The chief science officer of Autism Speaks urged parents Thursday to fully vaccinate their children.
In a short statement, Chief Science Officer Rob Ring acknowledged that 20 years of research has extensively explored the connection between autism and vaccines and said, "The results of this research are clear: Vaccines do not cause autism."
The prominent autism advocacy organization has long been pointed to as a proponent of the anti-vaccination movement. Its former CEO resigned over a conflict regarding research funding because Autism Speaks had funded a number of studies that tended toward anti-vaccination, according to The Daily Beast.
The anti-vaccination movement is under special scrutiny because of the current measles outbreak in the U.S., especially in California, where anti-vaccination is prominent. A bill is being considered by the California state legislature to ban the personal belief exemption for vaccines, and the California Department of Public Health is urging all parents to vaccinate their children.