Renowned Nutrition Dietitian and Child Care Specialist Dr. Archita Mahajan, a Master’s degree holder in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Homeopathic Pharmacist, and trained Yoga Teacher, has strongly criticized recent statements made by former US President Donald Trump regarding vaccine and autism.
Dr. Mahajan, who has been nominated for the Padma Bhushan National Award and honored by the Punjab Government, Himachal Pradesh Government, and the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Shri Kavinder Gupta, said that repeated public statements without scientific evidence can create fear among parents.
“Unverified Statements Can Endanger Millions”
She stated that making claims without proper investigation, evidence, or scientific studies is equivalent to putting millions of children’s futures at risk. According to her, if even 20% of parents stop vaccinating their children based on such remarks, previously controlled diseases could resurface rapidly.
Her remarks came after Trump, during a White House press conference alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggested a possible link between the commonly used pain reliever Tylenol (paracetamol) and autism. He also questioned the combined administration of the MMR vaccine.
Fact-Check: Autism Cases in the US
Trump cited data claiming autism rates in the United States have sharply increased over the last two decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022 data showed that approximately 1 in 31 eight-year-old children in 16 US states were diagnosed with autism.
While this reflects an increase compared to earlier years, experts clarify that much of the rise is attributed to improved diagnosis, broader screening, and better awareness rather than vaccines.
MMR Vaccine and Autism: Scientific Evidence
Trump also suggested that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine should possibly be given separately instead of as a combined dose. Health experts have strongly rejected these claims.
The controversy over vaccines and autism first gained global attention in 1998 after a now-retracted study was published in The Lancet by British doctor Andrew Wakefield. The study was later found to be flawed and manipulated. Wakefield’s medical license was revoked in 2010, and the paper was formally withdrawn.
Multiple large-scale studies since then, including a 2019 Denmark study involving 657,461 children, found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
The CDC continues to recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine — first at 12–15 months and second between four to six years of age.
Public Health Experts Raise Alarm
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists described the recent remarks as “concerning” and not based on credible evidence. Meanwhile, the National Autistic Society called the statements “dangerous, anti-science, and irresponsible.”
Dr. Archita Mahajan concluded by urging parents to rely only on verified medical guidance and scientific research when making health decisions for their children. She emphasized that vaccination remains one of the most effective public health measures to prevent life-threatening diseases.
