Robert F. Kennedy Jr., currently serving as the US Health Secretary, is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at an upcoming anti-vaccine conference in Washington, DC. The event, hosted by Children’s Health Defense (CHD)—an organization Kennedy previously led—was announced on Monday after Kennedy confirmed his participation.
The gathering will also feature Andrew Wakefield, a former physician whose medical license was revoked following an investigation that deemed his actions to be serious professional misconduct. Wakefield is the author of a fraudulent, now-retracted study that falsely alleged a connection between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. The inquiry further found that he had mistreated vulnerable children during his research.
Although Wakefield has been ostracized by the mainstream medical community, he remains a prominent figure within anti-vaccine circles. The erroneous claim that vaccines cause autism continues to persist, bolstered significantly by the platforms and promotion provided by both CHD and Kennedy.
Sold out? I’m honestly shocked. People really still believe that debunked autism link after all these years?
Wakefield’s license was revoked for misconduct, not just bad science. This endorsement undermines the entire medical system.
I read the article twice. Did he really confirm he’s speaking there? That seems like a huge mistake.
This is absolutely alarming. How can he claim to protect public health while platforming a fraud?