Dear Colleagues,
The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics stands firmly with the American Academy of Pediatrics in opposing the recent changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website that promote false information suggesting vaccines cause autism. We find these changes to be unsubstantiated, reckless, and deeply misleading to the families we serve.
The scientific evidence is overwhelming and unequivocal: there is no causal link between vaccines and autism. Multiple high-quality studies involving millions of people across countries have reached the same definitive conclusion. Anyone perpetuating this harmful myth is either misinformed or deliberately misleading parents.
Additionally, spreading misinformation about autism causes harm to the autism community as well. People living with autism deserve credible information about evidence-based science.
To the families of Georgia: Your pediatricians remain steadfast in our commitment to follow the science and provide you with evidence-based guidance to keep your children healthy and thriving. We will not be deterred by the misinformation and falsehoods that are plaguing our country at this time.
We join the American Academy of Pediatrics and members of the autism community in calling on the CDC to immediately stop using government resources to amplify false claims that undermine confidence in routine immunizations—one of the most effective public health tools we have to protect children.
Georgia’s pediatricians are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide the trusted, scientifically sound care your children deserve.
Sincerely,
Nicola Chin, MD, FAAP
Chapter President