In a controversial announcement on April 14, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared a federal initiative to identify the "true" cause of autism by September. This effort has sparked renewed public interest, not due to its urgency, but because Kennedy has long endorsed the discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism. President Donald Trump echoed similar concerns at a Cabinet meeting, suggesting that something "artificial," like a shot, might be the cause.

This resurgence of vaccine-autism conspiracy theories is not only scientifically incorrect but also potentially harmful, diverting public attention and resources from legitimate, evidence-based research into the complex origins of autism.

The myth that vaccines cause autism originated from a fraudulent 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield, which was later retracted due to ethical violations and data falsification. Despite this, the myth persists in popular discourse, fueled by misinformation and anecdotal claims and amplified by public figures (Davidson, 2017; Mnookin, 2012). Extensive research involving millions of children across multiple countries has demonstrated no causal link between vaccines and autism (Doja, 2008; Hotez, 2020).

Recent reviews reaffirm this consensus, emphasizing the safety of vaccines and their critical role in preventing deadly diseases (Bezbaruah et al., 2024; Gabis et al., 2022). The ongoing public belief in this myth underscores the influence of misinformation and the necessity for improved scientific communication (Mocarski, 2014).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social communication, restrictive........

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