1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services poses a grave threat to our nation's public health and vaccination programs. His anti-vaccine views are not supported by scientific evidence and could lead to outbreaks of deadly diseases like measles, whooping cough, and even polio that were once nearly eradicated through successful vaccination efforts. Allowing someone who promotes dangerous misinformation about vaccines to lead our top health agency is unacceptable. Vaccination has saved millions of lives and remains our best defense against infectious diseases. Undermining public confidence in vaccines will only lead to more preventable illnesses and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations like children and the immunocompromised. We cannot go backwards and undo decades of progress protecting public health through robust vaccination programs overseen by credible scientific authorities. I urge you to take action to block Kennedy's appointment and ensure our nation's vaccination policies and initiatives continue under qualified leadership committed to following the established scientific consensus. The consequences of dismantling effective vaccination efforts would be catastrophic for public health and safety. We must prioritize evidence-based policymaking to maintain high vaccination rates and prevent resurgences of diseases that vaccines have successfully controlled.