Medical Misinformation Mishap

By Brandon Koo Nov. 12, 2025

Recently, false health information, such as the claim that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism, has become common online. Health information, including official statistics, reports and resources have long been available to the public and shared openly by government agencies and public institutions because they serve to show accurate records of health trends among different groups.

Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires federal maintenance of accurate health information to respond quickly to detected threats, share information efficiently and help public health agents stay prepared.

Jane Hong Art

However, since Aug. 2024, the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement has risen under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., initiating a rise in misinformation. Medical propaganda has been spreading faster than a common cold across the Internet, fueled by social media algorithms and online influencers, plaguing thousands of people with untrue claims. Misinformation from high-profile public figures can easily influence public perception, putting public health at risk.

The current administration has severely limited and removed access to certain government data, such as reproductive health resources for women, youth behavior surveys and chronic illness information. The administration has also made cuts of $1.8 billion in funding for public health and medical research, particularly vaccine studies by the National Institutes for Health. During a Cabinet meeting on Oct. 9, Kennedy argued that infant circumcision and Tylenol use are correlated with autism. His comments followed President Trump’s statements warning that acetaminophen is not good for pregnant women and increases autism risk. Parents and experts strongly criticized

Kennedy’s uneducated claims. Beth Hoffman, the mother of a nonverbal 10-year-old boy with autism, spoke up about how his statements spread fear and perpetrate negative stigma surrounding autism. Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, emphasized that Kennedy Jr.’s blatantly false comments misconstrue modern science, calling for the critical evaluation of health information.

The spread of misinformation directly affects many people, often blurring their perception of reality.

“People spreading misinformation regarding vaccines online can seem silly at first, but it could spread fear regarding vaccines, even though they are foolproof and effective. This hinders public health efforts to eliminate preventable diseases and is much more dangerous than people might think,” Sophomore Aaryan Khetuwet said.

The consequences of misinformation are beginning to appear in recent public health crises. According to the U.S. Measles Tracker, a data project hosted by the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1,281 measles cases in total were reported in the U.S. this year. This marks the highest number since the disease’s elimination in 2000, surpassing the 1,274 cases recorded in all of 2019. Most of the cases this year have occurred in unvaccinated individuals across a wide age range.

“Schools should help students spot false health and science claims by teaching them to find credible sources, read studies carefully and differentiate between correlation and causation. Access to accurate information is crucial to track disease trends and create effective prevention strategies in times of crisis. Limiting accurate public health data will hurt everyone,” Junior Yena Han said.

In response to misinformation, organizations including the CDC and the World Health Organization lead public health campaigns and collaborate to correct misleading claims and keep the community protected. Specifically, the CDC recommends that people protect against measles by taking the two-dose MMR vaccine—one dose after 12-15 months of age and the other between 4-6 years, and urges all people to become fully vaccinated. Providing clear and accurate information clear to the public will help build trust, contain the spread of false claims and protect American

health.

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About the Contributors

Brandon Koo

staff writer

Brandon Koo is a sophomore at Leland High School and a staff writer for The Charger Account. He can be found on the tennis courts practicing, working out, or listening to R&B in his room. Brandon also enjoys going on sunset walks or taking bike rides on the hills.

Jane Hong

creative director

Jane Hong, a senior at Leland High School, is the Creative Director of The Charger Account. She loves good food and long naps, but when she’s not recharging, you’ll probably find her dancing or binging the latest K-dramas.