Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine‑autism claims dismissed as unfounded

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserted on CNN that President Trump wants an investigation into a supposed vaccine‑autism link and made a series of false statements about Lyme disease, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID‑19, and the safety of vaccines. Fact‑checkers found no evidence supporting his claims. Large epidemiological studies, including Danish cohorts of over 600,000 children, and a WHO safety review have repeatedly shown no association between the MMR vaccine and autism. The scientific consensus, backed by meta‑analyses of more than a million children, confirms that vaccines are safe and effective, and that COVID‑19 vaccines reduce infection and severe disease in children.

Kennedy also promoted unsubstantiated ideas about lab‑origin theories for Lyme disease and RSV, and suggested that effective COVID‑19 treatments were suppressed, despite clinical trials showing no benefit from ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine.