WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has ignited controversy, with former CDC Director Richard Besser calling the choice “cruel” and “dangerous.”
Vaccine Misinformation Concerns
Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines, has promoted theories linking vaccinations to autism — claims that have been widely debunked by scientific research. Speaking on ABC’s This Week, Besser condemned Kennedy’s rhetoric, emphasizing the harm it causes to public trust in vaccines.
“This was a question that was asked and addressed decades ago,” Besser said. “To continue to lift that up is a cruel thing to do.”
The Stakes for Public Health
As acting CDC director in 2009, Besser highlighted the crucial role of HHS in safeguarding public health. He warned that Kennedy’s nomination could erode confidence in life-saving vaccination programs.
“There are things we do for our own health, but there are things we do that are good for our communities,” Besser explained. “Vaccination falls into that category.”
Besser expressed concern that Kennedy’s mix of factual claims and misinformation complicates public understanding. “It makes it really hard to sort out what things you should follow because they’re based on fact, and which things are not,” he said.
Broader Implications
Kennedy’s nomination surprised both political and healthcare leaders. While Trump promised Kennedy a prominent role in public health during his campaign, many experts are alarmed by the potential consequences of putting an anti-vaccine activist in charge of HHS.
Besser did not mince words: “To have someone leading HHS who is one of the biggest deniers of vaccines in our country would undermine the confidence in that program and likely would cost lives.”
Divisive Appointment
Kennedy’s views on vaccines, coupled with his leadership of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, have long positioned him as a controversial figure. Critics fear his appointment could compromise the integrity of federal health initiatives, particularly as the nation continues to combat misinformation about vaccines.
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