NFID-Led Joint Letter Urges Evidence-Based CDC Guidance

In response to the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage linking vaccines and autism, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) led a joint letter to the Senate HELP Committee urging evidence-based CDC communications. This effort reflects the NFID mission to ensure the public receives accurate, science-based information and highlights the need for strong scientific review to maintain trust in public health guidance.

November 26, 2025

The Honorable Bill Cassidy
Chair
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Bernie Sanders
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Cassidy and Ranking Member Sanders,

We, the undersigned organizations, are deeply concerned by recent federal public health communications that conflict with the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism spectrum disorder, particularly when such information guides decisions affecting the health of families and communities. 

On November 19, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website was updated to include a post suggesting a possible link between vaccines and autism. In the days since, leading US scientific and medical institutions—as well as international bodies such as the European Medicines Agency—have reiterated the well-established evidence that there is no credible causal relationship between vaccines and autism. Despite this, the webpage remains publicly available. 

The posting of information on a federal public health website that contradicts established, evidence-based scientific consensus is alarming. At a moment when vaccine-preventable diseases including measles are resurging and the US is entering what may be a severe respiratory season, with public confidence already fragile, statements like this will have real and harmful consequences for public health.

This moment highlights the importance of clear, accurate, and evidence-based public communications from federal health agencies. Strong internal scientific review processes are critical to maintaining public trust—especially for parents and caregivers making decisions about their children’s health. CDC’s public guidance, including website content, should be informed and led by professionals with relevant scientific and medical expertise.

For decades, CDC has served as the nation’s leading source of public health guidance, supported by dedicated career scientists and public health professionals whose work has been essential to the health of families and communities. With respect for CDC’s long-standing mission, we urge that this webpage be updated to accurately reflect the current scientific consensus that there is no causal relationship between vaccines and autism. 

We also ask the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), in its oversight role, to ensure CDC and other federal science agencies uphold their critically important evidence-based communication practices.

We remain committed to supporting CDC in its mission to ensure that federal public health guidance remains clear and grounded in science, and we thank you for your leadership and service.

Sincerely,

Alliance for Aging Research

American Academy of Neurology

American Association of Immunologists

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American College of Nurse-Midwives

American College of Preventive Medicine

American Families for Vaccines

American Geriatrics Society

American Institute of Biological Sciences

American Lung Association

American Pharmacists Association

American Society for Microbiology

American Society Meningitis Prevention

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Arkansas Immunization Action Coalition (Immunize Arkansas)

ASCPT

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)

Big Cities Health Coalition

California Immunization Coalition

ColoVAX

Families Fighting Flu

Gerontological Society of America

Harris County Public Health

Idaho Immunization Coalition

Illinois Public Health Association

Immunization Coalition of Delaware

Immunize Colorado

Immunize Kansas Coalition

Immunize Oregon

Infectious Diseases Society of America

Langlade Co Immunization Coalition

Louisiana Families for Vaccines

Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Mississippi Immunization Coalition

Montana Families for Vaccines

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)

Nurses Who Vaccinate

Oklahoma Alliance for Healthy Families

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition

Population Association of America

Research!America

Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)

Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP)

South Dakota Families for Vaccines

Tennessee Families for Vaccines

The Arizona Partnership for Immunization

The Immunization Partnership

The JAMIE Group

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

The Task Force for Global Health

Trust for America’s Health

Vaccinate Your Family

Vaccine Ambassadors

Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Voices for Vaccines

About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

Founded in 1973, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating and engaging the public, communities, and healthcare professionals about infectious diseases across the lifespan. NFID has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and has earned a Platinum transparency seal from Candid/GuideStar. For more information, and to access trusted science-based resources on immunization for both healthcare professionals and the public, visit www.nfid.org.

Contact: info@nfid.org