The president-elect of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Per the website, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of the U.S. people and provide essential human services. The secretary is responsible for the preparation and response to medical and public health emergencies. Kennedy is considered a controversial choice due to his non-evidence based claims in the past. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a supporter of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and has been known to spread false claims about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Kennedy’s wild theories could lead to unnecessary deaths and disabilities in children.
In a 2023 interview with Fox News, Kennedy claimed that “autism comes from vaccines.” That theory was made popular by a UK doctor, Andrew Wakefield, whose work was later discredited. Wakefield’s 1998 study was retracted from the Lancet medical journal. Since then, many studies from around the world have shown that THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN AUTISM AND VACCINES.
Kennedy has also made false claims against fluoride in water. In the U.S., as well as in some other countries, fluoride is added to water to help prevent tooth decay. Roughly 63% of the population live in areas with fluoridated water. Kennedy is against the practice and has claimed on social media that Trump will be advising to remove fluoride from all U.S. water systems.
Therefore, Trump’s choice for this extremely important post is troubling. What will happen to our vaccine programs? People often forget how important vaccines are because they have no memory or experience with the diseases for which they are protected. When was the last time you saw a kid with chicken pox or saw someone with polio? Vaccines save lives and reduce morbidity. Kennedy’s wild theories could lead to unnecessary deaths and disabilities in children.
Also, did we forget that almost a million people died in 2020 and 2021 from COVID? What will happen to agencies like the CDC and FDA under this second Trump administration?
Furthermore, what will happen to programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Obamacare, Medicaid, and Medicare? Both Kennedy and Trump often stress the need to rid departments of corruption. Kennedy has also said he plans to remove hundreds of people from their federal jobs in some of these agencies. So, does this mean that additional conspiracy theorists will enter spaces that should be free of bias and solely rooted in evidence-based science? The scary possibilities are endless.
Thus, my recommendation: Make sure you are up-to-date on your vaccines, yearly physical exam, and blood work. Get in to see your provider. Discuss your medications. If you lost your insurance, could you afford to purchase the medications out of pocket? Make sure your kids are caught up on their shots. I also recommend picking up some extra COVID test kits. You need to be prepared. These next 4 years may be full of unwanted surprises.
Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com