On Aug. 5, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced that the U.S. government would cease funding to 22 mRNA vaccine projects valued at around $500 million collectively.
Specific vaccines that are losing funding include the COVID-19 vaccine, the flu vaccine and vaccines for other respiratory viruses. The consequences of this decision are major and widespread, harming the nation’s health as a whole.
Experts believe that this move is foolish and will inhibit America’s response to the spread of current and future illnesses. This is supported by the fact that vaccines are proven to be effective in preventing people from contracting viral illnesses. From the COVID-19 pandemic alone, the Pfizer variant prevented the deaths of six million lives and Moderna prevented 1.7 million. Despite the insurmountable evidence in favor of the effectiveness of vaccines, RFK Jr. believes that vaccines “may actually accelerate viral mutation and prolong pandemics.” This ignorance to scientific fact is unacceptable for leaders in such an advanced country.
This kind of behavior is not a new trend from RFK Jr. However; he has continually made statements that undermine the advancements public health have made in protecting society as a whole from serious disease. RFK Jr. is a leading cause of the resurrection of the conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism. Also, when a prominent medical journal disproved the claim that aluminum causes autism, he publicly pressured them to retract the article because it affirmed vaccine safety. Furthermore, he has made unscientific, racially-charged vaccine-related claims, arguing that African Americans should follow a different vaccine schedule than other races because of biological differences.
The consequences of President Donald Trump appointing RFK Jr., a known falsifier to this position, have been revealed following this funding cut. As the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, his radical beliefs are now supposed to be viewed as the standard for the people of the U.S. and the basis of their own beliefs on medical advancements. The people of the U.S. should be able to look to their leaders for guidance through complicated situations. Realizing that RFK Jr. is spreading misinformation is obvious when one does their own research on a topic. The point of the Department of Health and Human Services is to give confidence to the people that they are being protected against harmful diseases and other health threats, as well as to inform them about the health of themselves and others. Seeing the leader of that organization denying problems and spreading misinformation discourages civic participation in elections and fosters distrust in the federal government, while ruining their image in the process.
While quarantining guidelines and restrictions surrounding COVID-19 were lifted in early 2022, the virus still remains a threat around the world. This summer, as many as 45 states saw a surge in the number of COVID-19 diagnoses, with a new variant called “Nimbus” making up 43% of all cases. If RFK Jr. continues to cut funding toward the CDC, like the country saw earlier this year, another COVID-19 outbreak may be in the future.
Beyond the immediate effects to the American people, the U.S.’s role and credibility in global health have taken a hit. When the U.S.’s allies see one of the leaders of the modern world begin to deny science and defund health organizations as if they are not a vital piece of protection against diseases. This massive defunding may seem temporary, but it could potentially lead the U.S. to fall behind to foreign competitors in health advancements, forcing us to rely on research from foreign organizations. This will inevitably affect the country’s response to future outbreaks of diseases.
For the sake of trust and safety, Americans’ decisions need to be made based on objective fact. RFK Jr. believes that he can push his own fraudulent agenda based on conspiracy theories upon the American people. This kind of leadership is unacceptable and has degraded the way the entire world sees the U.S. As he continues to make these poor decisions, Americans must advocate for the protection of their health.
