U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed Children’s Health Defense (CHD), a nonprofit he founded, to remove a misleading web page designed to resemble the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) site. The page, which falsely suggested a link between vaccines and autism, was taken down on Saturday evening after media inquiries and widespread social media attention.
A statement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the directive, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to evidence-based science.
“Secretary Kennedy has instructed the Office of the General Counsel to send a formal demand to Children’s Health Defense requesting the removal of their website,” HHS stated. “At HHS, we are dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science.”
Fake CDC Page Promoted Discredited Vaccine-Autism Link
The now-deleted page was found on a website registered to CHD. It closely mimicked the CDC’s design, incorporating the agency’s logos, typefaces, and layout—potentially violating federal copyright laws. Unlike the CDC’s official stance, which clearly states that vaccines do not cause autism, the fake page left open the possibility of such a connection, citing studies that have been widely debunked.
The page also featured video testimonials from parents claiming their children were harmed by vaccines, further fueling vaccine misinformation. The original publication of the page was first reported by E. Rosalie Li, founder of the Information Epidemiology Lab, on Substack.
Children’s Health Defense Silent on Controversy
CHD has not publicly addressed the controversy or responded to media inquiries. Kennedy, who ran an independent presidential campaign in 2023, has claimed that he severed ties with the organization upon entering the race. However, he has long maintained that a connection exists between vaccines and autism, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. His position on the issue was scrutinized during his Senate confirmation hearings.
CDC Plans to Reassess Vaccine-Autism Research
Amid the controversy, the CDC, under Kennedy’s leadership, recently announced plans to re-examine vaccine safety research. This decision has sparked criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chairman of the Senate Health Committee, who called it “a waste of money.”
Public health experts have expressed concerns that such a review could lend credibility to discredited theories. Dr. Bruce Gellin, former director of HHS’s vaccine program, warned that the fake CHD page “blended legitimate peer-reviewed studies with bogus claims to create a false impression of scientific legitimacy.”
CHD’s Role in West Texas Measles Outbreak
Beyond the fake webpage, CHD has also been involved in the recent measles outbreak in West Texas. The organization’s media platform, CHD.TV, aired an interview with the parents of a 6-year-old girl who died from measles—the first reported measles death in the U.S. in a decade. The child was unvaccinated and had no underlying medical conditions, according to health officials.
Despite the Texas health department’s official report, CHD questioned the cause of death, claiming to have obtained hospital records that contradicted the state’s findings. The group also featured Dr. Ben Edwards, a Texas-based alternative medicine practitioner, who has been vocal about vaccine skepticism. Edwards was among the doctors Kennedy consulted regarding the outbreak.
Medical Experts and Hospitals Push Back
Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, where the girl was treated, issued a statement rejecting CHD’s claims. “A recent video circulating online contains misleading and inaccurate claims,” the hospital stated, adding that federal confidentiality laws prevent them from discussing specific patient cases.
Health officials warn that vaccine misinformation, particularly from high-profile sources, could have dangerous public health consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC continue to stress that vaccines are safe, effective, and essential in preventing deadly diseases.
Kennedy’s directive to remove the fake CDC webpage marks an effort to distance the federal health agencies from vaccine misinformation. However, the incident underscores the persistent challenges public health officials face in combating false claims about vaccines. As the CDC reassesses vaccine safety research under Kennedy’s leadership, experts remain cautious about how such efforts will impact public trust in vaccination programs.
