Originally aired on Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Completing this evaluation is required for those seeking continuing education credit or a certificate of completion.
On August 12, this webinar addressed misinformation surrounding vaccines and autism and supporting the Autism community in clinical settings. Featuring Dr. Peter Hotez and Danielle Hall (Autism Society of America), this session explored the rise of antivaccine activism, clarified misconceptions around autism and vaccines, and offered practical strategies to build trust and improve care for Autistic patients.
CME Accreditation
Accreditation Statement:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Medical Society of New Jersey. New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is accredited by the Medical Society of New Jersey to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Designation Statement:
New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics designates this live internet activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ABP MOC Part II:
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
Learning Objectives
- Increase understanding of Autism, health barriers and disparities experienced by autistic people.
- To explain the timelines of antivaccine activism beginning in the early 2000s.
- To detail the evidence showing vaccines do not cause autism.
- To report on the genetic basis of autism and its interaction with environmental factors during early pregnancy.
- To describe the damage done by the current Dept of HHS in how they portray autism.
- Identify strategies to support someone with Autism during a healthcare appointment.
- Empower learners to apply tools, practices, and strategies to transform the vaccine experience for the Autism community.
Speakers
Disclosure:
All identified relevant financial relationships have been mitigated and the educational content thoroughly evaluated by the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics for fair, balanced, and safe, effective patient care.
Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine where he is also the Co-director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. He is also University Professor at Baylor University, Fellow in Disease and Poverty at the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Senior Fellow at the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University, Faculty Fellow with the Hagler Institute for Advanced Studies at Texas A&M University, and Health Policy Scholar in the Baylor Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy. He also holds honorary DSc doctoral degrees from the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine (Northwell Health), Roanoke College, honorary doctoral degrees in both science and humanities by The National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), and City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
Danielle Hall, MSW
Danielle Hall is the Director, Health Equity Initiative at the Autism Society. Danielle has a Master’s Degree in Social Work with an emphasis on Public Health. She brings more than 20 years of experience in planning, designing, evaluating, and managing programs to promote health, equity, and access. Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband, two girls, and Cocker Spaniel.
