Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), assured members of the vaccine-skeptic organization Children’s Health Defense on Thursday that they have strong allies in the Trump White House. Speaking at a conference in Washington, D.C., Kennedy stated that President Donald Trump has directed agencies to enhance transparency and expand parental choice regarding childhood vaccinations.
“Let me be clear. You have a strong and steadfast friend at the White House,” Kennedy told the audience. The event also featured appearances by Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with Republican Reps. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Kennedy acknowledged that while he desired to implement more radical shifts immediately upon taking office, legal and procedural constraints prevented such actions. “In government, a bunch of things have to happen before something else happens or you get sued,” he explained, adding that a competent agency head must operate within the law to avoid being removed from position.
The Children’s Health Defense, which opposes the current recommended vaccine schedule for children, co-founded Kennedy before he resigned from its board to accept his cabinet post. The group described the summit as a critical dialogue occurring against a backdrop of significant opportunities and risks for the health freedom movement.
Critics argue that Kennedy’s presence at the conference legitimizes anti-vaccine rhetoric during a time of public health concern. Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious disease specialist and former CDC vaccine expert, stated that the organization has disseminated misleading information contributing to falling immunization rates nationwide.
“Americans are now tragically experiencing the direct consequences of this, with more than 3,000 measles cases this year and four measles-related deaths reported in just the last few weeks,” Havers said. She criticized Kennedy for using his government role to undermine efforts by the CDC and state health agencies to contain outbreaks.
Kennedy has previously claimed that children today receive 94 doses across 18 vaccines, a figure that contradicts medical experts who estimate approximately 30 doses through combined injections. During his speech, he repeated assertions that chronic illnesses in children have risen sharply since 1989, the year the second MMR dose was recommended, though extensive research has found no causal link between the vaccine and chronic disease.
Since his confirmation in 2025, Kennedy has reshaped vaccine policy by dismissing all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and appointing new members. The revised committee subsequently voted to remove the universal recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and narrowed guidelines for the MMRV shot. They also declined to recommend flu vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that health authorities maintain is safe at current levels.
Additionally, Kennedy reduced the recommended number of childhood shots from 17 to 11 earlier this year. In March, a federal judge in Massachusetts blocked these schedule changes and suspended the appointments of the new ACIP members, citing ongoing litigation. Kennedy stated he would not comment on the ruling due to the active legal proceedings.
My pediatrician warned us about the dosage lie. It’s roughly 30 doses, not 94. Repeating that falsehood undermines your credibility entirely.
I appreciate the transparency push, but dismissing nine medical experts and appointing a new committee that agrees with you sounds political, not scientific.
3,000 measles cases and four deaths—this isn’t hypothetical anymore. Government officials amplifying this rhetoric feels irresponsible.
Wait, the judge blocked his changes? I thought he just slashed the schedule. Is the policy still suspended or does it matter?
Thimerosal in flu vaccines has been removed for decades. This outdated fear-mongering is dangerous and prevents real progress.