Former orthopedic surgeon and presidential nominee for the HHS top spot, Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Ga., faced a litany of questions from Senate Democrats during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Tucked away amid the flurry of questions on stock trades, tax history and plans to repeal the ACA was a question on the link between vaccines and autism.
When asked if vaccines cause autism, Dr. Price said, "The science on that is that it does not," according U.S. News & World Report.
The answer may come as a relief to some in the scientific community as President Donald Trump has previously taken to Twitter and given credence to the disproven claim that vaccines cause autism.
On Jan. 10, then President-elect Trump met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and outspoken vaccine critic. During the meeting, the two parties discussed the possible launch of a "vaccine safety and scientific integrity" commission, according to Mr. Kennedy.
While Mr. Kennedy said the president asked him to lead the commission during the Jan. 10 meeting, President Trump's team disputed the claim and said no decision on such a commission had been made. They did, however, say a committee on autism was under consideration, according to U.S. News.
More articles on infection control:
3k patients of MUSC Health warned of heater-cooler-related infection risks
Experts reveal new information on heater-cooler-related infections: 7 things to know
CDC awards URMC $9M to study emerging infections