Newsom slaps CDC after they tried to scare parents away from vaccines: ‘Not opinions, not conspiracies’
California – Officials in California made a bold statement to clear up any uncertainty generated by an incorrect update on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Governor Gavin Newsom said that the West Coast Health Alliance, which is a public health cooperation between California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, has confirmed that decades of studies indicate no link between childhood immunizations and autism. The Alliance took action after federal instructions briefly suggested differently, even though there was no scientific evidence to back it up.
State leaders said that parents and caregivers need precise information that is based on evidence, not speculation. Governor Newsom said that public policy should be founded on facts, not conspiracy theories. He also said that not knowing enough about vaccines can put both public safety and children’s health at risk.
“Americans deserve public health guidance grounded in science – not opinions. The West Coast Health Alliance will continue following the science, not chasing conspiracies and outdated thinking,” Newsom said.
The explanation comes at a time when people are more concerned with the stability of the country’s main disease-response agency. The CDC has previously been seen as the country’s main source of information on immunizations and how to respond to outbreaks. However, it has been disrupted by changes in leadership and the departure of all 17 members of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The Alliance says that these decisions have made the country less prepared for emergencies and left families without clear guidance. California and its partner states say that state-led scientific leadership is necessary to preserve public health in this situation.
The Alliance said that autism is a complicated disorder that is caused by a mix of environmental and genetic factors. Saying that vaccines are to blame is too simple, doesn’t help parents who want to know what’s going on, and can spread false information that is harmful. Officials in public health underlined that vaccines go through a lot of safety testing and are still one of the best ways to stop infectious diseases. When the federal government sends out messages that aren’t based on facts, the effects can be felt in many areas, such as planning for vaccine production, giving clinical advice, and making decisions as a family.
The West Coast Health Alliance said again that it stands by standards founded on evidence, openness, and medical knowledge. It recommended that families should keep getting immunization information from reputable medical professionals and professional groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Alliance will keep coordinating policies among its member states to make sure that communities get credible, research-based advice, even when federal rules change.
Health authorities want to keep science transparent and offer the public faith in life-saving advice through this alliance across several states. This week’s message to parents who are thinking about childhood vaccinations was clear and direct: vaccines are safe, work, and are not linked to autism.
