U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stated in an interview published Thursday that he plans to discuss the future of childhood vaccination programs with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
When asked by Time magazine whether he would support Kennedy if he proposed ending childhood vaccination programs, Trump replied, "We’re going to have a big discussion. The autism rate is at a level that nobody ever believed possible. If you look at what’s happening, there’s something causing it."
Pressed further on whether this discussion might lead to the removal of certain vaccinations, Trump said, "It could, if I think it’s dangerous or not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end."
When questioned about his stance on a possible link between childhood autism and vaccines, Trump deferred, saying, "No, I’m going to be listening to Bobby," referring to Kennedy. He added that he respects Kennedy and his views on vaccination.
Kennedy’s Vaccine Stance
Kennedy, a vocal critic of COVID-19 policies and an advocate for vaccine safety reform, has long raised concerns about vaccines, including a discredited claim that vaccines are linked to autism. Trump himself has previously expressed skepticism about vaccine safety, saying, "I want to see the numbers. At the end of the studies we’re doing, we’re going to know what’s good and what’s not."
Scientific Consensus on Vaccines
The claim that vaccines cause autism originated from a retracted 1998 study published in The Lancet by Andrew Wakefield, which has since been thoroughly debunked. Subsequent research, including a 2014 meta-analysis involving over 1.2 million children, found no link between vaccines and autism.
Organizations like Autism Speaks align with the scientific consensus, stating that "vaccines do not cause autism." Former FDA commissioner and current Pfizer board member Scott Gottlieb warned that ending vaccine mandates could lead to public health crises. “Lower vaccination rates could bring back diseases like measles, which can be fatal,” Gottlieb said in a recent interview. For every 1,000 measles cases, one child typically dies, he added.
Kennedy’s Potential Role at HHS
As head of HHS, Kennedy would oversee agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which determine vaccine schedules and manage programs like Vaccines for Children, providing free immunizations to eligible families.
While Kennedy disputes being labeled "anti-vaccine," his organization, Children’s Health Defense, has promoted anti-vaccine messaging. Trump defended his choice, saying, "He does not disagree with all vaccinations. He disagrees probably with some."
The potential impact of Kennedy’s confirmation remains a topic of heated debate, with public health officials emphasizing the risks of undermining established vaccination programs.
