Kennedy, Hotez says, made a “false statement” in claiming that the scientific community denies that there are any environmental factors at play. “I’ve said to RFK Jr. that there could be an environmental component, but not vaccines, because autism occurs in fetal brain development well before kids ever see vaccines.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is giving a speech following the release of Centers for Disease Control data showing a rise in autism diagnoses. He is set to start speaking at 11 a.