Weekly CDC News Overview: November 16–22, 2025

This is an overview and analysis of major news about CDC from the past week. In this overview, I describe the major themes from news coverage about CDC, reference important insights and events, and include hyperlinks to all relevant news articles.

CDC autism webpage changes ignite unprecedented backlash

The central story this week was CDC’s sudden change to its autism and vaccine webpage. The revision revives a thoroughly debunked claim that vaccines may cause autism. Scientists, clinicians, parent advocates, and former CDC officials describe this as a profound break from evidence and from CDC’s own history.

• The New York Times detailed how CDC altered its vaccine safety website to align with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s skepticism, after decades of stating that vaccines do not cause autism.
• The New York Times also reported that Kennedy publicly claimed he directed CDC to change the autism language, raising concerns that political pressure is overriding scientific review.
• Associated Press described how the new wording contradicts years of studies that found no causal link between vaccines and autism and now implies that such evidence has been “ignored.”
• PBS NewsHour explained that the revised webpage conflicts with the scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism and quoted experts calling the move a clear rejection of evidence.
• NBC News noted that CDC’s new language omits large, well done studies and instead elevates small or flawed studies that have already been discredited.
• CBS News reported that CDC’s site was changed to include a false claim about vaccines and autism, despite no new scientific evidence justifying a reversal.
• ABC News highlighted that the updated page suggests a link “has been ignored,” even though multiple large studies have found no such association.
• USA Today summarized the change as a shift from evidence-based reassurance to language that public health experts say will fuel vaccine hesitancy.
• NPR reported that CDC “revived” a debunked link between childhood vaccines and autism and quoted experts warning that this will harm trust and coverage.
• People emphasized that the agency reversed its position “despite no scientific evidence,” echoing concerns from pediatricians and families.
• Medscape explained that a debunked vaccine-autism link has been revived on CDC’s updated website and described discomfort among clinicians who rely on CDC guidance.
• KFF Health News (via Medscape) called CDC’s new autism guidance “baseless” and noted that it contradicts systematic reviews and long-standing public health messaging.
• The Atlantic argued that the new page “reads like an anti-vax blog” and framed the change as part of a broader, politically driven rewrite of scientific institutions.
• Los Angeles Times described the updated autism page as filled with “false and misleading statements” that misrepresent the state of the science.
• Mother Jones wrote that the new CDC autism page mirrors anti-vaccine talking points and departs sharply from prior official language.
• Mother Jones separately quoted CDC employees describing the page as “embarrassing” and “horrifying,” reflecting internal dissent over the changes.
• CIDRAP reported that after this “unprecedented” messaging change, scientists and advocates say CDC is “no longer trustworthy” on vaccine safety.
• The Wall Street Journal noted that CDC revised its webpage to say vaccines may cause autism, replacing earlier language that clearly rejected such a link.
• FactCheck.org concluded that the revised autism-vaccine page “is not evidence-based” and misleads readers about the strength and direction of research findings.
• Autism Science Foundation issued a press release stating that CDC’s new autism webpage “distorts science and rejects decades of evidence on vaccine safety.”
• American Academy of Pediatrics responded that the changes undermine trust and reiterated that “vaccines do not cause autism.”
• American Medical Association released a statement criticizing the new wording and reaffirming that the evidence does not support a link between vaccines and autism.
• WBUR reported that Massachusetts officials rebuked the “dangerous” misinformation added to CDC’s website and pledged to maintain fact-based vaccine communication.
• KTLA noted that Los Angeles County public health leaders publicly disputed CDC’s new wording and urged residents to continue routine vaccination.
• CNN covered experts calling the changes a “tremendous disservice to the American public” and warning they will fuel preventable disease outbreaks.
• WCVB profiled a physician who forcefully rebutted claims that vaccines cause autism, emphasizing that “decades of research show no causal link.”
• Instagram content from Dr Noc highlighted that “the myth that autism is linked to vaccines” has been repeatedly debunked in high quality studies.
• MSNBC Opinion published a letter from former CDC officials arguing that RFK Jr.’s changes to vaccine guidance are “propaganda,” not public health.
• The Washington Post described CDC as “in turmoil” after backpedaling on its prior rejection of a vaccine-autism link, citing demoralized staff and external alarm.
• Paul Offit’s Substack published “CDC 1946–2025: R.I.P.,” arguing that the autism webpage change symbolizes the dismantling of the agency’s scientific credibility.
• Your Local Epidemiologist called the new page “one of CDC’s final blows” and explained why the statements are false and harmful to families seeking guidance.
• The Washington Post opinion column “RFK Jr. breaks yet another promise” argued that Kennedy’s interference in CDC communications violates his pledges to respect science.
• The Atlantic and several other outlets linked this episode to broader questions about whether CDC can still serve as a reliable arbiter of vaccine safety.
• MedPage Today fielded a survey asking readers “Do you trust the CDC?” underscoring how quickly the autism webpage change has eroded confidence.

