menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

RFK Jr. fulfills anti-vax group's demand

2 7
15.08.2025
*{box-sizing:border-box}body{margin:0;padding:0}a[x-apple-data-detectors]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:inherit!important}#MessageViewBody a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}p{line-height:inherit}.desktop_hide,.desktop_hide table{mso-hide:all;display:none;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.image_block img div{display:none}sub,sup{font-size:75%;line-height:0}#converted-body .list_block ol,#converted-body .list_block ul,.body [class~=x_list_block] ol,.body [class~=x_list_block] ul,u .body .list_block ol,u .body .list_block ul{padding-left:20px} @media (max-width:620px){.desktop_hide table.icons-outer{display:inline-table!important}.image_block div.fullWidth{max-width:100%!important}.mobile_hide{display:none}.row-content{width:100%!important}.stack .column{width:100%;display:block}.mobile_hide{min-height:0;max-height:0;max-width:0;overflow:hidden;font-size:0}.desktop_hide,.desktop_hide table{display:table!important;max-height:none!important}.reverse{display:table;width:100%}.reverse .column.first{display:table-footer-group!important}.reverse .column.last{display:table-header-group!important}.row-6 td.column.first .border,.row-8 td.column.first .border{padding:5px 5px 15px 25px}.row-10 td.column.last .border,.row-6 td.column.last .border,.row-8 td.column.last .border{padding:5px 20px 25px 5px}.row-10 td.column.first .border{padding:5px 5px 15px 25px;border-bottom:15px solid transparent}} Click in for more news from The Hill

{beacon}

Health Care

Health Care

 

The Big Story

RFK Jr. fulfills demand of anti-vaccine group

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is reviving a long-defunct task force on the safety of childhood vaccines, responding to a demand from the anti-vaccine organization founded by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

© Greg Nash

Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine organization Kennedy founded prior to becoming HHS secretary, funded a lawsuit filed in May to compel Kennedy to reestablish the task force and its reports to Congress.

While he was part of Children’s Health Defense in 2018, Kennedy — along with fellow vaccine critic and adviser Del Bigtree — filed a Freedom of Information Act request for copies of the reports from the HHS.

When no reports were found, Kennedy and Bigtree sued the department to produce them, part of an effort to bolster their misleading narrative about vaccine safety.

Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing that he supports the childhood vaccine schedule, but he has long called for an investigation into childhood shots, saying they have been inadequately studied.

Reconvening the vaccine safety panel could be a key step toward changing the childhood immunization schedule, which recommends which shots children receive and when.

"Kudos to Secretary Kennedy," Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, said in a statement. "It took nearly 50 years for HHS to do this, but at last the Secretary is following the law on this critical issue. We are grateful."

The task force will be comprised of senior leadership from across federal health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya will serve as chairman.

"By reinstating this Task Force, we are reaffirming our commitment to rigorous science, continuous improvement, and the trust of American families," Bhattacharya said in a statement. "NIH is proud to lead this effort to advance vaccine safety and support innovation that protects children without compromise."

NIH has not previously been involved in vaccine safety oversight, which has historically been the purview of the FDA and CDC.

Kennedy has........

© The Hill