Trump Lets RFK Jr. Reshape U.S. Childhood Vaccine Policy — Agencies Opened to Review

President Trump’s promise last October to let Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “go wild on health” is playing out as Kennedy moves to reshape federal childhood vaccination policy and place sceptical voices in key health roles.

Policy Shifts And Appointments

Kennedy, long known for questioning vaccine safety, has appointed critics of routine immunization to federal positions and prioritized research that looks for possible vaccine harms, including theories many experts consider debunked. Supporters say these changes bring neglected concerns into the conversation; critics warn they risk undermining public trust and long-standing disease-prevention programs.

ACIP Vote And White House Directive

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) — whose membership was recently influenced by Kennedy’s team — voted to rescind a decades-old recommendation that all newborns receive a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. On the same day, the White House ordered health officials to “fast track” a review of the pediatric vaccine schedule and to consider aligning U.S. timing with other countries’ approaches.

“Thank you, Mr. President. We’re on it,” Kennedy wrote on X after the White House directive.

FDA Safety Reviews Expanded

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this week it is expanding an existing probe into possible pediatric deaths associated with COVID-19 vaccines to include possible adult deaths. The agency also launched safety reviews of two recently approved monoclonal antibody products for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): Beyfortus (Sanofi) and Enflonsia (Merck).

Sanofi told reporters that clinical trials and post-marketing data have not identified safety problems with nirsevimab (Beyfortus), noting more than six million infants have been immunized worldwide and estimating the product prevented roughly 70,000 U.S. hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Reactions From Experts And Advocates

Observers on both sides say federal health agencies are being reshaped to reflect Kennedy’s priorities. Robert Malone, vice-chair of ACIP, described the developments as a historic challenge to what he called the “academic-industrial-government vaccine complex.” Public-health leaders expressed alarm.

“I think I was naive in thinking how quickly systems could be broken,” said Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition. Michelle Taylor, commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, warned that reopening routine vaccine recommendations risks confusing parents and eroding confidence built over decades.

At the same time, MAHA supporters say the changes address concerns from groups who felt unheard by scientific institutions. Monique Yohanan of Independent Women argued the U.S. should consider timing used in some European countries and said Kennedy may amplify voices — especially parents — who feel overlooked.

What Comes Next

Outside health organizations, including academic and policy groups, are preparing new evaluation processes and said they expect to challenge changes at ACIP. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, indicated his group will monitor and respond to reviews of preventive viral products.

As the debate continues, health officials, lawmakers and the public will be watching how investigations and policy reviews proceed — and whether they preserve the balance between safety surveillance and continued protection against preventable infectious diseases.