RFK Jr., vaccine policy, and the politicization of public health

Coverage this week also focused on RFK Jr. and the Trump administration’s broader health agenda. Stories described an administration in which long-time vaccine skeptics now control major levers of federal health policy, with implications for the future of CDC, global health, and public trust in science.

• STAT profiled RFK Jr. as “America’s celebrity health secretary” who is “steamrolling science” to deliver on political promises.
• Bloomberg Law reported that RFK Jr.’s ongoing overhaul of CDC adds risk to crisis response by weakening expertise and sidelining career staff.
• The Atlantic described RFK Jr.’s “miasma theory of health,” in which vague environmental explanations displace clear, evidence-based understanding of infectious disease.
• The Bulwark asked whether RFK Jr. is “worse than Trump” on vaccines and argued that his influence could cause deeper long-term damage to public health institutions.
• Gizmodo reported that RFK Jr.’s long-time anti-vaccine allies are now in positions where they can undermine immunization programs from inside government.
• Politico described an internal power struggle over vaccines involving RFK Jr., FDA leaders, and outside advisers, with direct implications for CDC recommendations.
• STAT and KFF Health News documented how figures who opposed mainstream COVID-19 measures now influence ACIP and other advisory processes.
• STAT reported that Trump and RFK Jr. are considering disruptive vaccine policies that alarm manufacturers and could destabilize supply and innovation.
• STAT described how COVID skeptics are winning in court, potentially shrinking vaccine access and constraining CDC’s authority.
• HuffPost and several outlets linked CDC’s autism messaging reversal to a broader pattern of institutional capture by long-time vaccine opponents.
• The Hill quoted a former Surgeon General warning that official vaccine “misinformation” from federal agencies is uniquely dangerous.
• AOL and MedPage Today argued that partisanship is “poisoning” public health and that science has been “lost amidst politics and patchwork state health policy.”
• The Hill reported RFK Jr.’s pledge to “end the war on saturated fats” in new dietary guidelines, illustrating how ideology is reshaping nutritional policy.
• Bloomberg and USA Today covered RFK Jr.’s attempts to link aluminum in vaccines to peanut allergies and detailed how available data do not support this claim.
• STAT reported that RFK Jr.’s renewed warnings about thimerosal in vaccines may undermine confidence not only in the United States but also abroad.
• Rep. Kim Schrier’s office announced that members of the New Democrat Coalition are urging CDC’s vaccine advisory panel to recommit to scientific integrity ahead of a pivotal December meeting.
• Senator Bill Cassidy on X shared a statement on vaccines and autism that sought to re-center discussions on evidence.
• NYC Health Department on X reiterated the city’s commitment to providing factual information and protecting New Yorkers’ health despite shifting federal messages.

Measles, Pertussis, Flu, and Eroding Vaccine Access

Alongside the autism controversy, reporters highlighted active measles and pertussis outbreaks, declining childhood vaccination, and emerging barriers to vaccine access. Many of these stories explicitly questioned how a weakened CDC will manage routine immunization in this environment.

• NBC News warned that measles outbreaks in Arizona and Utah could end the United States’ measles elimination status.
• The New York Times reported that CDC has linked measles outbreaks in multiple states for the first time, highlighting interconnected vulnerability.
• CIDRAP noted that a Texas measles outbreak may have spurred some parents to vaccinate infants, even as CDC’s response lagged.
• Greenville News reported five additional measles cases in Spartanburg, three with unknown sources, suggesting undetected transmission.
• The Hill covered Canada’s loss of measles elimination status and warned that the United States is “close behind” as vaccination rates decline.
• KFF Health News described how waning immunity and falling vaccination rates are fueling pertussis outbreaks, especially in Texas.
• Science News argued that eroding access to childhood vaccines jeopardizes health for all, not just unvaccinated children.
• PBS NewsHour reported that Colorado leaders are working to protect vaccine access as the Trump administration casts doubt on vaccine safety.
• Healthbeat explained that Idaho’s Medical Freedom Act “disarms public health” by restricting tools needed to manage infectious disease threats.
• The Conversation described how off-label use of COVID-19 vaccines, once discouraged, has become common amid confusing new guidelines.
• Axios reported that recent changes to COVID shot guidance have not significantly shifted public attitudes.
• KERA News highlighted confusion among North Texas patients and providers due to inconsistent federal vaccine recommendations.
• Health Affairs argued that when CDC’s vaccine advisory committee abandons clarity, public health suffers and uptake declines.
• The Hill summarized Pew polling that shows overall confidence in childhood vaccines remains a majority view but has fallen sharply among Republicans.
• CIDRAP and related coverage also connected uncertainty about CDC’s prion unit to anxiety about emerging infections such as chronic wasting disease.
• Becker’s Hospital Review noted that emergency department visits for influenza in children are rising, as CDC flu data were updated for the first time in two months.
• CBS News quoted Senator Bill Cassidy saying he is “very concerned” about a possible hepatitis B vaccine schedule change.

