The Antivax chickens have come home to roost. Late last week, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump did this announcement late Thursday, following media speculation earlier in the day. It’s a move that would effectively put Kennedy in charge of the nation’s public health, as he would oversee agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. If the nomination is accepted, it would be the culmination of RFK’s long-running crusade against science, a crusade that has the potential to harm Americans across the country.

Trump nominating Kennedy is somewhat of a step backwards (members of transition staff) previously rejected RFK could get any job at HHS), but it’s not a terribly surprising decision. In the months and weeks leading up to Trump’s decisive election victory, Trump made clear that he fully embraced Kennedy, a former third-party candidate who dropped out of the race in late August and endorsed Trump. Trump in his victory night speech repeated He said it would allow Kennedy to “make America healthy again,” echoing his own campaign slogan. But nothing in Kennedy’s past suggests that the nation’s public health will improve with him at the helm.

The most concerning aspect of RFK’s potential agenda relates to vaccination. He has been one of the world’s most prominent anti-vaccine advocates, particularly in his previous role as president of the group Children’s Health Advocacy. As part of that resume, she and other activists during vaccine rate cuts took part in the local anti-vaccination movement In Samoa in 2019. Months before the country suffered a disastrous measles outbreak, he visited the island nation that summer to support those efforts and even met with government officials, including the prime minister and health officials. local health experts said AP said his visit last year galvanized activists. At least 83 people died in the subsequent outbreak, most of them children under the age of five. Kennedy later denied any role in the debacle and stated that he did not tell anyone not to get vaccinated.

Kennedy continued to promote the completely debunked claim that vaccines are linked to autism; It’s a belief Trump has shared in the past (Trump repeated it many times years before he became president). tweeted in support alleged connection). If he wields significant power at HHS, it’s possible that Kennedy could influence the nation’s vaccination rate through potential policy changes or by further strengthening the anti-vaccine movement.

RFK’s anti-science rhetoric is not limited to vaccines. He also expressed concerns about fluoride, despite the findings of the majority of studies. no significant link to cancer or other significant health risks at recommended levels. While some studies suggest potential effects of high exposure on neurological development, public health experts generally support the use of fluoride.

In the 2021 book, The real Anthony FauciKennedy Questioning whether AIDS is caused by HIV (it is) and had previously suggested: “gay lifestyle“, the use of recreational drugs such as poppers, especially among the gay community, was the main cause of AIDS.

Kennedy suggested that failed vaccine research played a role in the emergence of diseases such as: HIV and the 1918 flu pandemic (while there were early attempts to develop flu vaccine at the time the actual virus was not identified until the 1930s). At a press conference last year I wondered out loud if the covid-19 virus was bioengineered to “attack Caucasians and Black people” while protecting Chinese and Jews. He was also warned about the alleged evils. chemical pathways—the conspiratorial belief that planes deliberately release hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere; In reality, most of the traces left behind by these planes are water vapor. In a post published in X last summer, RFK stated He would have stopped the “crime” of chemical tracing if given the opportunity.

Even when Kennedy finds a grain of truth and highlights a real problem, he is quick to direct blame to targets not supported by scientific evidence. Americans have generally unhealthy diets, and we can stand to eat less processed foods, some of which contain ingredients linked to a higher risk of chronic disease. However, RFK identified food ingredients such as seed oilsor refined plant-based vegetable oils are the main reason why we are less healthy compared to other countries. However, in general, no link has been shown between the studies. seed oil consumption and worsening healthIn some studies I even suggested that replacing certain sources of saturated fat with seed oils may improve cardiovascular outcomes. Meanwhile, a more pressing concern about many processed foods is their high levels. sugar, salt and fat.

It’s certainly fun to make fun of RFK’s various quirks from his repeated instances. breaking down dead animals literally have dead worm in brain (RFK stated in 2012 that the worm contributed to his cognitive problems at the time, but those symptoms have since disappeared). But America has many real, persistent public health problems, and there is little indication that it plans to seriously address any of them. Instead, the focus was on reinforcing fringe ideas and undermining established science. Kennedy as a recent example. I promised An eight-year suspension of drug development and government-funded research on infectious diseases comes on the heels of a pandemic that has killed more than a million Americans.

Before this last presidential campaign, RFK and his ridiculous ideas were likely supported by a diverse coalition of people. It has recently become clear that his supporters are largely right-leaning or are now right-leaning. However, this is no guarantee that Kennedy’s candidacy will be clear; but that’s probably because some GOP members don’t want to overlook his previous pro-choice position (Mike Pence). stated Last Friday, he said her selection to HHS was “an abrupt departure from our administration’s pro-life record.” Assuming he takes the helm of HHS, his agenda will be excused and defended primarily by the Republican party.

Whatever RFK has in store for us will be the furthest thing from making America healthy again.