Anuj Shrestha

Opinion

Guest Essay

By Jessica Steier
Graphics by Sara Chodosh and Taylor Maggiacomo

Dr. Steier is a public health scientist who specializes in science communication.

The health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., says he wants to understand what causes autism. It’s a perfectly laudable goal and one that scientists have been pursuing for decades. But after announcing a large new federal study on the topic, he made a shocking choice by bringing in the vaccine critic David Geier as a researcher.

In the scientific community, Mr. Geier is infamous for the deeply flawed studies he conducted with his father, Mark Geier, claiming that vaccines cause autism. Researchers have long called attention to the serious methodological and ethical defects in their work.

David Geier, left, and his father, Mark Geier, in their home laboratory in 2005.

Marty Katz

The Geiers once created an illegitimate review board for their research, composed of themselves, family members and business associates. They also promoted the drug Lupron, used for chemical castration and prostate cancer, as a supposed treatment for autism, charging $5,000 to $6,000 monthly for unproven therapies. As a result, Mark Geier’s medical license was ultimately revoked or suspended by all 12 states in which he was licensed, and David Geier was fined for practicing medicine without a license.

Because of David Geier’s track record and the fact that Mr. Kennedy has said he believes that autism is caused by vaccines, many public health experts think that the upcoming study may echo the same flawed science. We’ve broken down the anti-vaccine research playbook to help you spot the telltale signs of shoddy studies and show why Mr. Geier is such a divisive choice. (Mr. Geier did not respond to The Times's request for comment.)

To start: Vaccine critics like Mr. Kennedy often give the impression that scientists haven’t seriously researched whether vaccines might cause autism.

In a Times Opinion analysis, we can demonstrate that researchers have.

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim

to have found a link

Studies that did not

find a link

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim to have found a link

Studies that did not find a link

1990s

Andrew Wakefield’s M.M.R. study

2000s

2010s

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim

to have found a link

Studies that did not

find a link

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim to have found a link

Studies that did not find a link

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim

to have found a link

Studies that did not

find a link

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim to have found a link

Studies that did not find a link

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim

to have found a link

Studies that did not

find a link

1990s

2000s

2010s

Study retracted due to deliberate image manipulation.

Study that Mr. Kennedy referenced in his Senate hearing.

2020s

Studies examining the link between vaccines and autism

Written by the Geiers

Retracted

Studies that claim to have found a link

Studies that did not find a link

1990s

2000s

Study retracted due to deliberate image manipulation.

2010s

2020s

Study that Mr. Kennedy referenced in his Senate hearing.

Studies examining the link between vaccines and........

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