09/24/2025
As a pediatrician and as a dad of a child with autism, I feel compelled to push back on today’s announcement that attempts to link Tylenol use in pregnancy as primary causes of autism. The problem is: it’s full of misinformation, plays into stigma, and does a disservice to families already doing the hard work of understanding what autism is. 🧩
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Decades of rigorous research have shown that vaccines do not cause autism and the research they are using to say Tylenol causes autism is inconsistent with other larger studies.
What does matter is early diagnosis, supportive interventions, acceptance, and respecting the individuality of each child.
When public figures propagate unproven claims, they fuel fear, erode trust in immunizations (which keep kids safe from serious disease), and increase guilt in parents who are already trying to understand a diagnosis.
They also spread misinformation about vaccines during this press conference; examples being saying vaccines need to be spaced out etc.
As a father, I’ve seen how harmful stigma can be, children are not “injured” or “broken,” they are who they are. We need more compassion, less sensationalism. And as a physician, I urge everyone to insist on evidence: let’s follow the science, not politicize it.
Our kids deserve honesty, respect, and support not scapegoating.
The press conference is still ongoing but I will give more updates as it continues
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