1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services raises serious concerns due to his long history of spreading misinformation about vaccines. Despite scientific consensus on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, Kennedy has repeatedly made false claims linking them to autism and described COVID-19 shots as "a crime against humanity." Giving him authority over crucial public health agencies like the CDC and FDA could undermine decades of progress in protecting Americans through widespread immunization. While Kennedy claims he will not try to ban vaccines, his doubts about their benefits and safety are at odds with overwhelming scientific evidence. Appointing someone who rejects mainstream vaccine research and data could erode public confidence in immunization programs that have saved millions of lives. It threatens to revive deadly diseases that are now rare precisely because of robust vaccination efforts. For the sake of public health and retaining trust in medical authorities, Kennedy's nomination should not proceed. The nation's vaccination policies must remain grounded in rigorous science and evidence-based research, not conspiracy theories or anti-vaccine rhetoric that put lives at risk. Preserving robust immunization initiatives should be a core priority to prevent deadly outbreaks and protect the wellbeing of all Americans.