Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made several misleading statements about vaccines in recent days, causing concern among vaccine experts and advocates. The claims include that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine contains “aborted fetus debris,” which is a claim that has been debunked by scientific evidence.
The HHS department has announced plans to alter vaccine testing and build new surveillance systems, which has unnerved experts who view this as an attempt to make it difficult for vaccine manufacturers. Dr. Paul Offit, an expert on infectious disease and immunology, described Kennedy’s actions as a “radical departure from past practices” that could lead to a loss of trust in vaccines.
Kennedy, a well-known anti-vaccine advocate, has a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines. He has claimed that medications can cause “autoimmune injuries and allergic injuries” with long diagnostic horizons, which is not supported by scientific evidence.
The HHS department has also faced criticism for its handling of COVID-19 vaccine research. The department has required researchers to flag their applications for funding related to mRNA technology, which powers most COVID-19 vaccines, to Kennedy’s office. Additionally, the department has ended research that tested the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in special groups, such as pregnant women.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also faced criticism for its handling of a new COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax. The FDA delayed expected approval due to concerns over the review process, which some have attributed to a political appointee who is skeptical of vaccines.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/01/rfk-mmr-vaccines-fetus-claim