What’s
going on?
Critical
thinking seems to be becoming more and more of a lost art with each passing
year. This is especially evident in the interplay between politics and public
health that has arisen in recent years. Fewer and fewer people are going in for
doctors’ visits, giving their kids vaccines, and enrolling their kids in public
school. Some parents are even refusing to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) while
pregnant or give their kids vaccines for fear of them developing autism. These
parents claim to do so because they are ”skeptical.” Healthy skepticism is
important, true. However, when there is no credible evidence to back up your
claim, you must learn to accept the truth with grace rather that double down
and endanger your life and that of your loved ones.
How did
we get here?
The modern
antivaccine movement can be traced back to the late 1990s. A study by Andrew
Wakefield and colleagues was published in The Lancet that purportedly
linked the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism in children (1).
The study was immediately placed under scrutiny for its “small sample size
(n=12), the uncontrolled design, and the speculative nature of its conclusions”
(2). They also note that “a temporal link between the two is almost
predestined: both events, by design (MMR vaccine) or definition (autism), occur
in early childhood” (2) (as always, correlation does not equal causation). Despite
this, Wakefield’s flawed conclusions made their way into the public
consciousness, and he remains a figurehead among vaccine skeptics. He has never
faced any criminal convictions or even charges, though his medical license was
revoked.
The
discourse surrounding acetaminophen and its link to autism is more recent.
Since his appointment to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services in February of this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has advised Americans
to exercise caution before taking medications (3). In their article for PBS,
Thomas Beaumont and Laura Ungar say that he even called women taking Tylenol
during pregnancy “irresponsible” (4). Mind you, this was before saying that a
woman in a TikTok disagreeing with him had a baby developing in her placenta
rather than uterus (4). He has also advised physicians to prescribe the lowest
possible dose of acetaminophen or even recommend pregnant women against taking
it at all (5). People often take what authority figures say at face value,
which can be extremely dangerous. Especially when the person in that position
of power has made unsubstantiated claims about public health.
 |
Andrew Wakefield, father of modern vaccine skepticism (left) and RFK Jr. HHS Secretary
So,
what’s the truth?
Autism
diagnoses have been on the rise for the past four decades. However, this has
also been accompanied by improvements in screening and diagnostic techniques. There
is also no single cause of autism (6). The Mayo Clinic says both genetics and
the environment can play a role (7). Researchers have found the number of genes
to be associated with autism development to be in the hundreds (6). Potential
environmental contributors include “viral infections, medications,
complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants” (7). It is also important to
know that autism is officially called autism spectrum disorder and, as the name
implies, it can present in a variety of ways. There is no correlation between
any risk factor and the way autism presents (7).
Moreover,
there is no established link between vaccines or acetaminophen use in pregnant
women and autism (4,5,7). Studies that have investigated this have found no
relationship or an associative one at best. In fact, most experts believe it is
more dangerous to not give vaccines to children. They are more likely to
acquire and spread serious diseases such as whooping cough, measles, and mumps.
The vast majority of physicians still say acetaminophen is safe to use, even
while pregnant. Dr. Christopher Zahn, Chief of Clinical Practice at the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says “pregnant patients
should not be frightened away from the many benefits of acetaminophen” (3). Dr.
Salena Zanotti of the Cleveland Clinic commented that acetaminophen is the
safest drug to take to treat pain and fever during pregnancy (3).
 |
Autism is a complex disease with multiple potential contributing
factors |
What can we do?
Educate
others patiently and respectfully. Inform them of the difference between
associative and causal relationships. Teach them how to do their own research.
Help them understand that science is itself often not an exact science and that
mistakes are usually made on the way to discovery. You should be willing to
listen to others’ concerns as well. Most importantly, don’t force someone to
change their view. Resolution is achieved through discussion, not coercion.
By Evan Strobel, a Master's of Medical Science Student at the University of Kentucky
References
1. The Editors of The Lancet. (2010). Retraction—ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet, 375(9713), 445. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(10)60175-4
2.
Sathyanarayana
Rao, T., & Andrade, C. (2011). The MMR vaccine and autism: Sensation,
refutation, retraction, and fraud. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(2),
95–96. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.82529
3.
Czopek,
M. (2025, September 15). 5 things to know about autism and Tylenol during pregnancy.
PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/sep/15/Tylenol-acetaminophen-pregnancy-autism-RFK/
4.
