Opinion HHS wastes gov money funding a long-discredited researcher and vaccine skeptic who will conduct a government study on whether vaccines cause autism.

[Andy Capp]

The autism spike is most likely related to awareness and parents knowing what signs to look for and getting their kids assessed. There's far more information freely available on the internet.

Without looking I would guess there's also been a spike in ADHD cases for the same reason though I could be wrong

I wasn't diagnosed with either of them until I was in my 50's. When I was in elementary school, people like me were more likely to be abused by frustrated teachers than accepted by anyone.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

When you look at the movements that really led to the modern day right-wing in America, it’s really prosperity gospel mixed with Bircherism. Anti-intellectualism, snake oil salesman, and persecution fetishes.

Sarah Palin getting nominated should have been a real wake up call, but it was really only a preview.

- That's or right-wing movement here. They elect full deplorable and incompent people, lol, even Bolsonaro yungest son got elected here. @BlankaPresident @Cuauhtemoc can shime here.

Theres no big diference on the righ channels in Youtube here and america, as far i've seen.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

Trump administration at ‘war’ with mRNA technology: scientists alarmed vaccine skeptics could kill research​

Public health experts are sounding the alarm over recent move by the NIH to collect information about funding for research into mRNA technology

Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington and Jessica Glenza in New York

A cutting-edge technology expected to foster new medical breakthroughs in treatments for cancers and infectious disease is being treated “like a four-letter word” inside the Trump administration, causing panic among scientists who fear Trump-appointed health officials, driven by misinformation and conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 vaccine, will cut critical research in the field.

Scientists and public health experts interviewed by the Guardian are sounding the alarm over a recent move by the National Institutes of Health to collect information about funding for research into mRNA technology.

Some fear it is the first step in a move to cut or defund grants that involve the technology, which was an essential component in the rapid creation of vaccines against Covid-19, a major accomplishment of the first Trump term in fighting the pandemic.

Messenger RNA technology, which in the case of Covid-19 teaches the body to fight infection by introducing immune cells to the coronavirus’s characteristic spike proteins, is being tested for use against diseases ranging from bird flu and dengue, to pancreatic cancer and melanoma.

While the NIH has not formally stated that it is cutting mRNA vaccine and therapy research, scientists who were interviewed by the Guardian said they have been told informally that the NIH is performing key word searches on grants that mention mRNA vaccine-related technology and related phrases.

“Colleagues have also been advised not to apply for mRNA vaccine grants. This is all through the grapevine. There has not been an official statement about it,” said one New York-based scientist.

The NIH confirmed in a statement to the Guardian that it made a “data call” to learn more information about the funding of mRNA vaccine grants. Nature, the scientific journal, first reported the data call, and said it had been conducted by the acting NIH director, Matthew Memoli, on 6 March. Scientists were given one day to report the information, and NIH collected information about 130 mRNA grants as a result.

Many of the scientists, public health experts and medical researchers interviewed by the Guardian spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing that they might be targeted if they expressed concerns publicly.

One former senior NIH official who resigned recently said what was happening inside the organization was “not understandable”.

“So far, any attempt at reasoning with people has fallen on deaf ears. Everything is being run by the department [Department of Health and Human Services] or the White House,” the person said. KFF Health News separately reported that all grants involving mRNA research were to be reported to Memoli, for referral to the office of the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, and the White House.


Adding to concerns is the administration’s February decision to review a nearly $600m contract between HHS and Moderna, which was set to fund research into potential mRNA vaccines against five flu subtypes, including H5N1 or bird flu.

The person said: “mRNA has become the new four letter word. I mean, it’s crazy. It goes beyond just anti-vax,” referring to the anti-vaccine movement in the US. “It’s about anything associated with the Covid response, which has been weaponized by extreme people in the administration,” the person added.

Paul Offit, director of the vaccine education center and an attending physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said he knew of one researcher working on mRNA technology who had their grants “flagged”.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t get it, but it is worrisome that they might not get it,” he said. “There seems to be a war against mRNA technology. ‘Why?’ is the question.”

Most experts agree that it relates to the politicization of the pandemic and misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccines.

“Prior to the pandemic, even anti-vaccine groups were not focused on mRNA vaccines,” said Dorit Rubinstein Reiss, an expert in vaccine law and professor at the University of California College of Law in San Francisco.

