Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) was confirmed to lead the department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS is tasked with protecting the health and wellbeing of Americans by relying on advances in science.
Many doctors fear having RFK Jr. as head of HHS. For one thing, he has no medical training or background. In fact, for years, he has championed scientifically flawed theories and pseudoscience. He interprets science based on his own faulty reasoning and discredited research studies.
RFK Jr. has long been an outspoken opponent of vaccines, especially childhood vaccines. He wants to change the childhood vaccine schedule to his own liking which is not supported by scientific research. The current schedule utilized by medical practitioners has been studied for decades and there is much data showing its safety and efficacy. RFK Jr., however, likes to quote one disclaimed studied conducted by Andrew Wakefield that was later retracted for being unscientific and unethical. In fact, Wakefield used fraudulent means to get the results he wanted as noted in the British Medical Journal.
Since that time, a multitude of studies have failed to show a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Yet, RFK Jr. ignores that evidence in favor of his own. He clearly does not have the skill set to evaluate scientific data. What is truly frightening is the fact that he now appears to have unfettered control. In fact, he recently postponed the vaccine safety panel, which meets 3 times a year, to evaluate such things as vaccine safety and the vaccine schedule through the lens of recent scientific advances. They were slated to discuss the influenza vaccine efficacy in light of one of the worst flu seasons in recent years, the new Chikungunya vaccine, the meningitis vaccine, and the RSV vaccine (RSV can be very severe in infants).
Doctors and others in the scientific community know that vaccines have saved millions of lives and prevented even more hospitalizations. Some may think that voicing an opinion contrary to the consensus of the medical and scientific community is harmless. Yet, that is not the case and lives of children can be lost due to RFK Jr.’s stance against vaccine. Indeed, the world has seen exactly this happen in Samoa in 2019. Eight-three people, mostly children, died after a visit from RFK Jr. and his Children’s Health Defense, visited the island with their antivaxxer misinformation. This led to lower rates of vaccination leading to these deaths.
Another enemy of RFK Jr. seems to be fluoride, which is in much of our drinking water. It has been added to the water supply in the US since 1945. The addition of fluoride has been shown to decrease the rate of dental caries (cavities). In the amount that is added to our water supply, it is extremely safe.
In recent days, RFK Jr. has put antidepressants and other mental health medications on his hit list. He claims SSRIs are more addictive than heroin. There is no evidence of this. Studies have established their safety at recommended doses. Mental health in the US is in crisis. It is very difficult to find mental health providers to treat patients. What is the alternative to medications for patients with these disorders? He provides no alternative treatments because he has none. He does not have the medical background to understand the mechanism of action of these medications, which have changed the lives of millions around the globe for better. In fact, he acts as if mental health disorders don’t exist.
He further claims that SSRIs have led to increased school shootings. Yet, evidence from the scientific community shows otherwise. What if school shooters had their mental health issues treated earlier: would the shootings still have happened? He makes medical claims based on no facts. What does he expect these patients to do if you suddenly take away their medications or make it more difficult for them to attain?
Having a non-expert head medicine in our country is going to lead to disaster. People die from measles and other diseases that can be easily prevented by vaccines. Our vaccine schedule is well studied and should not be changed, at least not without sound medical data. Lawyers do not belong in the exam room just like doctors should not be trying cases in front of judges. Do what you’re trained for and leave us do what we are qualified to do.