Beaumont,
T., & Ungar, L. (2025, October 10). Reupping unproven claims about
Tylenol, Kennedy claims a link between circumcision and autism. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/reupping-unproven-claims-about-tylenol-kennedy-claims-a-link-between-circumcision-and-autism#:~:text=Kennedy%20noted%20during%20the%20meeting,vaccine%20confidence%20as%20health%20secretary
5.
Garrison,
J. (2025, November 6). RFK Jr. says his position on Tylenol use for pregnant
women hasn’t changed. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/06/rfk-jr-tylenol-pregnant-women-autism/87127637007/
6.
Parshall,
A. (2025, September 22). Autism has no single cause. here’s how we know.
Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-has-no-single-cause-research-shows/
7.
Mayo
Clinic Staff. (2025, May 22). Autism spectrum disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928
Hey Evan,
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! Your post is well written and covers a super important topic in today's society. You did a great job highlighting misconceptions about autism, vaccines and medications such as acetaminophen. I covered something similar in my blog post and found it concerning that despite there being so much evidence against certain false claims the misinformation keeps spreading. I like that you emphasized conversations should be approached with patience, respect and even provided some suggestions to help educate. It makes me wonder what can be done at a broader level to reduce misinformation and help people identify credible scientific sources.
Hi Evan,
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a really strong post, and more people would benefit from understanding its message. I work in healthcare at UK, and I frequently see parents decline life-saving immunizations for their newborns, it’s truly disheartening how common this has become. I appreciated how you laid out the timeline of how we arrived at this point, many people don’t realize the historical and social factors that have made these ideas more widespread. Another point that often gets overlooked in these discussions is that many individuals with autism live completely typical, independent lives. While this is not the case for everyone on the spectrum, the majority are able to function as fully capable members of society. I think part of the narrative used by people who claim vaccines cause autism is rooted in the harmful assumption that autism represents something “wrong” with a child or something a mother has caused, which is both inaccurate and damaging. I could go on about this topic for a while, but in short, your blog post was thoughtful, well-supported, and genuinely impactful.
Hi Evan! This blog is so well written! It's so true how much misinformation is being spread these days not only in the media but through plenty of other platforms, and can lead to further harm for individuals and their offspring. I like how you brought up the study that Andrew Wakefield did and how it was later debunked, but has had so much influence lasting even to today in the anti-vaccination area. It's so important that you brought light to that fact that autism is caused by multifactorial reasons as well as increased diagnostics, as well as also being more recognized in today's society. Avoiding these important vaccinations can lead to further harm to both mother and child, so it is important to talk these options through with a trust healthcare provider. I love the mention of correlation does not imply causation because I feel like that is a big concept that people need to understand when considering things. Overall, this was very informative and interesting to read!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Evan! I really liked what you said about accepting truth with grace, which unfortunately seems to be lost among a lot of people lately. I feel like if more people understood how to read scientific literature then perhaps there would not be as many taking what authority figures say as fact, and they would do their own research. The fact that correlation does not equal causation is never spoken about in mainstream media or conversations about these topics, and people are unaware of the nuances of scientific research. With more education and informative articles like these hopefully the lack of scientific literacy can be improved. In reality, with vaccinations, autism, or many other medical conditions there are a variety of factors that contribute to the development of conditions as you said. I can certainly understand the perspective of a mother that is expecting and wanting what is best for your child, but that is where education from providers and oneself comes in as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Evan, I really liked your post and I appreciate that you took the time to talk about such an important topic such as vaccines and autism. I think it's insane how people would rather not give their children vaccines, exposing them to diseases, because of what people with no science experience say on the internet. I also think it's important to learn how to identify real information that's backed up by evidence. You definitely did a great job in explaining that correlation doesn't mean causation, which a lot of people don't understand and that's why they think that the rise in autism diagnosis is caused by vaccines. I hope in the future people will learn to not believe everything they see or hear, even if it comes from people in a power position.
ReplyDeleteHi Evan! This is a really great post and I appreciate your approach in addressing misinformation, current research, and advice! I feel especially passionate about this issue because I have family members who do not believe in vaccines and engage in COVID conspiracies, and no amount of evidence seems to sway them. It is quite frustrating and scary to see how prevalent misinformation and distrust in the scientific community really is, especially among peers on campus and in my generation. I appreciate your discussion of correlation and causation because that is not often addressed when people are learning how to research and can be a very important concept when discussing misinformation. I hope in the near future our society shifts from distrust in science to curiosity and action to improve health!
