RFK Jr.'s HHS Nomination Raises Concerns Over Vaccine Safety Policies

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial history on vaccines and his lawyer's efforts to challenge vaccine approvals have sparked alarm among public health experts and lawmakers.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time critic of vaccines, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), prompting widespread criticism from public health advocates and lawmakers.
Aaron Siri, a lawyer advising Kennedy, has petitioned the FDA to revoke or pause approvals of several vaccines, including the polio vaccine, citing outdated safety trials, a move experts warn could undermine decades of public health progress.
Trump has sent mixed signals on vaccines, praising the polio vaccine while suggesting some vaccines may require further scrutiny, raising concerns about potential changes to childhood vaccination programs.
Kennedy's nomination has drawn condemnation from figures including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, and 77 Nobel laureates, who argue his appointment could jeopardize public health and global vaccine confidence.
Experts warn that Kennedy's appointment could embolden anti-vaccine movements globally, including in countries like Australia, where vaccine skepticism has already been on the rise.