What Did Kennedy Claim In The Past About The Vaccine-Autism Theory
Kennedy’s association with the vaccine-autism debate stretches back nearly 20 years. In 2005, he authored a story co-published by Rolling Stone and Salon alleging that thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative once used in some vaccines, was responsible for what he described as an epidemic of childhood neurological disorders. The article was later retracted by Salon, which cited concerns over its accuracy and editorial standards, while it was also removed from Rolling Stone’s website. Since then, Kennedy has repeatedly argued that vaccines, or ingredients used in vaccines, could be responsible for rising autism diagnoses. One of his most widely discussed remarks came during a June 2023 SiriusXM town hall with journalist Michael Smerconish. “I have never in my life seen a man my age with full-blown autism, not once. Where are these men?” Kennedy said. He went on to describe autistic people as “non-toilet-trained, nonverbal, stimming, toe-walking, hand-flapping,” arguing that if the increase in autism diagnoses were merely the result of changing diagnostic criteria or better awareness, similar numbers would be visible across older generations.