RFK Jr.’s lunatic war on vaccines puts kids at risk

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s ongoing campaign against vaccines continues to undermine a major public health achievement of the last century: the widespread use of vaccines to eradicate diseases.

On December 5th, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which Kennedy hand-picked, altered its recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. The committee now advises vaccination only for infants whose mothers test positive for the disease. Furthermore, they suggest that babies who don't receive the vaccine at birth should not get it before two months of age.

This decision raises serious concerns. The hepatitis B vaccine has an excellent safety record. Relying solely on maternal testing is risky because testing, typically done early in pregnancy or at birth, can be inaccurate. Mothers can be exposed after testing or may not be tested at all. Universal vaccination at birth is a safe and highly effective strategy to prevent a disease that has a 90% chance of becoming chronic in infants, leading to liver damage and potential death. Why would anyone want more children to suffer from hepatitis B?

The ACIP's change in recommendation appears to be driven by Kennedy's obsession with reducing the number of vaccines given to young children, fueled by his unfounded belief that vaccines are dangerous. The White House seems to be granting him considerable leeway to pursue his anti-vaccine agenda.

Coincidentally, on the same day as the ACIP's decision, President Trump signed a memo ordering a review of vaccine schedules in developed countries, noting that nations like Denmark, Germany, and Japan recommend fewer early childhood vaccines than the United States. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. these countries are smaller, have different healthcare systems, and face different disease risks. For example, Denmark, often praised by anti-vaxxers for its limited vaccine schedule, has a significantly higher rate of chickenpox compared to the United States.

This situation is part of RFK Jr.'s dangerous and misguided war on vaccines. Earlier this month, the CDC updated its vaccine safety section, stating that the claim that vaccines do not cause autism is not evidence-based because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism. This is despite the overwhelming evidence disproving any link between vaccines and autism.

Additionally, on December 10th, the FDA announced a "rigorous review" of the RSV vaccine for infants, despite the absence of reported safety issues and the fact that RSV is a leading cause of infant hospitalizations. While objective safety checks are valuable, the actions of public health agencies under Kennedy's leadership appear biased against vaccines.

Scaring young parents with debunked claims that vaccines could harm their children is irresponsible and cruel. Public health agencies under RFK Jr. are doing exactly that by casting doubt on the safety of proven vaccines. The inevitable result will be more children suffering from preventable illnesses and even death.