President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has sparked celebration within the anti-vaccine movement and intense criticism from public health officials.
Critics warn Kennedy’s appointment could undermine decades of vaccine progress, while supporters see it as a transformative opportunity to challenge public health policies.
Kennedy has pledged to overhaul agencies like the CDC and NIH, baselessly linking vaccines to autism and chronic diseases. His pick has energized anti-vaccine activists, with figures like Mary Holland and Del Bigtree praising the nomination as a validation of their movement.
However, health leaders, including former CDC officials, fear his leadership could jeopardize critical public health initiatives.
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