US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine activist, to head the Department of Health and Human Services, a crucial agency responsible for various public health aspects such as drug and vaccine safety, medical research, and Medicare and Medicaid programs, despite criticism of Kennedy’s views by health officials.
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site.
Kennedy is a well-known anti-vaccine advocate globally who has been promoting the discredited theory that vaccines are linked to autism and other health problems.
Trump announced on Thursday that he picked Doug Collins, a former Georgia congressman, to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins serves as a chaplain in the US Air Force Reserve Command. The GOP member was in office in Congress from 2013 until 2021, where he supported Trump during his initial impeachment trial.
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Kennedy hails from a family of storied democratic politicians
Kennedy comes from a well-known political family in the country, being the son of the deceased Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy.
Last year, he was the first to contest President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. Afterward, he competed as a solo candidate but dropped out after reaching an agreement to support Trump in exchange for a position in charge of health policy in a potential second Trump term.
He has developed a strong friendship with the president-elect. During the last phase of the race, Trump and Kennedy worked closely on their campaign and Trump expressed his plan to appoint Kennedy to a significant position in charge of public health as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
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Health experts doubt Kennedy’s credentials for the job
Public health experts were concerned about the appointment.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., lacks the necessary qualifications for the position and should not be involved with the science-based agencies that protect our nutrition, food safety, and health.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed her worries to The Associated Press, stating that she does not want to regress and witness individuals, both young and old, endure suffering or death as a reminder of the effectiveness of vaccines.
Kennedy will also introduce his own set of complexities.
Some people have condemned him for spreading inaccurate medical information, such as claiming that vaccines are connected to autism. He resisted the state and federal regulations put in place during the COVID-19 outbreak and was alleged to have disseminated false information about the virus.
He has also mentioned that he would suggest eliminating fluoride from drinking water. The inclusion of the substance has been mentioned as resulting in better oral health.
