President Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy jr. recently revived debunked claims linking Tylenol use during pregnancy and childhood vaccinations to autism, sparking renewed concern over teh spread of medical misinformation. The claims,made during a press conference this week,echo a conspiracy theory originating in the UK in 1998 with the publication of fraudulent research by former doctor andrew Wakefield.
the resurgence of these ideas underscores a decades-long effort to discredit vaccine science and highlights the vulnerability of public health to disinformation. The Wakefield theory, linking the MMR vaccine to autism, has been thoroughly debunked, yet continues to influence anti-vaccine sentiment, with potentially serious consequences for public health.
Today’s episode of The Global Story from BBC World service features science journalist Adam Rutherford, who details how Wakefield’s discredited research became a major medical disinformation event and gained traction within the Trump governance. Rutherford examines the origins and spread of the conspiracy,tracing its roots back to Wakefield’s 1998 publication and its subsequent impact on public trust in vaccines.
The Global Story provides clarity on global politics, business, and foreign policy, examining how decisions made in the U.S. – and by the current administration – both reflect and accelerate worldwide change.New episodes are available by searching ‘The Global Story’ wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.The program is hosted by Asma Khalid in DC and Tristan Redman in London, with support from the BBC’s international newsroom.