Most prominent among Trump’s vaccine skeptics is Kennedy, the recently confirmed head of HHS. Kennedy criticized mRNA vaccines while he led the anti-vaccine non-profit Children’s Health Defense. In 2021, the group then led by Kennedy filed a petition to the FDA to revoke emergency approval of Covid-19 vaccines, “because the current risks of serious adverse events or deaths outweigh the benefits”.

Studies later showed that claim was inaccurate. A study by the Commonwealth Fund found that Covid-19 vaccines saved 3.2 million American lives and prevented more than 18 million hospitalizations through November 2022.

Kennedy denied being anti-vaccine in Senate confirmation hearings.

Others promoted into positions of power in the Trump administration also questioned Covid-19 strategies; Dr Jay Bhattacharya, who is expected to be confirmed as the new director of the NIH, and Martin Makary, who has just been confirmed as the new head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Jonathan Howard, a New York neurologist who closely tracked medical misinformation over the last four years, has been critical of both Bhattacharya and Makary, who Howard has alleged sought to try to convince people that the world overreacted to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bhattacharya was one of three authors of the Great Barrington declaration, a statement that argued against Covid-19 lockdowns in favor of so-called herd immunity. Signed in October 2020 on the campus of the right-leaning American Institute for Economic Research, the declaration called for isolating the “old and infirm” and allowing people less vulnerable to death from Covid-19 to socialize.

“Keeping [lockdown] measures in place until a vaccine is available will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately harmed,” the declaration said. “Those who are not vulnerable should immediately be allowed to resume life as normal.”

The statement was widely criticized for oversimplifying the protection of the vulnerable. Vaccines would become available just two months later, in December 2020.


In a post on X in June 2024, Bhattacharya said he would support pulling the regulatory authorization for the marketing of the Covid mRNA vaccines. While he said he initially hesitated to sign on to a petition calling for the move, he had been convinced that doing so would lead to “good clinical trial evidence testing” to check whether some patient groups still benefit from the vaccine.

Makary is not anti-vaccine, but in June 2021 suggested parents should “think twice” before giving the Covid vaccine to healthy children. In an article he also said he was not aware of a single case of a healthy child who had died of Covid-19. Scientific studies at the time did, however, report that healthy children had died of the virus.

Three experts, including two who have closely monitored the growth of the anti-Covid vaccine movement in the US, said they believed that any opposition to mRNA-related research may influence others under the HHS umbrella, including the FDA, which regulates the approval of drugs and therapies.

“I am sure companies will continue to invest in mRNA research. The key will be whether the FDA will continue to approve mRNA vaccines,” said a former senior NIH official. “That to me is the big question because if there is a concerted effort to erase anything related to mRNA vaccines, then obviously support for research is only one aspect. Hopefully, they are not going to do that, but I don’t have much hope for this crowd.”

Another former senior official, who worked on the deployment of the Covid-19 vaccine during the Biden administration, said he had not seen any evidence to suggest that the FDA would take any unilateral position against approval of drugs and therapies that use mRNA technology.

The person pointed to the fact that Dr Peter Marks, who serves as the FDA’s center for biologics evaluation and research, which is responsible for assuring the safety and efficacy of products including vaccines, was still in his job. The former official said he believed Marks would, in effect, serve as a “guardrail” to protect the drug approval process against politicization.

The Guardian asked the FDA about its position on reviewing mRNA vaccines, and whether its position was under review. The Guardian also asked the FDA to comment on concerns among scientists about whether such vaccines will continue to be given approval by the FDA. The FDA did not directly respond to the questions.

It said in a statement: “The FDA is a science-based regulatory agency that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of all products based upon data submitted by sponsors and the totality of the available scientific evidence … The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. People should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get a vaccine and should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines.”

The Guardian contacted Pfizer, Moderna, Merck and PhRMA, the drug industry’s lobbying group, to ask whether the Trump administration’s apparent mistrust of mRNA vaccines was an area of concern. None responded to the Guardian’s questions.

“I don’t know when the shoe is going to drop. As a vaccine researcher we are all extremely nervous about what can happen to research funding,” said the New York scientist who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “There is no Plan B. It is economic madness as well as the elimination of a powerful technology against future pandemics. It is a freaking nightmare.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/27/trump-vaccine-skeptics-research-funding

 

[PhitePhan]

"lol... I knew of no one in any of my classes in school who had autism growing up. No one.."

