Recent research is contradicting prominent claims made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump administration officials about vaccines, Tylenol, and antidepressants during pregnancy. Multiple studies released in recent months have found no scientific support for assertions that have already influenced federal health policy decisions.
Antidepressants and pregnancy
A study presented this month at an annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine found that pregnant patients who discontinued antidepressants nearly doubled their risk of mental health-related emergency room visits. The research analyzed health insurance claims of nearly 4,000 patients with depression or anxiety who took antidepressants before pregnancy. Among women who discontinued the medications during pregnancy, 1,357 had mental health-related ER visits, compared with 795 who stayed on their prescriptions. This finding directly challenges the FDA’s July panel, where nearly all panelists raised concerns about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—a class including Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft—despite contradicting the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ recommendation that pregnant patients remain on these medications.
Tylenol safety
A thorough analysis published last month found no link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. This contradicts September statements from Trump and Kennedy about a potential autism link, and an FDA notice directing physicians to “consider minimizing the use of acetaminophen.”
Vaccine safety and COVID protection
A CDC study in December found that Covid vaccines given from 2024 to 2025 reduced the risk of Covid-related emergency room and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among children ages 5 to 17. This directly contradicts claims that Covid shots don’t benefit healthy children. A December analysis in the journal Pediatrics reviewing existing evidence found no major safety concerns linked to aluminum salts in vaccines, refuting Kennedy’s assertions about aluminum dangers.
Despite these findings, federal health agencies have already adopted some positions based on the disputed claims. The CDC stopped recommending Covid shots for healthy children, and in September, President Trump advised pregnant women to “fight like hell” not to take Tylenol.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/recent-studies-challenge-kennedys-claims-vaccines-tylenol-antidepressa-rcna259464