Trump's Public Health Picks Draw Criticism Over Vaccine Stances
Donald Trump's nominees for key health roles, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and David Weldon, face scrutiny for promoting anti-vaccine views and medical misinformation.
- President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine advocate, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- David Weldon, known for questioning vaccine safety and promoting debunked autism-vaccine links, has been tapped to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Mehmet Oz, criticized for promoting unproven medical treatments, is set to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Public health experts warn that these appointments could undermine vaccination efforts, as U.S. childhood vaccination rates have already been declining since 2019.
- The nominees' confirmation processes in Congress are expected to be contentious, with concerns about their potential impact on public trust in health institutions.