ReplyDeleteHi Evan! This post does a great job highlighting how misinformation and poor critical thinking have pushed people away from evidence-based medicine. I especially agree with the point that skepticism is healthy only when it's grounded in credible data. The history behind the modern anti-vaccine movement and the recent Tylenol controversy really shows how one misleading claim from a public figure can cause long-lasting harm. Educating others with patience and clarity is definitely the best way forward.
ReplyDeleteHi Evan! This was a fantastic post on a very prominent topic. I thought you did a great job providing evidence to refute the claims about Tylenol and vaccines causing autism. This topic has become very polarizing which I do not understand overwhelming evidence showing that there is no causation between these factors. I think social media has made it very easy to spread misinformation which incites fear in the public. However, people are not willing to do their own research into these topics to learn what is true and what is not. Good job on your post, I thought it was very interesting and fun to read.
ReplyDeleteHey Evan! I really enjoyed reading this post. This is such an interesting topic that gets tossed around in news and on social media. You did a great job providing supplemental evidence with discussing the sample size of the original study. I also really liked the correlation does not equal causation statement. This is a great issue to bring light to, as most people are either unwilling or not sure how to properly research topics to make decisions for themselves and their family. Autism is a very complex neurodevelopmental disorder, and it is hard to distinguish one cause as the single origin. I hope to see more research on the topic, and you did a wonderful job explaining this. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Evan,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. I remember seeing and hearing on about this a few months ago on social media and was shocked that the two would be correlated. It is really important for information like this to be backed up with evidence, which you did a great job of doing! It is concerning how social media can portray ideas, leading to more and more people becoming anti-vaccine, without doing more research on the topics. You did a really great job disputing those claims and this would be great to show people in the present and future!
Hey Evan, great job tackling this topic! It is a real shame that the narrative that acetaminophen causes autism has gotten so popular. A lot of it boils down to misinformation and miscommunication between the scientific community, the media, and the people who are just trying to decide what to do with their children. I have had friends who decided to not go to college ask me about this because they know I am involved with scientific topics, and it baffles me how much some of them believed that acetaminophen causes autism just because they do not understand how scientific studies work. There needs to be better communication between the two sides, and I hope that more people continue to bring light to the effectiveness and safety of acetaminophen during pregnancy when used correctly. With how bad misinformation is currently in the world, we do not need more helpful medications being frowned upon due to poor communication.
ReplyDeleteHi Evan! This was an extremely well written post and something that many people need to read! I really enjoyed how you laid out a timeline of how we have gotten to a point of such mistrust against modern medicine starting with the Wakefield study. I personally know several people who have chosen to not get any vaccines and have not given their children vaccines due to misinformation circulating in the media. I hope more papers like this one come out that highlight real scientific evidence on the effectiveness and safety of getting routine vaccines and taking medications like acetaminophen.
ReplyDeleteEvan,
ReplyDeleteYour opening line is fantastic. put that on a t- shirt or bumper sticker or university slogan. fantastic. I think our entire introduction is great. there is a great deal of mistrust between people, the government, and now healthcare as well because of how tightly they have all intertwined, politicians use healthcare as a pawn, and healthcare companies seek funding from government based agencies, which leaves the general public at a loss for who to trust.
As upcoming healthcare professionals it is our duty to educate ourselves deeply so that we can then effectively educate others on these topics and become pillars of trust in our communities.
Great insight! thank you for sharing.
Evan,
ReplyDeleteThis was a phenomenal post. As soon as I saw your title I was immediately hooked. I am extremely inspired by your approach to such a controversial topic, especially in the heated climate of today's world. You were extremely informative when addressing not only the lack of causation within autism and vaccine related studies, and about the influence of authoritative figures. Stressing the importance of trusting educated providers was one of the most impactful takeaways from this post. I also admire how you explained the development and diagnosis of autism, and the statements made about how we simply don't know the underlying cause. You are absolutely right, science isn't always a straight path to the answer, and I believe another great point from this post is that there can't be a specific cause for a disorder we don't fully understand yet. I hope you continue to write about topics such as this in the future. Overall, amazing work!
