President Trump suggested that Robert Kennedy Jr., his nominee for HHS, might find a cure for autism, referencing alarming statistics about its rise. However, Trump's figures were misleading; autism's increase is largely due to improved diagnostic criteria rather than a vaccine connection. Critics argue that RFK Jr.'s controversial views on vaccines are unfounded and detrimental. The conversation stems from a hearing where most criticism against Kennedy came from Democrats. While more children are diagnosed with autism today, this reflects broader awareness and understanding of the condition, not an actual surge in incidence due to vaccines.
Trump's assertion that autism in children has drastically increased and that RFK Jr. could find a cure is misleading, as the rise is due to better diagnosis, not vaccines.
The data shows that autism was not 1 in 10,000 two decades ago; it was 1 in 125 to 1 in 110, reflecting substantial improvements in diagnosis and awareness.
Collection
[
|
...
]