Robbie Butler MLA: Essential that facts always come before fiction in healthcare

UUP Deputy Leader and the Party’s Children and Young Peoples spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA has criticised US President Donald Trump for spreading medical misinformation and sowing unnecessary fear among parents.

The Lagan Valley MLA said:

“Donald Trump’s recent comments in which he wrongly linked paracetamol and childhood vaccination programmes with autism were not only grossly inappropriate but also had zero scientific credibility.

“The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), along with our own local Health Service, continues to provide clear guidance on both the safe use of paracetamol and the proven effectiveness of childhood vaccines.

“Extensive UK studies show no credible evidence of a link between paracetamol use and autism. Equally, vaccines have been one of the greatest public health achievements, protecting children from serious illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough.

“Here in Northern Ireland, we have worked hard to build confidence in vaccination programmes and protect children from preventable diseases. Yet as an MLA and as a father, vaccine hesitancy, especially in the time that has passed since Covid,  is a real and growing concern for me. Reckless commentary from overseas should not be allowed to further undermine the progress that has been made in recent decades.

“Punching down on vulnerable groups such as people with autism or learning disabilities and using them as collateral damage in an anti-vax narrative, whilst exploiting parents who may already feel neglected by the system, is crass and dangerous.

“I urge parents across Northern Ireland to continue engaging with vaccination services, to trust our health professionals, and to seek advice from reputable sources. By doing so, we can safeguard the health of our children and communities for generations to come.”