And this is my point, neither did I as almost no one was diagnosed with Autism back then. I knew some kids (as I'm sure you did) that were a little weird, awkward, slow and what we called retarded back in the late 70s and 80s. You see, they existed, but they weren't classified back then like they are now. That's why we are seeing more cases today, because we are actually diagnosing and classifying them.

You're asking what happened to me over the years? Well I grew up and learned the science and more importantly the scientific method. I definitely don't have all the answers but I'm certainly not naive. I know that there's bad actors and corruption in every human endeavor but I understand enough to know that there are also hard working, honest people working in the fields of science and government. Believing in mass conspiracies where everyone with more education and/or in a position of authority over you is part of a cabal to give people autism, physical ailments and steal all of your money with a goal to control the world seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Do you really believe this is the case?

Below is the current diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Is it your contention that 1/36 kids were exhibiting these symptoms/behaviors for the past several decades (or forever?) and we just called it something else?

These aren’t just “slow” or “awkward” kids, autism spectrum is unique and includes notable issues, such as repetitive behaviors (eg hand flapping) and communication and socio-emotional deficits (eg poor eye contact and lack of reciprocation).

Autism spectrum disorder DSM-5 diagnostic criteria: Full text​

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text):

1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.

Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior.

B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):

1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases).
2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns or verbal nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day).
3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g, strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interest).
4. Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement).

Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.

C. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities or may be masked by learned strategies in later life).

D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.

E. These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level.

Note: Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Individuals who have marked deficits in social communication, but whose symptoms do not otherwise meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder, should be evaluated for social (pragmatic) communication disorder.

Specify if:

• With or without accompanying intellectual impairment
• With or without accompanying language impairment
  • (Coding note: Use additional code to identify the associated medical or genetic condition.)
• Associated with another neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder

Can you show that other conditions (eg intellectual disability) have decreased as autism rates are rising?

 

[PBAC]

This is like making the ancient aliens guy the head of space force

 

[jefferz]

Wait are you serious? Would you pay one of those "I speak to dead people" con artists to verify the existence of an afterlife for you with this mentality?

It shouldn't surprise you.
The Trump admin invited that demon jizz lady to the White House during Covid.

 

[Voodoo_Child906]

Below is the current diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Is it your contention that 1/36 kids were exhibiting these symptoms/behaviors for the past several decades (or forever?) and we just called it something else?

These aren’t just “slow” or “awkward” kids, autism spectrum is unique and includes notable issues, such as repetitive behaviors (eg hand flapping) and communication and socio-emotional deficits (eg poor eye contact and lack of reciprocation).

Autism spectrum disorder DSM-5 diagnostic criteria: Full text​

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text):

1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.

Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior.

B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):

1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases).
2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns or verbal nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day).
3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g, strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interest).
4. Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement).

Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.

C. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities or may be masked by learned strategies in later life).

D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.

E. These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level.

Note: Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Individuals who have marked deficits in social communication, but whose symptoms do not otherwise meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder, should be evaluated for social (pragmatic) communication disorder.

Specify if:

• With or without accompanying intellectual impairment
• With or without accompanying language impairment
  • (Coding note: Use additional code to identify the associated medical or genetic condition.)
• Associated with another neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder

What you cited was the current diagnostic criteria, it didn't exist back when I was in school, and I would never give a precise estimate (1/36) or even a range as we just don't have the data. What I'm suggesting is that we didn't even consider mild deficits in social communication/interaction; and mild restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior part of ASD so it was historically underdiagnosed and we didn't call it anything.

Can you show that other conditions (eg intellectual disability) have decreased as autism rates are rising?

I don't think that we'd actually see that kind of correlation or shift. Deficits in social communication/interaction wouldn't typically be classified as an intellectual disability back then as it was primarily diagnosed as a deficit in such things such as reasoning, problem-solving, and daily living skills.

 

[fedoriswar37]

The autism spike is most likely related to awareness and parents knowing what signs to look for and getting their kids assessed. There's far more information freely available on the internet.

Without looking I would guess there's also been a spike in ADHD cases for the same reason though I could be wrong

I mean ADHD I think could be interesting down the road to study in a breakdown of pre and post internet. Once a couple generations of people who were born into and lived in a world with endless screens and sensory overload.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I mean ADHD I think could be interesting down the road to study in a breakdown of pre and post internet. Once a couple generations of people who were born into and lived in a world with endless screens and sensory overload.

You're going to run into the same issue though. While it's certainly possible that it's a contributing factor people simply weren't aware of ADHD enough until relatively recently.