Summary

The nomination of anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as U.S. health secretary under Donald Trump has alarmed global health experts, who fear it could undermine vaccination efforts and public health globally.

Kennedy has a history of spreading vaccine misinformation, which critics warn could reduce immunization rates, risking outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles.

His plans to reform U.S. health agencies and tackle “corruption” could disrupt institutions like the FDA, while Trump’s broader policies may include withdrawing from the WHO and reinstating abortion funding bans.

Concerns also extend to potential trade wars affecting medicine supplies.