In a rant that displayed ignorance, stupidity, and cruelty, United States Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr. made comments about people with autism that demonstrated how unfit he is for the job he holds. He said on Wednesday that autism was preventable, contradicting researchers within his own agency regarding what is the primary driver behind the rising rates of the disorder in young children.

Kennedy made his comments at a news conference responding to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that showed the rates of autism have increased to one in 31 among eight-year-old children. This continues a 25-year trend of rising autism rates in this age group.

Kennedy’s Misguided Comments

Kennedy blamed environmental factors for the increase disregarding the scientific research into genetics that shows a vital link to the development of autism. Regarding this research Kennedy said.

“That there is a myth of epidemic denial when it came to autism. “Genes don’t cause epidemics. “You need an environmental toxin.”

Mr. Kennedy reiterated that under his leadership, his department would focus on looking into certain substances, such as mold and food additives, and parental obesity to try to stem the tide of rising rates of autism in children. Kennedy did not specifically mention vaccines in his remarks as a cause of the disorder in his remarks yesterday, but he has long sought to tie children’s vaccinations to the increase in autism rates. Kennedy went on to say.

“These are kids who, many of them, were fully functional and regressed because of some environmental exposure into autism when they’re 2 years old.” 

Now the Truth

While Scientists have not ruled out the possibility that both genes and environmental factors could be factors in whether a child develops the disorder, there is no evidence to suggest that autism can be avoided. There was an immediate criticism regarding his remarks. Christopher Banks, CEO of the Autism Society of America has rebuked Kennedy’s claims stating.

“Claiming that Autism is ‘preventable’ is not science based, and places unnecessary blame on people, parents and families. Autism is not a chronic disease, nor a childhood disease, it is a lifelong developmental condition; it is not an epidemic, nor should it be compared to the Covid-19 pandemic, and using language like that perpetuates falsehoods, stigma and stereotypes. The prevalence rates tell us that there is progress when it relates to improved screening and diagnostics, AND it emphasizes the need for more robust, comprehensive research and data rooted in credible methodologies.”

More on Kennedy

Kennedy has long run afoul of the medical community. His most recent ongoing confrontation is on the need for the measles vaccine. He has long been a proponent of the disbarred physician, Dr. Andrew Wakefield who theorized that the measles vaccine caused gastrointestinal problems that led to autism. His findings have never been duplicated.

Kennedy as of late as softened his view on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, now declaring that the vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the virus’ spread. This of course stops far short of an endorsement of the vaccine. His turnabout regarding the vaccine stems from the incresing total of measles cases in the U.S. Recently, the reported number of cases in this country has risen to 700 spread out among eight states. In reality, the number of cases and states involved are probably much larger.

He has also suggested that measles cases are inevitable in the United States because of the waning immunity from vaccines. Most doctors agree that this theory is completely false. When Kennedy was a private citizen, it was easy to laugh off his bogus claims about diseases and vaccines. One could chalk it up to the ravings of a delusional person. But now that he is at the center of medicine and science in this country, it is no longer a laughing matter.