RFK, Jr, Sec of Health & Human Services, Slashes Funds for Vaccine Development

Robert F Kennedy Jr, is the acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by the Trump admin. He’s an environmental lawyer, with no previous medical or scientific background. A known conspiracy theorist, his unfounded claims have earned him a reputation as one of the leading spreaders of covid-19 misinformation. Recently, he cut 500 million dollars in mRNA vaccine development, which will affect flu, covid, the bird flu and other virus vaccine research.

Doctors and health experts have criticized his questioning of vaccines safety and efficiency. Dr Offit, inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, said: “The funding cancellation could put the US in a more dangerous position in response to any future pandemic.”

In June, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the committee that issues the official government recommendations on immunizations, and replaced them with vaccine skeptics. He also removed the covid-19 vaccine from the recommended immunizations schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, causing a group of medical organizations to sue him. The group includes the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association. The suit alleges that his act was “arbitrary and “capricious” and “in violation of federal law.” The complaint requests that the court reverse the changes to vaccine recommendations and declare the changes unlawful.

Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics stated: “Over the past several months, experts have been undermined and our nation’s vaccine infrastructure is now threatened. Every child’s health is at stake.”

Kennedy, well known as a conspiracy theorists, is the founder and chairman of the Children’s Health Defense, a non-profit organization that is a prime promoter of vaccine skepticism. The group’s influence surged after the covid-19 pandemic.

Since taking office, Kennedy has slashed the budget of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), as well as other gov agencies that oversee food and drug safety. “We’re going to look at vaccines first, but we’re going to look at everything,” he said on Fox in regard to his search for answers on autism. “Everything is on the table, our food system, our water, our air, different ways of parenting (?), all the kind of changes that have triggered this epidemic.” For decades RFK Jr has been promoting debunked theories regarding autism, claiming that autism is linked to vaccines. He has vowed to find the cause of autism in 5 months (by September). “By September we will know what causes the autism epidemic and we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures,” he stated. Doctors and scientists formally started researching autism in 1940.

According to government findings, autism diagnoses have increased in 2000’s, by 2020 the rate by 8-year-olds reached 2.77%, according to the CDC. Experts attribute this increase of diagnosis to more awareness about autism and its symptoms. Kennedy also plans to use medical database personal information to construct an autism registry. Criticizers of the idea claim this to be an invasion of privacy, while also questioning the need for such a list.

From the page of the Autism Society:

“A dangerous and inaccurate narrative is being spun around the autism community – one rooted in fear, misinformation, and a profound misunderstanding of disability. Referring to autism as a chronic disease or epidemic relies on outdated medical-model language that dehumanizes autistic individuals, perpetuates stigma and stereotypes, and undermines decades of progress in disability rights.”

Cites: The Autism Society, Brookings, BBC, NPR & Forbes

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