Sen. Reed encourages parents to vaccinate children amid Trump administration’s claims

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Senator Jack Reed held a press conference with pediatricians on Wednesday in response to the Trump administration’s recent vaccine policy.

At the press conference, Reed encouraged parents to get their kids vaccinated.

According to Senator Reed, a new KFF public opinion polls shows that under the Trump administration, more parents are opting out of getting their children vaccinated.

“What we saw with the president and R.F. Kennedy was disinformation, misinformation, they’re not the experts, in fact, they have touted theories that have no substantiation yet by professional researchers and doctors,” Reed said.

According to the Associated Press, on Sept. 22, President Trump claimed that ingredients in vaccines could increase the risk of autism.

Doctors at the Reed event Wednesday also criticized the Trump administration for its warning against taking Tylenol while pregnant.

At the Sept. 22 press conference, members of the Trump administration said the drug may also be linked to an increased risk of autism.

“I would really appreciate it if our national leaders would highlight the breadth of the research that’s being done. By limiting it to just one study based on false conclusions, we have harmed the pregnant persons that are not feeling well and may need to have Tylenol for pain. It is certainly well known that a pregnant person who is sick and has a high fever and an illness, that’s not helpful to the fetus as well,” pediatrician Elizabeth Lange said.

Anyone that has questions about pain management or vaccines should speak with their doctor, Lange added.