In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread. Examples include measles, COVID, flu, and polio. A top antivaxxer is HHS Secretary RFK Jr. He is part of the "Disinformation Dozen." He helped cause a deadly 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa.
President Donald Trump’s pick for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, is likely to face tough questions Thursday on Capitol Hill as senators decide whether to support her confirmation.
If she assumes the role, Means would become the county’s leading public health spokesperson, with the authority to issue health warnings and advisories.
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Other issues that could arise at Thursday’s hearing include Means’ past comments about childhood vaccinations. In May, she wrote in her newsletter that the “total burden” of the current vaccine schedule is “causing health declines in vulnerable children,” and she linked to a Substack post that suggested vaccines cause autism — a claim that scientific evidence has repeatedly debunked.
In May, Lori Comstock reported at Yahoo:
Casey Means has cited "increasing scientific evidence" from a European doctor that links vaccines to autism. In a newsletter on her website, she linked a study from Dr. Chris Exley who opined aluminum in most vaccines given to children "wakes up" the immune system that triggers autism.
She spoke about autism on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in October 2024, saying that while she didn't think one vaccine was causing autism, she suggested it was synergistic, stating, "But what about the 20 (vaccines) that (kids) are getting before 18 months?"
