Story perspectives

Senate Health Committee Delays CDC Director Vote, Adds Autism Disclaimer

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Senate Health Committee postponed vote on Dr. Erica Schwartz’s CDC director nomination because Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was absent.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will support Dr. Erica Schwartz, saying she knows what she is doing.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will vote against Dr. Erica Schwartz, questioning her ability to resist pressure.
HHS added a disclaimer to the CDC autism-vaccines page “Vaccines do not cause autism is not an evidence-based claim.”

History

Historical Context

In February 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a Lancet paper on twelve children linking the MMR vaccine to autism. Investigations exposed fraud, leading to the paper’s retraction in 2010 and the CDC’s 2004 safety report confirming no causal link. The lingering mistrust fuels today’s partisan fight over Dr. Erica Schwartz’s CDC director nomination, prompting HHS to add a disclaimer rejecting the autism-vaccine claim.

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Story summary

Senate Health Committee postponed vote on Dr. Erica Schwartz’s CDC director nomination because Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was absent.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will support Dr. Erica Schwartz, saying she knows what she is doing.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will vote against Dr. Erica Schwartz, questioning her ability to resist pressure.
HHS added a disclaimer to the CDC autism-vaccines page “Vaccines do not cause autism is not an evidence-based claim.”

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