News and Stanford University investigation on immunization rates found that 67 percent of U.S. counties have immunization rates below herd immunity levels, and 77 percent of counties have had notable declines in immunization since 2019. Responses to the report largely blamed declining immunization on the anti-vaccine movement and right-wing politicians. Many responses also expressed strong opposition to certain “new” vaccines and questioned the safety and necessity of other routine vaccines. A recent KFF/Washington Post poll, which found that one in six parents report skipping or delaying at least one childhood vaccine, received a similarly mixed response. Some celebrated that “people are waking up” to the alleged dangers of vaccines, while others harshly criticized parents who don’t vaccinate.

Read the fact checks: 

• PBS News: Research doesn’t show using Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism. Here are 5 things to know 
• Your Local Epidemiologists: Covid-19 vaccine changes: What it means for you 
• Nemours KidsHealth: What Is Herd Immunity?

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Talking points for health care providers to use in response to trending narratives

Each week the Infodemiology.com team will provide talking points and supporting messages in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. Health care providers can use this messaging when discussing vaccines online, talking to patients, or engaging with communities.

Doctors recommend Tylenol during pregnancy because it is proven to be safe.

• Health experts and doctors, including ACOG, continue to recommend acetaminophen and affirm its safety during pregnancy.
• The data used to claim that autism and Tylenol are linked is flawed, incomplete, and—most importantly—does not show that acetaminophen causes autism. In fact, there is no evidence that acetaminophen or vaccines cause autism.
• Decades of evidence show that acetaminophen is safe and not linked to autism, including a recent study of nearly 2.5 million children.
• Acetaminophen is a safe treatment for pain or fever during pregnancy. Other pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, have been linked to an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage. An untreated fever during pregnancy can pose risks to both maternal and infant health. 
• Talk to your health care provider about all medical treatments during pregnancy.

COVID-19 vaccines remain available for everyone 6 months and older through a shared decision between patients and clinicians. 

• The CDC recently voted to make COVID-19 vaccines available through “shared clinical decision-making.” That’s a process where you talk with a health care provider (like a doctor or pharmacist) to decide what’s best for you.
• Major physician organizations continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all people 6 months and older, including infants and young children, healthy adults, and pregnant people.
• Research has consistently proven COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and the best way to prevent severe illness, long COVID, and death. 
• Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist to learn more about getting the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. 

Vaccines don’t just protect the person who is vaccinated—they protect everyone around them.

• Vaccines protect children, their families, and their communities. 
• Herd immunity happens when enough people have immunity to a disease, making it nearly impossible for the disease to spread.
• Vaccination is the only safe way to achieve herd immunity. Refusing or delaying vaccines decreases a community’s overall protection and prevents herd immunity.
• Declining childhood vaccination rates mean that many communities no longer have herd immunity, putting unvaccinated and other vulnerable populations at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
  
  Interested in recommendations tailored to public health professionals? Click here.