Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health Secretary and a known anti-vaccine advocate, has directed the non-profit organization he formerly chaired, Children’s Health Defense, to remove a webpage designed to mimic the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This webpage falsely linked vaccines to autism, as initially reported by The New York Times.
Kennedy Jr.’s long-standing skepticism towards vaccines, despite limited scientific evidence, has been well-documented. The now-deleted website presented a mix of evidence both for and against a link between vaccines and autism, but reportedly relied heavily on non-peer-reviewed research supporting the connection. This tactic mirrors a common strategy among conspiracy theorists: presenting established facts alongside dubious claims to create a veneer of credibility. Similar approaches can be seen in other areas, where individuals offer sound advice alongside fringe ideas lacking empirical support.
Children’s Health Defense’s creation of a fake CDC website, however, went a step further. An independent Substack, Your Local Epidemiologist, highlighted the deceptive nature of the webpage, which was clearly designed to resemble an official CDC fact sheet.
Children’s Health Defense created a mock version of the CDC website. Source: Your Local Epidemiologist
Kennedy Jr.’s order to remove the webpage suggests even he recognized it crossed a line. His new position as Health Secretary might also be a factor, potentially motivating him to leverage his authority to shape the vaccine narrative. The CDC’s recent announcement to re-examine the link between vaccines and autism further complicates the situation.
The timing of Kennedy Jr.’s decision also coincides with deadly measles outbreaks across the U.S., primarily affecting communities with low vaccination rates. A measles-related death of an unvaccinated child in Texas earlier this year underscores the seriousness of the issue. Measles’s high contagiousness requires approximately 94% vaccination coverage to prevent widespread transmission.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Kennedy Jr.’s action in a statement to the NYT: “Secretary Kennedy has instructed the Office of the General Counsel to send a formal demand to Children’s Health Defense requesting the removal of their website. At H.H.S. we are dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science.”
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kennedy Jr. pledged a return to “gold standard science” at the CDC and expressed willingness to support vaccines backed by robust safety data. However, when confronted with such evidence during the hearing, he claimed to be unfamiliar with the data or expressed skepticism.
In conclusion, Kennedy Jr.’s directive to remove the misleading anti-vaccine website represents a complex intersection of his personal views, his new role as Health Secretary, and the ongoing public health challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy and preventable disease outbreaks. The situation highlights the importance of relying on credible, evidence-based information, particularly when it comes to public health decisions.
