Kennedy, a high well being official, urges ‘cautious strategy’ after Trump baselessly claimed taking Tylenol is linked autism in kids.
United States Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has partially walked again his warning that taking Tylenol throughout being pregnant is straight linked to autism in kids.
In a information convention on Wednesday, Kennedy struck a extra reasonable tone than he typically has in his previous public appearances.
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“The causative affiliation between Tylenol given in being pregnant and the perinatal intervals is just not ample to say it positively causes autism,” Kennedy informed reporters. “But it’s very suggestive.”
“There must be a cautious strategy to it,” he added. “ That’s why our message to sufferers, to moms, to people who find themselves pregnant and to the moms of younger kids is: Consult your doctor.”
Wednesday’s assertion is nearer in keeping with the steering of respected well being companies.
While some research have raised the opportunity of a hyperlink between Tylenol and autism, there have been no conclusive findings. Pregnant girls are suggested to seek the advice of a physician earlier than taking the remedy.
The World Health Organization reiterated the purpose in September, noting that “no constant affiliation has been established” between the remedy and autism, regardless of “in depth analysis”.
But claims on the contrary have already prompted efforts to restrict the provision of Tylenol, a well-liked model of acetaminophen, a fever- and pain-reducing remedy.
On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a lawsuit accusing Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, the businesses behind the over-the-counter ache reliever, of misleading practices.
In doing so, he reiterated misinformation shared by President Donald Trump and authorities officers like Kennedy.
“By holding Big Pharma accountable for poisoning our folks, we are going to assist Make America Healthy Again,” Paxton mentioned in an announcement, giving a nod to Kennedy’s MAHA slogan.
The swimsuit alleges that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue violated Texas shopper safety legal guidelines by having “deceptively marketed Tylenol as the one protected painkiller for pregnant girls”.
It was the most recent occasion of scientific misinformation being perpetuated by high officers. Both Trump and Kennedy have repeatedly unfold scientific misinformation all through their political careers.
Trump linked autism and the painkiller throughout a information convention in September, with out offering respected scientific findings to again the declare.
“[Using] acetaminophen – is that OK? – which is principally, generally referred to as Tylenol, throughout being pregnant might be related to a really elevated threat of autism,” Trump mentioned on September 22. “So taking Tylenol is just not good. I’ll say it. It’s not good.”
Kennedy has provided his personal sweeping statements about Tylenol and its alleged dangers, regardless of having no skilled medical background.
“Anyone who takes these things throughout being pregnant, until they need to, is irresponsible,” he mentioned in a cupboard assembly on October 9.
Kennedy additionally mischaracterised research on male circumcision earlier this month. He falsely mentioned the research confirmed a rise in autism amongst kids who have been “circumcised early”.
“It’s extremely possible as a result of they’re given Tylenol,” he added.
Kenvue pressured in an announcement on Tuesday that acetaminophen is the most secure ache reliever choice for pregnant girls, noting that prime fevers and ache are potential dangers to pregnancies if left untreated.
“We stand firmly with the worldwide medical neighborhood that acknowledges the security of acetaminophen and imagine we are going to proceed to achieve success in litigation as these claims lack authorized benefit and scientific help,” Kenvue mentioned.
