President-elect Donald Trump announced that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will lead an investigation into a possible connection between autism and childhood vaccines. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump stated that the rising prevalence of autism—currently affecting 1 in 36 children—was a serious concern, noting that the condition was rare 25 years ago. He suggested that factors such as vaccines or environmental issues, like chlorine in water, could be contributing to the increase.
Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine advocate, has been chosen to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), despite controversy surrounding his views. His nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense (CHD), has been a key player in the anti-vaccine movement, filing numerous lawsuits against vaccine mandates and public health measures.
While Trump emphasized that he was not against all vaccines, particularly the polio vaccine, he called for a closer examination of their safety. Kennedy’s influence continues to grow, despite losing many legal battles, with his organization using litigation and media campaigns to challenge vaccine policies.
Trump elaborated, stating, “Autism was almost nonexistent. It was, you know, 1 out of 100,000. And now it’s close to one out of 100… that’s a pretty bad number.” He added that he was “open to anything” regarding the investigation, including the possibility that the cause could be linked to vaccines or other environmental factors, such as “chlorine in the water.”
Kennedy’s group has been responsible for producing videos and films that promote anti-vaccine misinformation, including a sequel to the controversial Plandemic documentary, which baselessly alleged that the COVID-19 pandemic was part of a global conspiracy. CHD has also funded lawsuits challenging vaccine requirements in New York and other states, as well as efforts to halt the FDA’s emergency use authorization for COVID vaccines for children.
Despite losing many of these lawsuits, CHD has managed to raise significant funds, with revenue exceeding $23 million in 2022. Critics like Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, argue that such legal challenges and misinformation campaigns are eroding public trust in vaccines, as evidenced by declining vaccination rates and rising cases of preventable diseases like measles.
While Kennedy remains on leave from CHD to focus on his presidential campaign and potential HHS appointment, his influence within the anti-vaccine movement remains strong. CHD continues to pursue legal action on issues related to vaccine mandates, medical exemptions, and free speech.
Kennedy’s nomination for HHS secretary has been hailed by his supporters, including CHD president Mary Holland, who expressed optimism about the potential changes to public health policy under his leadership. However, experts warn that the elevation of such a controversial figure to a prominent government position could have far-reaching implications for U.S. public health policy.