Nashville doctors and scientists said recent changes to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's guidance claiming there could be a link between vaccines and autism could pose serious health risks.

The government website, updated Nov. 19, now advises: "The statement 'Vaccines do not cause autism' is not an evidence-based claim."

The CDC website states that research will examine potential unexplored links: "Scientific studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines contribute to the development of autism. However, this statement has historically been disseminated by the CDC and other federal health agencies within HHS {Health and Human Services) to prevent vaccine hesitancy."

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