Because of donors like you, we’re able to take bold legal action. Join us in continuing the fight—donate here.
Despite autism parents shouting for decades that autism involves more than just genetics and “bad luck,” the government and scientific communities have been unacceptably slow to shift their focus. Now, a new Strategic Plan from a federal autism committee aims to finally change that.
When the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) released its new 2026-28 draft Strategic Plan, it caused waves. So much so that IACC had to postpone its upcoming meeting to allow more time for public comment.
ICAN’s attorneys used that additional time to submit our very clear and direct comment: study vaccines and autism. We support IACC’s recognition that autism arises when “several factors combine—biological susceptibility, the timing of development, environmental exposures, and how the body adapts to them” and welcome its call—finally—for research into environmental, immune, metabolic, mitochondrial, neurological, and gastrointestinal factors related to the root causes of autism.
Relatedly, ICAN is pleased that IACC is making neurodevelopmental regression (when children lose skills previously acquired) a national research priority. This vital research validates what so many parents have repeatedly shared with us.
However, can you guess what one word IACC didn’t use in its 336-page plan? “Vaccine.” Not one mention of the most widespread immune-related intervention given to infants nationwide. We reminded IACC that not a single study has proven that the vaccines administered in the first year of life—DTaP, Hep B, Hib, PCV13, and IPV—do not cause autism. After ICAN sued, CDC was forced to concede in a court order that it had no such studies.
IACC must be brave enough to pursue every scientifically plausible avenue of autism causation—including vaccines. Millions of parents and children are counting on it.
You can submit your own comment on the IACC website. The deadline is August 20—make your voice heard!
To support future legal actions like this, click here to donate.
