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Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the appointment of Harvey Risch, an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Yale University, to the President’s Cancer Panel.

Risch has a long history of researching cancer prevention methods. But during the coronavirus pandemic, he peddled disinformation to the public, baselessly sowing doubt in the use of mRNA-based vaccines and promoting untested treatment methods.

In a statement accompanying the announcement of Risch to the cancer panel, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — himself a promoter of anti-vaccine sentiments and conspiracy theories — claimed that Risch will “confront the factors driving cancer rates, and provide the public with science they can trust.”

Risch expressed appreciation for his appointment. “I am thankful for the opportunity President Trump has given me to transform cancer prevention in the United States,” he said.

Risch has previously faced criticism for his views on COVID vaccines.

In 2023, Risch postulated a possible link between mRNA-based vaccines, like those used in some COVID shots, and supposed “turbo cancers” — parroting the debunked conspiracy........

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