As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. undergoes Senate scrutiny for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services, the stakes – and opportunities -- for America's public health infrastructure couldn't be higher.
As I’ve written previously, creative disruption within federal health agencies can lead to much-needed reform. Increased transparency and accountability in vaccine research and policy could rebuild trust in public health institutions. However, this disruption must not extend to the foundational elements of our health system like vaccines.
Vaccines are arguably the greatest achievement in public health history. The development of the polio vaccine in the 1950s virtually eradicated a devastating disease that once paralyzed thousands of children annually. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend it as an essential immunization.
President-elect Donald Trump has voiced support for vaccines, praising their role in eradicating diseases like polio. Senators must ensure that Kennedy aligns with this view. A retreat from vaccination would not advance Trump's agenda of strengthening the nation but would instead undermine decades of progress, leading to preventable illnesses and deaths.
This is a defining moment for public health in America. Vaccine advocates must work tirelessly and with transparency to promote health literacy and counter misinformation, and senators must fulfill their constitutional advice and consent obligation when it comes to nominees overseeing the American healthcare system. This vetting process transcends partisan politics; it concerns the health and safety of every American.
There’s been a troubling rise in vaccine skepticism, fueled by misinformation. Given the high stakes for America's public health, it is imperative to scrutinize the positions of public figures, especially those whose past stances on medically proven vaccines could jeopardize foundational elements of our healthcare system.
Senators should, respectfully but forcefully, question Mr. Kennedy on his stance on issues such childhood vaccines – and press for clarity. It is crucial to seek clear commitments to preserving access to childhood immunizations and maintaining vaccine schedules essential for public health. Senators should ask Mr. Kennedy about how he would promote trust in science rather than exacerbate skepticism. Finally, RFK Jr.’s potential to use policy levers to alter FDA approval standards, school vaccine mandates, and funding for immunization programs deserve to be honestly and aggressively examined.
Mr. Kennedy's confirmation hearing mustn’t dwell on the past, but on how he plans to safeguard our future. A potential rollback of vaccination programs could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles, polio, and whooping cough, with devastating consequences for public health. Vaccines are not merely a medical achievement; they are the foundation of a healthy society. The Senate has an opportunity—and an obligation—to ensure they remain protected.
Secretary-Designate Kennedy’s past comments on vaccines should be front and center during his confirmation hearing. They are what everyone is waiting for. It is the sharp tip of the spear for those who support his nomination and for those contrary. The question is whether Mr. Kennedy will be skewered by the spear or use it himself to advance into the corner office at HHS headquarters.