Evan, for one, this was a great title for this blog. It encapsulated what this post was about, but it required the reader to dive in to understand. You did a great job making this post go full circle by stating that our society does not think critically, and it's a responsibility of us, as bearers of knowledge, to educate on what we know. I think of so many people from my small town farming community who have distrust in medicine due to administrative roles making comments on areas they don't fully understand. It creates a distraction that is unnecessary. I think specifically of the Appalachian area, where many people go undiagnosed with cancers or other diseases, and refuse to go to the doctor. The documentary I watched was from 15-20 years ago, but the concept still applies. There is such a mistrust that is built from false information being spread, and people not taking the time to educate themselves. You did a great job diving into the autism study and explaining the actual risk of autism. Great post and very educational.
ReplyDeleteEvan, you approached this topic with boldness and offered information in a persuasive, yet very respectful tone. When writing about topics concerning public health, there is an overlap sometimes that branches into the world of politics. Despite this, you wrote a balanced and well-informed article. You avoided critical language and remained professional. The more I get into science, the more I learn how misinformation runs wild in our communities. There were moments in the blog that felt very serious; however, I believe they were a nod to your passion about correct information being presented to the public. Good job!
ReplyDeleteEvan,
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important topic to comment on, and while you did so boldly, it was also done with grace. I love your comments in the opening paragraph that healthy skepticism is important, but when supported with scientific evidence. You go on to critique the basis of the anti-vaccine movement, the study by Wakefield, which lacks this scientific evidence. This blog post flows well and is so well-written. I also love your conclusion, especially how you mention resolution must be achieved through discussion. I've seen many approaches to the anti-vaccine movement that have been particularly hostile. I think we need to address people who have skepticism for vaccines with compassion, but also with the logic and scientific evidence you've outlined here. I think there's a large part of the population that does not understand that correlation and causation are not the same, a fundamental concept in science. This lack of understanding has led to misconceptions about vaccine and modern medical science. My hope is that with compassion and reasoning, misinformation concerning vaccines and other medical topics can be abolished to restore trust in the medical community. Extremely well done!
Hi Evan!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with this post. I work in a pharmacy and volunteer bi-weekly in the hospital. Through this I’ve seen so many people turn down medical care and treatment because of their beliefs and misinformation they have heard. It is very hard to witness and not be able to do anything to help them. I think having a healthcare provider that you trust and supports your beliefs makes a big difference in accepting or declining care. At the end of your writing, you said that it is important to not force someone to change their views which I completely agree with and was a great way to sum up the main point of the topic.
Evan, this was an amazing post. I completely agree that with the increasing information provided to us, we should research and fact check that information. It is even more important to do so, to prevent inaccurate information from spreading. It is really important to address this misinformation like you did about vaccines and autism with scientific evidence and to keep in mind like you said correlation doesn't mean causation. This was really informative. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteHello Evan!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the relevance of the topic you chose. The language used is also very direct, as well as passionate, which I greatly appreciate for a subject that is emotionally tied to so many people. I particularly enjoyed the way you presented the origins of the anti-vaccine movements as intrinsically tied with The Lancet study by Andrew Wakefield, and then linked that to modern anti-vaccine discourse, including "harmful" vaccines and medication, led by RFK Jr. In both instances, the influential figures espousing lies, deliberately, to the public remain either completely or mostly unpunished due to the sensational nature of their claims. Extreme claims, especially those that are anti-institution or anti-modern medicine, tend to garner great support, if only because they run counter to the typical scientific narrative. I am in full agreement that taking the word of authority figures at face value, especially on subjects in which they are disproven by other experts, is folly, and that one great way to combat that is teaching others how to do their own research about the subject. Skepticism is a very valuable trait, and if it can be somehow harnessed into a search for proven data instead of a search for sensational solutions, the health and safety of families will improve right alongside the critical thinking skills so desperately needed in this day and age. Thank you for the read!
Hello Evan,
ReplyDeleteThis is very important to discuss in light of todays political climate. This provides an essential critique of the decline in critical thinking, which is resulting in dangerous public health trends like vaccine and acetaminophen hesitancy. The fear often stems from myths, like the MMR-autism link, and the claims against acetaminophen use during pregnancy promoted by political figures. It is sad to see what people believe and its important we educate people on this. This was a really great topic to cover!
Hi Evan!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great topic as it is so relevant to things happening in our society today. I appreciated that you addressed the fact that vaccine distrust started years ago as it gives a bit of background for understanding how we have gotten to where we are today. I also really liked how you included an explanation of why we are seeing higher and higher rates of autism, as many people don't understand that there has been lots of advancement in the way it is diagnosed. I also think your section about what we as members of society can do to help people who have fallen prey to the misinformation that is currently circulating was a really valuable way to conclude your piece. Overall, great job!