An Unconventional Leadership Role

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been appointed as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on February 13, 2025. His known skepticism toward vaccines raises concerns that U.S. vaccination rates, already on a decline, could weaken further.

This shift in leadership occurs amid a resurgent measles outbreak—significantly, the first related death in the U.S. from measles in a decade—prompting fears that a decline in vaccination could exacerbate public health risks.

Concerns from Health Experts

At his Senate confirmation hearings, Kennedy attempted to clarify his stance, asserting that he does not oppose vaccines outright and would not inhibit access to routine childhood vaccinations for diseases like measles and polio. However, health policy experts are wary of his early initiatives, suggesting they may indirectly undermine immunization efforts.

“The steps that he’s taken so far seem to be in line with his views of skepticism about vaccines and their safety,” said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy at KFF.

Potential Impacts on Vaccination Policy

Kennedy’s agenda includes a review of the childhood vaccination schedule and potential changes to advisory committees that guide vaccine approvals. Experts are concerned that such changes could promote skepticism and misinformation about vaccine safety, fostering an environment ripe for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.

“The fear is that within the next few years, we could witness a significant drop in childhood vaccination rates,” remarked Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health law at Georgetown University.

Childhood Vaccination Trends

Vaccination rates had remained stable for roughly a decade prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 95% of kindergarteners being up to date with state-required immunizations. However, this number has declined to below 93% in the 2023-2024 school year, according to CDC data.

• 2.5% of children claimed vaccination exemptions in the 2019-2020 school year.
• This rate increased to 3.3% in 2023-2024, marking the highest level of exemptions recorded.

Gallup surveys indicate that only 40% of Americans now regard childhood vaccines as extremely important, a significant drop from 58% in 2019.

State-Level Vaccination Disparities

As of the most recent school year, over three-quarters of U.S. states did not meet the “Healthy People 2030” target vaccination rate of 95% for the MMR shot. This yields an alarming figure of approximately 280,000 children unprotected against measles.

Kennedy’s tenure coincides with rising clusters of unvaccinated populations, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks. This was tragically illustrated in West Texas, where the state experienced its first measles-related death in a child in years.

Subtle Shifts in Advisory Panels

KKennedy’s strategy may extend to restructuring advisory panels that influence federal vaccination policy. Reports suggest he might seek to replace members with those possessing favorable views on vaccine skepticism. Such a move could lead to altered public health recommendations, exacerbating already concerning trends.

“Removing experienced scientists from advisory committees in favor of skeptics would yield misleading recommendations,” stated Gostin.

The Risk of Misinformation and Public Trust

There are concerns that Kennedy could selectively highlight research that questions vaccine safety, potentially eroding public confidence. His calls for increased “transparency” regarding vaccine safety data may actually serve to amplify dubious scientific claims.

Kennedy’s HHS is reportedly reframing public health messaging to focus more on informed consent in vaccine administration, which could dissuade parents from vaccinating their children—a choice that poses risks not only to the individual but also to broader community health.