Official statements or policy documents from the Trump administration or Department of Health and Human Services

Trump Appoints RFK Jr. to Probe Vaccine-Autism Link Amid Skepticism

Dec 8, 2024, 04:21 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will lead an investigation into childhood vaccines and their potential link to autism as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This decision has sparked concerns among health experts due to Kennedy's history of opposing vaccines and promoting debunked conspiracy theories. Trump has suggested he shares some of Kennedy's concerns about the safety of childhood vaccines, hinting at the possibility of eliminating vaccines if they are found to be harmful to children. During an interview on Meet the Press, Trump responded to Kristen Welker's question about eliminating childhood vaccines by stating, 'If they're dangerous for the children.' He also referenced the increase in autism rates, suggesting that 'something is going on.' The announcement has raised questions about the future direction of public health policy under the Trump administration, particularly in relation to vaccine safety and the influence of pharmaceutical companies.