KQED's Forum Former CDC Director Tom Frieden on Countering a Public Health Assault
Sep 30, 2025
Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC, dives deep into alarming changes within the agency under current leadership. He addresses the dangers of vaccine misinformation and refutes claims linking Tylenol to autism, highlighting robust research to counter such narratives. Frieden emphasizes the urgent need for trustworthy medical sources and voices concerns about political appointees lacking public health experience. He warns of the real-world impacts of program cuts and advocates for innovative state-level public health collaborations to combat misinformation.
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Tylenol And Autism: What The Science Shows
- Multiple large studies show no causal link between acetaminophen in pregnancy and autism when confounders are corrected.
- Untreated fever in pregnancy can harm the fetus, so medical advice should come from clinicians, not politicians.
Consult Clinicians Before Taking Medication
- Pregnant women should take medicines only when necessary and consult their clinician about fever or pain.
- Prefer acetaminophen over aspirin or ibuprofen when a medication is needed in pregnancy, per evidence cited.
Vaccines Are Not Linked To Autism
- Extensive studies find no association between vaccines and autism, including debunking Wakefield's fraudulent paper.
- Reductions in thimerosal did not slow autism's rise, undermining a causal vaccine explanation.
