One Quarter of Adults Link Vaccines to Autism
A survey of 30,288 U.S. adults found a quarter believe childhood vaccines and prenatal acetaminophen are tied to autism.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Autism
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A survey of 30,288 adults across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. found one quarter believe childhood vaccination is linked to autism, and one quarter believe acetaminophen use during pregnancy is linked to autism. Endorsement was higher among men, Republicans, adults aged 35-44, and Black or Hispanic respondents.
Why it matters
The findings may reflect diminished trust in traditional sources of public health, at a time when Republican leaders including Robert Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump have promoted these beliefs. Decades of scientific research have confirmed vaccines do not cause autism, and no research has proven that taking Tylenol causes autism.
The survey covered 30,288 adults, with one quarter endorsing each belief, compared against the roughly 1 in 45 U.S. adults diagnosed with autism per Autism Speaks. Whether the endorsement levels have changed over time was not addressed in the findings.
The players
Robert Kennedy Jr.
Robert Kennedy Jr. is a Republican leader who has promoted beliefs linking vaccines to autism.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States who has promoted a Tylenol-autism claim and signed an executive order splitting the MMR vaccine.
The details
Researchers recorded the survey online from adults in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. In August, Trump signed an executive order to split the MMR vaccine into separate shots, and over a year before publication he claimed without proof that Tylenol is linked to autism.
Timeline
August 2025: Trump signed an executive order to split the MMR vaccine into separate shots.
Approximately 2025: Trump claimed without proof that Tylenol is linked to autism.
November 6, 2026: Survey findings on autism beliefs were published.
Health Landscape
The persistence of the vaccine-autism belief decades after the 1998 Wakefield paper, which was later retracted, shows how a discredited claim can continue shaping public opinion. The new survey extends that pattern by documenting a parallel belief about prenatal acetaminophen.
Parents weighing childhood vaccination or pregnancy medication decisions are being exposed to widely circulated claims that scientific research has not supported. Decades of research have confirmed vaccines do not cause autism, and no research has proven that taking Tylenol causes autism.
The takeaway
Readers evaluating health claims about vaccines or medications in pregnancy should check whether they are supported by peer-reviewed research and consult their healthcare providers. Trust in scientific and medical institutions was associated with lower endorsement of these beliefs in the survey.
Further reading
For more background on the condition at the center of these beliefs, see Autism coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent.
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