Sen. Mullin’s Misleading Vaccine Testing Claim

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, misleadingly suggested that vaccines might cause autism because “there’s not been a direct study on each individual vaccine.” While he’s technically right about the studies, multiple vaccines and ingredients have been extensively tested, turning up no credible links. Moreover, research shows autism begins to develop well before any childhood vaccines are given. Mullin’s comment came in a Nov. 17 exchange with host Kristen Welker, who asked if Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccines were a “deal breaker” in confirming Kennedy as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, as we have written, is a vocal advocate against vaccination and co-founder of the anti-vaccination group Children’s Health Defense. “No, I absolutely appreciate Bobby Kennedy taking a hard look at the vaccines,” Mullin replied, adding that he found Kennedy, a lawyer, “extremely intelligent when it comes to this stuff” and that “some of the stuff does raise a lot of questions.” Noting that Mullin had previously said vaccines are safe and effective, Welker again asked Mullin whether he was...