CDC and NIH capacity, research, and workforce under pressure

Multiple reports described structural damage to CDC and NIH: loss of research units, shutdown-related disruptions, politicized hiring, and the emergence of mutual aid efforts among current and former staff. These stories convey CDC struggling to maintain basic functions while under sustained political pressure.

• CIDRAP warned about the “tenuous status” of CDC’s prion unit and the implications for monitoring chronic wasting disease and human risk.
• Science reported that CDC plans to end all monkey research, raising questions about future vaccine and pathogen studies that rely on nonhuman primate models.
• WABE’s Fresh Air described the CDC Mutual Aid Network, which aims to “save public health” and provide financial assistance to former and current employees displaced by recent changes.
• The Boston Globe quoted a former CDC director saying that changes at the agency are “just devastating for me to watch.”
• Live Science reported former CDC officials who said they “do not know if CDC will survive” in its current form, describing a “disintegration” under RFK Jr.
• Association of Health Care Journalists hosted insider perspectives on trust, public health reporting, and CDC’s shrinking ability to communicate clearly.
• Axios reported that health data are “staggering back” after the government shutdown, with CDC slow to restore key COVID and flu surveillance products.
• ASTHO summarized lessons from the 2025 and 2018–2019 shutdowns, highlighting delayed surveillance and weakened preparedness.
• Partnership for Public Service reported that the public is noticing the impact of Trump administration cuts to the federal workforce and government programs, including health agencies.
• Federal News Network examined what happens next with shutdown-related Hatch Act complaints and their implications for agency leadership.
• MedPage Today reported that NIH job postings are raising red flags for scientists who see political litmus tests creeping into hiring.
• MedPage Today also summarized a study showing that NIH budget cuts disrupted hundreds of clinical trials, with long-term consequences for patients and research capacity.
• STAT and Bloomberg described new HHS and CDC initiatives, including hepatitis B screening and workforce investments, which may partially offset cuts elsewhere.
• Reuters noted that proposed CDC programs still face “huge funding gaps,” especially in global health and HIV prevention.
• Healthbeat highlighted a “too quiet” public health success story, underscoring how routine progress can be overshadowed by political crises.

HIV, cancer, and global health equity at risk

Several pieces examined how U.S. policy shifts are weakening long-standing protections against HIV and cancer, both domestically and globally. These stories emphasize that CDC’s challenges occur alongside shrinking international commitments and new barriers to care for marginalized groups.

• The 19th reported that America’s most basic HIV protections are in danger, with a decade of progress starting to unravel.
• Bloomberg noted that China is boosting South Africa’s HIV efforts while huge U.S. funding gaps remain.
• The Washington Post reported that Trump’s HIV prevention plan shuts out South Africa, the country most affected by HIV.
• CNN described how U.S. funding cuts imperil global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer through HPV vaccination.
• The Emory Wheel argued that as HIV surges, Emory must lead in prevention, including by supporting evidence-based CDC guidance.
• KFF Health News reported that U.S. cancer registries, constrained by Trump policies, will recognize only “male” or “female” patients, complicating surveillance for transgender people.
• Medscape covered HHS remarks that some doctors “betrayed their oath” with transgender care in minors, illustrating how contentious debates over gender identity now intersect with data and surveillance policies.

Infant formula botulism outbreak, food safety, and environmental exposures

Outside vaccines, several stories focused on food safety scares and chronic disease risk factors. Coverage emphasized how weakened federal oversight, industrial practices, and shifting cultural norms can quietly reshape health risks.

• Daily Mail reported that more infants have been hospitalized as FDA and CDC investigate toxic ByHeart formula linked to botulism.
• Daily Mail shared parents’ accounts that their babies were “poisoned” by recalled formula contaminated with a deadly toxin.
• The Atlantic argued that America has a baby-formula problem again and examined regulatory gaps that allowed repeat crises.
• CNN reported that scientists are criticizing food manufacturers for massive profits from unhealthy ultraprocessed foods, with consequences for obesity and chronic disease.
• CNN covered a study finding that fluoride in drinking water does not harm cognitive ability and may even provide benefit, countering long-running myths.

Other public health signals to watch

Finally, the week’s reporting included important signals about influenza, H5N1, occupational hazards, and public confidence in federal health agencies. Each of these snapshots underscores how fragile health protection can become when institutions are weakened.

• Nature Medicine published an analysis of human infections with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the United States from March 2024 to May 2025, underscoring zoonotic risk.
• NBC News reported that senators proposed a bill to require PPE for wildland firefighters, though some lawmakers expressed reservations.
• Fox News warned that pop culture is embracing smoking as “cool” again, with Gen Z watching and potentially emulating these behaviors.