1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services is deeply concerning given his well-documented stance against vaccines. His views fly in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence and public health consensus on the safety and efficacy of vaccines. By canceling a meeting on next year's flu vaccine, he is already demonstrating a disregard for established protocols and a willingness to put public health at risk based on his personal beliefs rather than facts. Congress has a responsibility to protect the American people and ensure our nation's public health agencies are led by qualified individuals committed to science and evidence-based policymaking. Putting an anti-vaccine proponent in charge of HHS would undermine trust in public health institutions and could lead to disastrous consequences, including increased outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. It is imperative that Congress thoroughly scrutinize this nomination and reject any candidate who rejects scientific consensus and promotes misinformation that endangers public health. Prioritizing anti-science ideology over proven preventative measures is an abrogation of the duties entrusted to leaders in the field of public health and medicine. The nation's wellbeing depends on Congress doing its job by ensuring qualified, ethical leadership at HHS.