The newly elected President Donald Trump has reignited the debate over vaccine safety during a recent interview and has opened the door to the possibility of reducing childhood vaccination programs. Influencing this position seems to be Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his controversial views on the subject, whom Trump has chosen as a potential head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Referring to a theory favored by Kennedy, Trump stated that autism rates have increased significantly and that there is evidently something causing it, hinting that he might reconsider vaccination campaigns “if he deems them dangerous.” Despite the scientific community consistently debunking any correlation between the disease and vaccines, and Kennedy’s lack of medical credentials, he maintains there is a link.
The connection between autism and vaccines originates from a 1998 study published in the medical journal The Lancet, which was later retracted and debunked as fraudulent. Subsequent research, including a 2014 meta-analysis involving over 1.2 million children, confirmed the lack of any association. Nonetheless, Trump’s statements risk further fueling misinformation.
Kennedy, who chaired the Children’s Health Defense, an organization known for its critical stance on immunization campaigns, rejects the label of anti-vaccine advocate, though he has repeatedly questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccinations. If confirmed as head of HHS, Kennedy would oversee the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national public health agency of the United States, and the Vaccines for Children program, which provides support to uninsured children. These are two pillars of American health policy.
Experts warn that any reduction in immunizations could have devastating consequences. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating food and pharmaceutical products, emphasized that lower vaccination rates could lead to outbreaks of previously eradicated diseases.
In the past, Trump has expressed ambivalent views on vaccines, calling them “extraordinary” while suggesting that they be administered over a more extended period to reduce perceived risks. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he had already hinted at a possible revision of the vaccination schedule. Today, his statements raise questions about the future, with widespread concerns about the impact such changes could have on public health.
