Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s willingness to spread vaccine misinformation on the Fox News channel, in full view of millions of people, is reportedly a major factor in the recent rise of measles cases in the US.
His public comments doubting the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine are directly responsible for the surge, according to many public health experts, putting lives at risk.
Kennedy has a long history of antivax activism — and a financial stake in its perpetuation.
He’s employed a notorious antivaxner as the head of HHS research into the supposed connection between vaccines and autism.
The Trump administration has proposed cutting $880 billion from the Medicaid budget, eliminating programs focused on preventing childhood lead poisoning, ending domestic HIV prevention efforts and research, and scrapping multiple measures for treating addiction.
These efforts are chipping away at what little social safety net Americans have.
“They’re doing everything they can to chip away at what little social safety net we have,” said one expert.