Quarter of 30,000 Americans Falsely Link Child Vaccines, Tylenol and Autism

What the survey found

Researchers collected responses online from 30,288 adults in every state and Washington, D.C. The survey found widespread endorsement of false or unproven ideas about autism risk factors. Men, Republicans, adults aged 35 to 44, and people who were Black or Hispanic were more likely to accept those beliefs. Greater confidence in scientific and medical institutions was associated with lower endorsement, the researchers said.

Trust and information sources

The researchers, based in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, suggested that weaker trust in established public health sources may help explain the findings. The pandemic and the introduction of Covid vaccines have also been associated with increased vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Despite social media’s role as a source of misleading information, survey responses showed no connection between social media use and these beliefs. The researchers proposed that people with less social media use might also have less access to reliable health information.

Claims about autism causes

President Donald Trump has claimed, without proof, that Tylenol is linked to autism and has also connected autism with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Republican leaders, including Robert Kennedy Jr., have promoted ideas about vaccination and autism.

Autism affects learning and communication, but experiences vary from person to person. Known risk factors include genetic history, air pollution or certain pesticides, low birth weight or birth complications, advanced parental age, and some maternal health conditions.

Evidence on vaccines

Autism Speaks says vaccines do not cause autism, despite concerns arising because diagnosis often occurs around the time children receive routine vaccinations. Decades of scientific research have found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.