NEW YORK (AP) — Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he has claimed that his policies will restore trust in America’s public health agencies. However, as a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, Kennedy has clashed with medical experts who accuse him of ignoring scientific consensus.
His confrontational policies and shifts in vaccination guidance have led to confusion among the public, particularly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent surveys indicate a notable decline in trust towards health agencies that Kennedy oversees, rather than the intended rise.
Kennedy argues that transparency is key to empowering individuals to make informed health choices, yet many health professionals warn that the misinformation he promotes risks significant public health consequences.
\u201cNow, you cannot confidently go to federal websites and know that,\u201d said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Trust in agencies like the CDC has historically been high, often scoring above many other government bodies in public opinion polls. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfurled, confidence eroded sharply, with only 40% of Americans rating the CDC positively in 2020.
Alix Ellis, a hairstylist and mother in Georgia, expressed lost confidence in CDC guidance during the pandemic, illustrating a growing feeling among the public. \u201cI’m not saying we were lied to, but why are we doing this?\u201d she reflected.
Kennedy has sought to rectify the trust issue he partly contributed to by promoting non-standard health guidelines, which many believe disregards years of established vaccine science. Notably, he has halted recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines among healthy children and pregnant women, alarming medical professionals.
As health organizations rally against Kennedy's policies, confusion about vaccine schedules increases, leading to an uptick in preventable diseases like measles. New data suggests trust in the CDC continues to decline, with only 47% of Americans expressing confidence in the agency's recommendations.
Despite Kennedy's declarations of transparency and independence, his previous statements and decisions have led many to question the very foundation of trust in public health systems.
