President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he plans to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has raised alarms, particularly within the healthcare and scientific communities. Kennedy, the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, has built a large following through his anti-vaccine nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, and is widely known for promoting vaccine misinformation.
Kennedy has long been an outspoken critic of vaccines, particularly the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. He has also propagated various conspiracy theories, including one suggesting that COVID-19 may have been “ethnically targeted” to spare certain groups. Although he later stated these comments were taken out of context, his repeated use of controversial rhetoric—such as comparing vaccines to Nazi-era public health measures—has drawn criticism from public health officials and scientists.
Despite Kennedy’s assertion that he is not anti-vaccine but simply advocates for more rigorous testing, his views have often contradicted established scientific consensus. He has stated that no vaccine is “safe and effective,” and in a 2023 interview, he reiterated his belief in the discredited link between vaccines and autism. In a 2021 podcast, he even encouraged parents to ignore the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on childhood vaccinations.
Kennedy’s influence in the anti-vaccine movement extends beyond the United States. His group, Children’s Health Defense, has been active in lobbying for more lenient vaccine policies in states like California and Connecticut, and he has worked closely with other anti-vaccine activists globally. His personal social media accounts have also been identified as major sources of vaccine misinformation. A 2021 study found Kennedy’s Twitter account was responsible for 13% of all reshares of vaccine-related misinformation on the platform.
Kennedy’s group has received financial backing from various anti-vaccine groups, including a chiropractic association in California that donated $500,000 to his cause. Additionally, he has co-published several books promoting anti-vaccine messages, one of which falsely linked sudden deaths in young people to the COVID-19 vaccine. These claims have been debunked by experts who say the deaths listed were due to known causes unrelated to vaccines.
Kennedy’s views and actions have sparked widespread concern, particularly as he is poised to lead the department responsible for overseeing vaccine safety in the U.S. The department is instrumental in ensuring public health and regulating vaccines, which are considered one of the most effective public health measures in history. His pending nomination highlights the deep divisions in U.S. politics over vaccine policy and public health measures.
