How Measles, Whooping Cough, and Worse Could Roar Back on RFK Jr.’s Watch - KFF Health News
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Inoculation campaigns that protect children and adults from dangerous diseases rely on a delicate web of state and federal laws and programs. If senior officials cast doubt on vaccine safety, the whole system might collapse, especially in red states.

Summary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as the top U.S. health official under Donald Trump has alarmed public health experts, who fear his anti-vaccine stance could lead to outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio, and meningitis.

Kennedy has promoted debunked vaccine-autism theories and may weaken federal vaccination programs, delay new vaccines, and undermine immunization requirements.

Vaccine-preventable illnesses are already rising, with 16 U.S. measles outbreaks this year.

Experts warn that declining vaccination rates threaten public health, while drug companies and vaccine advocates brace for significant challenges under the new administration.

    • hemmes@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      16 days ago

      Exactly - of course it will.

      If you’re putting a person that has expressed content for vaccines, one of mankind’s greatest discoveries, in a position of authority over the management of vaccines, you will have a surge in all that vaccines helped to eradicate.

      It’s absolutely bonkers that there are folks that have completely fallen for the “vaccines are bad“ narrative. Who would’ve thought, right? “We got abortion, immigrants, trans kids,… What else can we throw into the mix? Vaccines is a funny word…“

      I had a Republican client tell me the other day that the Democrats want to allow abortion at eight months. That’s what she believes. I have really great relationships with my clients, and they’re generally really nice people. It really infuriates me and makes me sad.

    • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
      1·
      16 days ago

      Yeah, what the hell is going on with this headline? Is the author hedging their bets that maybe medical science is wrong and RFKJR, who has no medical or scientific training, is right?