When Donald Trump chose Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, it raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Known for his outspoken views against vaccines and his alternative health beliefs, Kennedy was a surprising pick to lead America’s top health department.
Still, he won over enough senators by promising to keep the existing vaccine safety systems intact and not delete government info that defends vaccines.
Since his appointment in February, Kennedy’s actions have drawn both support and concern. While he sometimes supports vaccines, he also makes controversial decisions that experts say could harm public health—especially during a time when measles is spreading in Texas, flu cases are surging, and fears of bird flu outbreaks are rising again.
Let’s break down the major moves Kennedy has made around vaccines since becoming HHS Secretary.
Vaccine Meeting Cancellations and Disruptions
Just a week into his role, Kennedy postponed a key meeting of the CDC’s vaccine advisory group (ACIP), delaying decisions on vaccine recommendations.
Soon after, the FDA also cancelled a meeting that usually helps decide the flu vaccine makeup for the year. Experts worry that skipping these meetings could delay important public health planning.
Measles Outbreak: Mixed Signals
During a deadly measles outbreak in West Texas, Kennedy gave mixed messages. He said vaccines help protect communities, but also called the outbreak “not unusual” and highlighted nutrition as a key defense against the virus.
He supported giving vitamin A to infected children—something health experts say helps but is no substitute for vaccination.
He also claimed the measles vaccine causes deaths, despite strong evidence from health authorities that it is extremely safe. While Kennedy later clarified that he supports measles vaccination, he still said the government should not mandate it.
Childhood Vaccine Schedule Under Review
Kennedy launched a commission to review the childhood vaccine schedule, questioning if frequent vaccinations might be linked to chronic diseases. This effort, called the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, promises to include voices from all sides. However, critics worry it could be used to undermine long-standing vaccine programs.
Autism Link Study and Research Funding Cuts
Despite scientific proof that vaccines do not cause autism, HHS under Kennedy is planning a federal study to revisit the topic. The researcher hired for this study has a controversial past and lost his medical license.
At the same time, Kennedy cut funding for over 40 research grants studying vaccine hesitancy and pulled $500 million in vaccine development projects, especially those using mRNA technology.
Fake Website Takedown and Staff Shakeups
Kennedy demanded the takedown of a fake CDC website by an anti-vaccine group he used to lead. But internal drama followed. The FDA’s top vaccine expert resigned, accusing Kennedy of promoting misinformation.
His replacement, Dr. Vinay Prasad, was also briefly let go and then rehired after political pressure. The CDC director was also fired after clashing with Kennedy over vaccine policies.
New COVID-19 Vaccine Rules
Under Kennedy’s leadership, the CDC changed its COVID-19 vaccine guidance. It no longer recommends the shots for healthy children and pregnant women, which goes against previous advice.
Critics, including major health groups, sued HHS, saying these changes put lives at risk. Kennedy also ended emergency use authorizations for COVID shots, replacing them with full approval—but only for those at higher risk.
Vaccine Advisory Committee Overhaul
In a bold move, Kennedy removed all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine recommendation panel and replaced them with just eight people. Some of these new members have questioned vaccine safety in the past. This broke a promise Kennedy made to gain Senate approval. A Senate investigation is now looking into the changes.
Removing Mercury from Flu Shots
Kennedy approved a recommendation to remove thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, from flu vaccines. While most flu shots already don’t contain it, Kennedy called the move a long-overdue step to reduce mercury exposure. Still, many scientists argue the tiny amounts in vaccines are harmless.
Vaccine Injury Program and Task Force Revived
Kennedy announced major changes to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, saying it’s too slow and unfair. A new research effort will look into vaccine side effects with better data collection.
He also revived a long-defunct task force on childhood vaccine safety, which will now report regularly to Congress.
Kennedy’s Testimony to Congress
During a Senate hearing, Kennedy defended his views and questioned the number of lives saved by COVID-19 vaccines. He praised Trump’s Operation Warp Speed but was grilled for cutting mRNA funding.
When asked about limiting access to COVID vaccines, Kennedy denied it, even though new rules restrict vaccine availability for many Americans.
