Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccines official, hopes to find common ground with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has pledged not to ban vaccines but to restore transparency around vaccine safety data and records. Marks rebutted Kennedy’s claims about safety data, stating that there are no secret files and that the data is overwhelmingly in favor of vaccines.
Public health experts are concerned about Kennedy’s history of misleading statements questioning vaccine safety, fearing he could jeopardize progress made in improving vaccination rates. The Center for Science in the Public Interest criticized the pick, likening it to “putting a Flat Earther at the head of NASA.” Marks, a key player in the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response, acknowledged that working with Kennedy could have benefits, such as engaging the public in a dialogue about vaccines and potentially boosting confidence.
Marks rejected Kennedy’s allegations of corruption within the FDA, emphasizing the agency’s dedication to protecting Americans’ health. Kennedy has vowed to end what he considers the agency’s “war on public health” and to fire certain agency employees on his first day, accusing them of being influenced by corporate interests. Despite believing Kennedy’s scientific expertise may not be as deep as others, Marks emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind in collaboration.
Health officials had been anticipating Kennedy’s potential appointment for a while, with Trump expressing support for Kennedy to make significant changes in health policy if he won. Kennedy has called on Trump to declare an emergency to combat chronic disease, aiming to address rising rates of various ailments. Kennedy emphasized the urgency of addressing chronic diseases with the same intensity as responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing it as a thousand times worse.
Overall, Marks expressed a willingness to work with Kennedy in a dialogue to address concerns and potentially boost public confidence in vaccines. While concerns exist about Kennedy’s positions on vaccine safety and agency staffing, there is hope for constructive engagement to benefit public health efforts. Kennedy’s appointment to lead the Department of Health and Human Services could have significant implications for public health policy and the approach to addressing chronic diseases in the future.
