Autism Society Urges Evidence-Based Approach to Childhood Vaccines and Autism Research

Rockville, M.D., August 11, 2026 — The Autism Society of America is concerned by the statements surrounding the August 10 executive order that suggests vaccines may be responsible for the increase in Autism diagnoses. Decades of rigorous scientific research involving millions of people have consistently found no causal link between vaccination and Autism, including the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Autistic individuals and their families deserve clear, accurate information about what the evidence shows, especially when making important healthcare decisions. 

The executive order establishes a new framework for federal childhood vaccine recommendations. It also directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study topics including vaccine timing, the order in which vaccines are given, single-disease vaccines, and vaccine safety. Some vaccines, including influenza “the flu shot” and COVID-19, would move from routine recommendations to shared decision-making with a healthcare provider. Any changes to vaccine recommendations or the childhood vaccine schedule should be guided by the best available scientific evidence and informed by qualified independent experts with relevant expertise in vaccines, infectious diseases, and public health.

The Autism Society strongly supports Autistic individuals, parents, and caregivers having a voice in healthcare decisions about vaccines and other medical treatments. They should have access to accurate, complete, evidence-based information and the opportunity to discuss their individual questions and concerns with a trusted healthcare provider. Parental choice and evidence-based science can and should work together.

At the same time, we are concerned that renewed focus on vaccines as a possible cause of Autism may take attention and resources away from important questions that remain unanswered. As Joseph P. Joyce, President and CEO of the Autism Society of America, said, “Parents deserve the freedom to make informed decisions about their children’s healthcare, but that freedom depends on having accurate information. We should be investing in research to answer the questions we do not yet know, not repeatedly revisiting questions for which decades of research have consistently found no causal link.”

Conflicting messages about vaccines and Autism can create confusion for Autistic individuals and their families and make already difficult healthcare decisions even harder. 

The Autism Society strongly supports continued research into Autism, including its causes and biology, possible environmental factors, and vaccine safety. We welcome rigorous, evidence-based research that follows the evidence wherever it leads and can be independently replicated. Scientific findings should be carefully reviewed and confirmed before they are used to guide major public health decisions and policies. Science evolves as new evidence emerges, but new claims must be supported by strong evidence. 

The increase in Autism diagnoses does not, by itself, establish what is driving the increase. Autism has no single known cause, and research continues to study the complex roles that genetics, biology, development, and environmental factors may play.

The Autism Society will continue advocating for high-quality Autism research while keeping the urgent needs of Autistic individuals and their families at the center of our work. This includes, but is not limited to, access to timely diagnosis, appropriate healthcare and early intervention support,  Medicaid and Home and Community-based Services (HCBS), communication supports, mental health and crisis services, adult services, and Autism-trained providers.

The Autism Society urges federal leaders to follow the evidence, invest in rigorous research to answer the questions we still do not understand about Autism, and prioritize the healthcare, services, and supports that Autistic people and their families need today.