President-elect Donald Trump He quickly began assembling his administration before his anticipated inauguration.

One of the most remarkable appointments ever Robert F. Kennedy Jr.who accepted Trump’s offer to serve as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). This announcement raised eyebrows as Kennedy has a long history of advocacy on health issues and is also known for his controversial stance on vaccines.

Kennedy, the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, first ran for president in 2024 as a Democrat before switching to an independent campaign. He eventually dropped out of the race and supported Trump in the final weeks leading up to the election.

During his campaign, Kennedy outlined several important issues that he believed were central to improving health policy in the United States. These priorities could shape the direction of national health initiatives as he prepares to assume the role of HHS Secretary.

Among the key issues Kennedy advocated were:

• Transparency in Healthcare Costs and Options

• Reversing the Chronic Disease Epidemic

• Improving Food Safety

• Restructuring Public Funding for Vaccine Research

These positions reflect Kennedy’s long-standing interest in public health as well as his call for greater accountability in both the health care industry and the government’s health programs.

To understand how these broader national health policies might impact Texans, KPRC 2’s Joy Addison He spoke with health economist Vivian Ho of Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine.

According to Ho, there are several health policy issues that are particularly pressing for Lone Star State residents:

• Transparency in Medicine and Healthcare Costs

• Affordable Healthcare

• Support to Rural Hospitals

• Access to Health Insurance for Low-Income Texans

Ho explained that one of the most critical areas is the lack of expansion of Medicaid in Texas. Unlike many other states, Texas has chosen not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions of Texans without access to affordable insurance.

“We actually had some significant improvements in coverage in Texas because there were significant increases in subsidies for people to purchase health insurance under Obamacare under the disinflation act,” Ho said.

“There are tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands, of people in Texas who can add to their health insurance, pay next to no premiums, and have very little cost for health insurance. “This has been a huge bonus for many families in Texas,” he added.

He emphasized that Texas consistently ranks high for the number of uninsured people in the country, which has significant impacts on health outcomes in the state.

“We don’t yet know how Kennedy will address Medicare and Medicaid coverage, but reforms are certainly needed. These programs make up a significant portion of the health care budget, and they are increasingly unsustainable,” Ho said. “Texas has the highest rate of uninsured people in the country, and this is a direct result of the state’s decision not to expand Medicaid.”

One of the most controversial aspects of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s career has been his stance on vaccine policies. Although Kennedy has been a vocal critic of vaccine safety and guidelines, he also said he does not support a complete ban on vaccines.

His stance on this issue as HHS Secretary could have far-reaching implications, especially in light of ongoing debates over vaccine safety and public health.

The issue of vaccine safety was front and center at the recent Texas Vaccine Policy Symposium at Rice University.

I spoke with Terri Burke, president of the Rice University Immunization Partnership, and she emphasized that the focus of the public health debate should remain on the diseases that vaccines prevent, rather than the safety of vaccines.

“Look at infectious diseases. Vaccines prevent disease. “Let’s look at these diseases,” Burke said. “We eliminated smallpox and we thought we eliminated measles, but now they’re coming back. We need to focus on the diseases that harm, kill and maim people.”

Burke acknowledged the debate over vaccine safety but noted that both he and Kennedy agreed on the importance of ensuring vaccines are safe and effective. “Mr. Kennedy talks about security. So are we. “Maybe this is where we find common ground,” he said. “We need to be concerned about ourselves and our society. For example, when there are children in the classroom, we already know what that petri dish looks like.”

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepares to assume his new role as Secretary of Health and Human Services, his appointment signals a potential shift in U.S. health policy. With an emphasis on transparency, disease prevention and vaccine research, Kennedy will likely advocate for reforms that could impact both the nation’s healthcare system and public health initiatives.

But questions remain about how his controversial views on vaccines will affect the Trump administration’s policies. As the country struggles to combat ongoing health challenges, from rising health care to uninsured populations in states like Texas, the effectiveness of Kennedy’s leadership at HHS will depend on his ability to balance his personal beliefs with broader goals of improving public health. for all Americans.

As the Trump administration takes shape in the coming months, the country will closely watch how these new health policies develop.