State health officials from California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington have issued a joint statement in response to recent updates on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Autism and Vaccines” webpage. The officials, representing the West Coast Health Alliance, reaffirmed their position that vaccines are not linked to autism.
In their statement, the Alliance emphasized that extensive research involving millions of people across multiple countries over several decades has consistently shown no connection between vaccines and autism. They expressed concern about inaccurate claims recently appearing on the CDC website.
“Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with multiple contributing genetic and environmental factors. Suggesting it stems from any single cause, such as vaccination, misleads families who deserve accurate guidance. It is not only a disservice to families seeking clarity about vaccines but also potentially harmful to autistic individuals and their families,” the Alliance stated.
The officials reiterated that vaccines undergo thorough testing and remain essential for preventing infectious diseases. They stressed that public health guidance on immunization should be based on credible scientific evidence to support parents and caregivers who may encounter conflicting or incorrect information.
“Vaccines are thoroughly tested and remain one of the most important tools for preventing infectious diseases. Public health guidance on immunization must be grounded in credible, evidence-based science to help parents and caregivers who may be receiving conflicting or inaccurate messages about immunization,” they said.
The Alliance encouraged families to consult trusted healthcare providers and reputable organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics for information about vaccines.
