NAIROBI, Kenya – A significant policy shift within the United States government’s top public health agency has ignited alarm among health experts in Kenya, who fear it could unravel decades of progress in disease prevention. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) altered its website to suggest a possible link between vaccines and autism, a claim overwhelmingly refuted by global scientific consensus. The move, reflecting the long-held beliefs of U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., risks eroding public trust in vaccinations far beyond American borders.

For Kenya, the implications are direct and severe. The United States is a primary partner in the nation's public health sector, providing hundreds of millions of dollars annually through programs like the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This funding is foundational to Kenya’s efforts to combat HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and supports essential childhood immunisation campaigns. Health officials are concerned that legitimising discredited theories at such a high level could bolster local vaccine hesitancy, jeopardising national campaigns against diseases like measles, rubella, and polio.

Details of the Policy Shift

The changes to the CDC’s “Vaccine Safety” webpage, which career scientists at the agency were reportedly not consulted on, include new language stating, “The statement ‘Vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim.” It further adds that “Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” This revision directly contradicts the previously unequivocal statement, which was based on decades of rigorous research. The original assertion that “vaccines do not cause autism” remains on the page but is now appended with an asterisk. A footnote explains its retention is due to a prior agreement with Senator Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor who confirmed Kennedy’s appointment on the condition that such established scientific statements would not be removed.

The appointment of Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaccine activist, to lead HHS has been a point of contention in the global health community. The website alteration is seen by many as the imposition of his personal ideology on a globally respected scientific institution. The Autism Science Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics immediately condemned the change, labelling it a distortion filled with “outright lies” that amplifies false claims.

Overwhelming Scientific Consensus

The global medical and scientific communities remain united in their conclusion that there is no causal link between vaccines and autism. This consensus is built on numerous large-scale studies conducted across multiple countries over several decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly confirmed that vaccines do not cause autism, stating that the original 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield that sparked the theory was fraudulent and has been retracted. Major health bodies, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), continue to promote vaccination as a safe and essential tool for public health, working to combat the very misinformation now appearing on the U.S. CDC’s site.

Potential Impact on Kenya and East Africa

Recent studies in Kenya have shown that vaccine hesitancy, while having decreased since 2021, remains a significant challenge, often fueled by misinformation regarding side effects and a lack of trust in health authorities. The U.S. CDC has historically been a trusted source of information for national bodies like Kenya’s Ministry of Health. The recent change threatens to undermine this relationship and provide ammunition to anti-vaccination movements in the region.

This development comes at a precarious time, as recent cuts in U.S. foreign aid have already strained Kenya's health system, impacting programs for HIV, immunisation, and health data systems. Any increase in vaccine refusal could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases, placing further strain on an already challenged healthcare infrastructure and reversing hard-won public health gains. Health experts in Nairobi and across the continent are now closely watching for the ripple effects of this American policy shift, stressing the urgent need for clear, consistent, and science-backed communication to protect the health of millions of children.